Suspension of 'non-essential' GP work continues

We all know that the NHS continues to be under extreme pressure. COVID 19 has not gone away and staff shortages due to quarantining and also due to the impact of BREXIT on doctors and nurses from mainland Europe have led to a day in day out coxing and boxing of staff rotas and which clinical activity needs to be scaled back or cancelled altogether. This is quite apart from the much needed family summer holidays.

So what constitutes 'non-essential' work? You may depend that women's reproductive health services come under that category 95% of the time. What's a heavy period in a pandemic? Clearly something to be put up with. What about difficulty getting pregnant? You couldn't possibly bother the doctor with that!! And as for menopause. Well, what could be more trivial?

There is so much raising of awareness about menopause and reproductive health in general and there may be huge symptom and well-being improvement with dietary changes and exercise, but for about 25% of women whose lives are changed beyond recognition, that will not be enough; and truth be told, your GP is relatively unlikely to have either the time or the knowledge (or both) to help you. They may be too tired to help you from feeling exhausted. It's as simple as that.

If your GP Practice has been sensible enough to take on Tonsmor Doctors from Dr Morton's then you'll be fine. Just ring up and ask to speak to one of our gynaecologists and you will be given a Morton Key, you will follow the link and then dial 012 123 123 12 and press 1 for a gynaecologist, and there help will be! But don't despair if not. You can register yourself and ring us, and cheap as ninepence you too can speak directly with one of our gynaecology Team. Be it periods, miscarriage, difficulty conceiving, an itchy bottom, painful sex or menopause.....and all things inbetween!

There are definitely areas of the UK which are very severely deprived and the shortage of GPs in these places only goes to exacerbate health inequalities. Tonsmor takes doctors to areas where they are most needed and blurs the false division between Primary and Secondary Care. We are all doctors and we all care. Join us if you have a couple of hours of spare capacity. Our platform and design model allows you to be at home in Sussex but sharing your knowledge with a patient in Manchester, working in partnership with their home GP Team. Contact me to learn more.