The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Must...Fly!]

Not all GP practices are owned by the chains.His is a small practice.Only 1 practice nurse who is already busy.Why increase staff? And as you allude the large practices can be like a sausage factory.

If the economic incentive was there, he could hire extra staff and the participate in the program. But there are enough places giving the jabs to not have to need that.

As for the chains. I agree, beware. However not all are bad. Some have older Doctors in them, who are very good at their job and experienced - probably the corporate chain bought out their own practice when they moved in to the area, and they now work for the chain as contractors seeing the patients.

 

[Flying mermaid]

If the economic incentive was there, he could hire extra staff and the participate in the program. But there are enough places giving the jabs to not have to need that.

As for the chains. I agree, beware. However not all are bad. Some have older Doctors in them, who are very good at their job and experienced - probably the corporate chain bought out their own practice when they moved in to the area, and they now work for the chain as contractors seeing the patients.

That was our experience - went to a small practice for 20 years, but they ended up selling their practice to a big chain and moved to one of the mass centres. It was Ok for awhile as you could book your original doctor, but as they retired it wasn’t acceptable and we have moved to a better practice.

 

[Pushka]

Experiences differ I guess.

Personally I wouldn't send my dog to one of the corporate GP practices.

I have seen and heard a lot of things along the lines of what drron alludes to that confirms that the standard of care there is not exactly...... up to my personal expectations.

Good doctors and bad doctors everywhere. Husbands small practice GP many years ago didn’t pick up his fathers stroke and then didn’t pick up testicular cancer as a young man. Months later that GP was on holidays so when husband returned a locum sent him as urgent referral to specialist and operated on that day. It was very obvious that something was badly wrong from the get go.

I went to likely what you call a chain clinic and they picked up I had a jugular DVT from very vague symptoms and sent off to hospital that day too.

Being small doesn’t make you better. Good GP’s make good GP’s anywhere.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Experiences differ I guess.

Good doctors and bad doctors everywhere. Husbands small practice GP many years ago didn’t pick up his fathers stroke and then didn’t pick up testicular cancer as a young man. Months later that GP was on holidays so when husband returned a locum sent him as urgent referral to specialist and operated on that day. It was very obvious that something was badly wrong from the get go.

I went to likely what you call a chain clinic and they picked up I had a jugular DVT from very vague symptoms and sent off to hospital that day too.

Being small doesn’t make you better. Good GP’s make good GP’s anywhere.

That is true. Ms FM won’t move from the chain GP to the one we go to, as she has a good rapport with her current GP and she is good. One of the issues though with the big chains is the pressure they put their GPs under and as a consequence many of the better ones leave and find a practice where the work environment is less pressured. I wouldn’t call the one we go to now small - it must have at least 10 GPs plus practice nurses etc. However they all run on time - I have never waited more than 10 minutes as opposed to the 1 hour + at the old one and generally the staff seem to have more time to talk to you, rather than rushed all the time.

 

[OATEK]

Yes in the bush you will see 1 doctor practices.The doctors are some of the most skilled in Australia as they really have to do everything.
But my GP is in a 3 doctor practice and prefers doing real medicine.
You would be amazed what some doctors are asked to do in the large corporate practices to increase turnover.Mass vaccinations suit their business plan admirably.

My local GP joined in to a larger practice in the adjoining suburb about 20yrs ago, but I was happy to stay with them as I could book him still. But he has retired, and I rarely have the same GP in that practice for more than 12mths. No continuity of care because they rely on the health record rather than actually knowing something about you. The last two were from UK NHS background and spend more time staring at their computer screen that at me, and after a lot of clicking they tell me that I have a 10% chance of a heart attack in the next 10 yrs! The fact that none of my parents or grandparents, or 3 brothers have suffered with or died from heart attacks makes me think they should be looking a bit wider. I think it is time I found a new practice.

 

[jakeseven7]

Experiences differ I guess.

Good doctors and bad doctors everywhere. Husbands small practice GP many years ago didn’t pick up his fathers stroke and then didn’t pick up testicular cancer as a young man. Months later that GP was on holidays so when husband returned a locum sent him as urgent referral to specialist and operated on that day. It was very obvious that something was badly wrong from the get go.

