Ah but they get points for prescribing statins at the moment don't they? No points for vit B12 until the government decide there should be a special target for the week for vit B12. What do points mean?? Cash for the practice.
Ah, if only! He should walk in our shoes.......I fear he wouldn't even survive on day!
Years ago, Eileen, my family doctor often checked her book before prescribing - whenever do you see them check either book or screen now? Well certainly not don't in our practice. They're ever more useless: I popped a prescription into the relevant box in reception on Monday and asked Mike to collect it whilst there today - guess what? They haven't rec'd it!
You've guessed right, Eileen - his prescription for statins has been filed!! his Vit B12 she called him in about is "borderline - buy a supplement OTC"; his "Vit D is low - double up on present pill, taking one twice a day". As you say, it could all have been done over the phone.......and wouldn't have taken nearly as long as the precious 7 minutes!
Ah, I knew they got points for precribing BP pills but wasn't sure about statins.
Just wish they got points for people who have PMR. I think they get points for diagnosing some things, there was all that fuss about fifty quid for dementia diagnoses not so long ago. I think they canned that in the end. If I had been a GP offered that for the practice, I would have checked everyone for dementia and at least ninety nine per cent would have it, at fifty pounds a throw, I may leave out the odd baby so the statistics balanced out a bit! The sad thing is I think these target inducements actually create that sort of thinking, so our time is taken up with useless questionaires on drinking, prescriptions for statins etc instead of why we are actually visiting the GP.