Michael Crow

@Autoglass I need an urgent windscreen replacement as windscreen broke yesterday. Booked a slot online for tomorrow (Saturday afternoon) and paid. Was phoned today and told they couldn’t do it till 3rd June. What kind of service is #autoglass providing?

@drpjhughes @Azeem_Majeed Yes, all of the above and more. Patients don’t know how serious their conditions are. Some attend A&E because they thing they will get a scan or immediate tests.

@Azeem_Majeed May I add; Perforated DU, meningitis, Acute myeloid leukaemia, spinal cord compression, abdominal wound dehiscence, stabbed in chest, ruptured appendix, testicular torsion, acute psychotic episode, heart attacks and in surgery cardiac arrest, (X2), etc

Many people with “minor illnesses” do attend emergency departments. But many people with serious medical problems also attend GP surgeries. During my career as a GP, I have dealt with heart attacks, strokes, major GI bleeds and even conditions as rare as Guillain-Barré syndrome.

@Azeem_Majeed I can remember when I was a GP just over the road from a large hospital. I spoke to someone in the morning and offered to see them later in the afternoon. They told me they would rather go to A&E. They were still there until well into the evening and left without being seen.

@BMAResidents I am a retired GP. There is complete justification for taking action. It is a scandal that British graduates are unable to find jobs and there are not enough postgraduate training places. I do think that you have not helped your cause in the current circumstances. January better.

Resident doctors in England 📢 Strikes will be going ahead from this Wednesday 17 December. Find your nearest picket line: bma.org.uk/rdpicketlines

Absolutely torrential rain, thunder and localised flooding last night in Surrey. Normally #metoffice very quick with weather warnings but not one in sight. What happened ?

@tonihazellgp @Azeem_Majeed That may be how it is intended but there is huge pressure to finish the call and avoid a F2F appointment. Frankly, I do not think many doctors are skilled enough to do telephone triage well. As an ex OOH medical director I listened to many telephone recordings!

@Azeem_Majeed Triage is triage - the phone call is to work out the best mode to see the patient. Not a forced phone call in face of F2F.

I am not a supporter of “total telephone triage” in primary care. Patients should be given the option of choosing the mode of consultation that suits them. For many people, a telephone call or an email may be fine. Others such as the elderly may prefer a face to face appointment.

@Azeem_Majeed There are too many visual cues that can be missed. I am surprised the #RCGP is acquiescing to telephone triage. When I was training they were keen on home visits and seeing people face to face. Total telephone triage seems frankly dangerous to me.

@Daniel_Bevis @IngeChickeWinge #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly Pete should have gone out ages ago. Why are the public voting for him?

@IngeChickeWinge Amen. Should've gone straight after Blackpool Wynne [the only reason he was kept to that point]

WHO KEEPS VOTING FOR PETE, HOW IS HE STILL IN THIS FUCKING COMPETITION #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing

@zackferguson Not sure what makes you think that

Wow Wes Streeting suddenly looking like a pretty solid health secretary all of a sudden

@Jeremy_Hunt It seems to me that if the Government accuses the previous administration of not being honest about a 20 Billion black hole there should be a right of defence for that administration and clarity on what the Government is alleging they have not been honest about

I'm a strong supporter of the OBR. I was proud to serve in the government which set it up and strongly believe it enhances the UK's economic credibility. However its credibility in holding the government to account depends on political impartiality so if that is being undermined friends need to say so. It cannot be right to publish a review of what happened under the previous government without consulting those who had political responsibility at the time.

@KinsellaSophie @thetimes dailymail.co.uk/health/article…

I really enjoyed this chat, where we talk about brain tumours, happiness and What Does It Feel Like? Available online now (£) and in @thetimes print edition Sunday.

@rosieICM @zackferguson @WestMidHospital West Middlesex is a north west London hospital

Yesterday was my last shift as a London doctor. After 10 years (16 if you count med school), it feels very strange to be leaving but excited for what comes next and definitely won’t miss the commute! Thanks @WestMidHospital for a great last year here #CAMW2024

@swkenny @DeanEggitt It is what both GPs and parents want, but the current system will not allow

Seeing a GP never was and never should be about solving everything in one appointment. Many health and social care challenges are lifelong. We need a primary care where long term therapeutic relationships and continuity are allowed to thrive.

@Dochayter You should take lunch hours more often. Congratulations to your son

@DrRobgalloway @wesstreeting While it is good for politicians to admit the reality. There is just too much that is broken and no money. National debt is huge and Labour will probably tax, borrow and spend. Time to have hard discussions about what State can afford to provide .

For 14 years NHS leaders pressured by politicians lied to the nation and denied the reality of how badly our patients were being let down. This was not only immoral but stopped the changes so very needed. At last we now have politicans who are telling the truth @wesstreeting Now our patients need those changes.

@MarkGaze @o_burbidge @Peston At least you are honest. Here we obviously disagree

Sunak hopes his promises of tax cuts may pave his way to No 10 but do voters - do you - believe him? itv.com/news/2024-06-1…

@MarkGaze Depends what you define as wealthy. In addition there are too many people not working and on benefits who could and should be working. Many of those who are signed off might benefit from going to work

@MarkGaze I would be happy to pay tax if public services were efficient and there was not a bloated middle management and ludicrous pay for senior management.

@jim_crawfurd @gmcrotty @drraja_ The safest doctors are those who know what they don’t know. Those who don’t know that they don’t know, don’t ask and therefore are dangerous. The longer I practised, the more I knew what I didn’t know!

@drraja_ In EM it often turns out that the one who “rarely bothers the seniors” has been either a) bothering other juniors instead b) bothering other specialties instead or c) making some bad decisions because they “didn’t want to ask” We WANT our juniors to bother us.

Everyone wants junior doctors who require minimal supervision and can get the job done safely and timely. The ideal junior doctor is considered to be the one who rarely bother the seniors and get things done. But there are Consultants who will take on juniors struggling and help them grow confidence and develop clinical skills. I consider such senior doctors special who create a safe working space for struggling juniors. This requires time and effort. Often there are no financial benefits attached to it. If you go to any department and ask the junior doctors, - Who is the best consultant in their eyes when they need help? - Who treats them with most respect and dignity. - Who they find most approachable. - Who teaches them the most. You will get the answer. The hospital management should have some mechanisms to identity and honour such senior doctors. Because they are the ones who can help you retain the staff.