OCD Action

Tess
Member

I've just found out that our GP surgery is introducing telephone consultations for routine matters. I've had my last two six-monthly medication reviews by phone and wondered if this is now normal practice across the country?

Wed May 25 2011 10:22:23 #
Truddles
Member

A lot of surgeries have introduced telephone consultations; it can save time and money especially if a telephone consultation is done instead of a home visit.
One definition of a medication review is
"A structured, critical examination of a patient’s medicines with the objective of reaching an agreement with the patient about treatment, optimising the impact of medicines, minimising the number of medication-related problems and reducing
waste."
So provided that you don't take several different medications, or medications that need strict monitoring or are experiencing troublesome side effects I personally think that having the reviews by phone is acceptable provided that the GP allows you to voice your opinion. Perhaps having every other review by phone would be more beneficial as going to the surgery once a year would mean that you could have your blood pressure etc checked at the same time.

Wed May 25 2011 12:02:25 #
OCD!
Member

they just started that at our surgery, the last surgery i was at was nearly impossible to get an appointment at all, so better for me, as at least i get to speak to the doc..
it's a trial thing here but could be rolling out across the country i think

Wed May 25 2011 12:35:22 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

I think that Truddles idea is a good one. The usual check-ups are good for determining whether there's a change in blood pressure, whether a patient may be dehydrated somewhat; perhaps a look at a patient's blood is handy too (the liver does an extra job with medication).

There may be another reason: an experienced GP (or psychiatrist) could in theory notice small changes in someone's behaviour, for instance increased nervousness, or a tiny tic; small changes that the patient and those around him/her probably miss out on.

In general, it's good to be a bit wary of these changes. I am all for all that 'optimising', but I sometimes wonder if that is really the ulterior motive...

Wed May 25 2011 12:55:29 #