General Chat

I've got a pimple I want to show you, Dr Dermot :-D ;-)

Pope Francis says it's ok to e-mail your confession to your Priest. "Text me Father, for I have sinned'.

Automatic absolution by return or sins refunded.

Catholic sinner's satisfaction guaranteed. Charges may apply for other religions. Serves them right!

Amen!

In Wales (which is supposed to be worse that England for health) I hardly ever get to see the doctor (twice in last 10 years). But then, like most people, I don't need to if the "triage" is good.

I have a lot more confidence in the nurses who help doctors at my local health centre. A lot more confidence, frankly, that I have in many doctors these days.

We get 2 yearly bowel screening, regular "bloods" (blood pressure, diabetes checks etc). We have regular checks for cholestrol. And a whole lot of sensible advice about life style, exercise, diet etc.

If one of the nurses spots anything odd, she alerts the doctor (for example, my BP wasa 137 last week - had it been 141 or more I would have been referred upwards because they may have had to alter my drugs. And I must also say that pharmacists are also extremely knowledgeable these days.

Incidentally, not talking about emergencies - just the routine stuff that people insist only a £100,000 doctor can help them with. And if he feels that my drugs need to be changed, I will be very happy to see him on Skype and have a chat.

It might weed out the time-wasters who go at any sign of a sniffle or suffering a tummy bug, which the doctor can do nothing for anyway.

On the other hand, important symptoms could easily be missed ie high or low blood pressure/sugars, subtle change in skin tone or colour, changes in the eyes, nails etc.

Sounds a bit like another attempt by highly paid GP's to get out of working longer hours to me :-(

The way they chat about their symptoms makes me wonder why the doctor has consulting rooms. They could just wander round the waiting room seeing patients and then, if they had a particularly interesting symptom, they could have everybody gather round for a better look.

Then we would see who thought other people might be interested in their ailments!

Ann, I think you,ve hit the Boil on the Head there. however going to a Doctors Surgery has its risks, You go in with a Cold and come out with something else,I avoid them like the Plague,they,re Germ infested Rooms you should keep out of.Mind I think some people use them as a Social Club discussing miriads of complaints they have or may get in the future. :-D :-D :-D

Don't think they could examine you ...or take a urine sample,Ann...but not a bad idea if you wanted to discuss something ..suppose you could do that with a phone call though...?

well that could end up on a porn site :-D

Would anyone really place their rear end to a webcam and say ,,,,,,,

doc -----I have a pimple on my bottom....... :-D

or bear any other part of their body.... ;-)

Being a technophope, Mary, my instincts initially were - horror.:-0 :-0

But then I thought about it. World is so different and it seems a very good idea. It will not save the doctor any time, but it will be great for us. Last time I saw the doctor, I had to make an appointment, then go and wait in surgery for nearly and hour for a one minute (at most 2 mins) consultation. It was costly and very inconvenient.

Plus I notice quite a few out-patients have to literally drag themselves into a surgery.

It would depend on the nature of the problem, but I think it would work for some things - better than being sneezed on in a waiting room!

Just seen on Sky News that the latest idea is to Skyoe your doctor instead of going to the surgery - what do you think ?
Nary