I went to likely what you call a chain clinic and they picked up I had a jugular DVT from very vague symptoms and sent off to hospital that day too.

Being small doesn’t make you better. Good GP’s make good GP’s anywhere.

No one is saying being small is always better....

And yes there are good GP's everywhere sure thing, unfortunately the good ones ones trapped in the big corporate chains have certain commercial pressures, outcomes and layers of KPI's on them as well which can sometimes be at odds with other priorities such as patient first metrics.

Anyway this is getting a little off topic. If you have found a big corporate chain works for your healthcare needs then that is wonderful for you, personally as a rule I wouldn't go near them.

Back on topic, another family member done today! Our family is heavily populated by healthcare workers so we are way ahead in that respect, finally it has reaped some benefits

 

[RooFlyer]

You really have to hang onto a good GP when you find one. When I moved back to Tas I managed to get the same GP as when I went to that surgery 20 years before. They weren't taking new patients, but I said I was an existing one But he retired after 10 years or so and then I chose the next best in the clinic, which is a large one (I think 10 or so practitioners) but I don't think its a 'corporate' one. Not a pot-plant in sight. I trust him completely but of course being one who gives very good care, he's always chronically over-time and can be difficult to get in to see, so I occasionally see others in the practice. Two I've learned to avoid now because I'm sure they gave bad advice (and my regular GP very diplomatically later suggested courses of action at variance to what they said).

This is the clinic I've mentioned before that is not doing COVID vaccinations, because, my GP said, they are too busy and can't spare the nursing or other staff. I was a bit annoyed, knowing that I'd have to take my chances with other places, but that worked out OK too.

I sacked a dietician once because she spent almost the whole appointment tapping into a computer.

 

[Lynda2475]

Many healthy adults dont have a regular GP, so may prefer to go to state run vaccination hub at local hospital or clinic oreven get their jab at work ala flu vaccinations (this is a huge opportunity once we get past the 1a and 1b categories).

Using vaccination centres also gets past the bias where practices dont want to see non regular patients and the ones who want you to pay for a consult first.

NSW wants more doses for state to distribute via hospitals and dedicated vaccination centres (the ines set up for 1a) rather than relying on small GP practices under federal program (phase 1b onwards). I think states can do it faster once doses are available given the speed at which they have done the non aged care bit of 1a.

 

[jb747]

You really have to hang onto a good GP when you find one.

I used the same doctor as both my GP and DAME (CASA) for about 20 years. For the last five, it was a three hour drive, for me to get to him. Eventually I retired, and it took a couple of years to find one that I liked locally. Turned out to be the son of a 747 pilot.

 

[Seat0B]

It seems some clinics will do it well and others not so perfectly. My experience today was the opposite of yours and I believe was facilitated by the booking system they were using (HotDoc). Online it allowed me to view available slots, fill in and submit the 2 questionnaires (1 COVID and the other a patient form as its not my usual GP), confirm my appointment and then it provided 2 follow up information emails post-vaccination.
They were completely ready for me and it allowed me to be through the front doors and into the carpark assessment area within 5 minutes. Like a well-oiled machine, vaccinators were churning out a patient about every 3 minutes.
At this clinic, it seemed to be best practice and appears it was definitely economically viable for them.

Do you mind saying which state/city? Just curious.

 

[Toula92122]

Yes in the bush you will see 1 doctor practices.The doctors are some of the most skilled in Australia as they really have to do everything.
But my GP is in a 3 doctor practice and prefers doing real medicine.
You would be amazed what some doctors are asked to do in the large corporate practices to increase turnover.Mass vaccinations suit their business plan admirably.

I think the best GPs I ever saw were in Alice Springs as think they had seen a lot of diseases and illnesses not commonly seen at big city practices.

 

[VPS]

Personally I wouldn't send my dog to one of the corporate GP practices.

I have seen and heard a lot of things along the lines of what drron alludes to that confirms that the standard of care there is not exactly...... up to my personal expectations.

And many of the vet practices are now corporatised as well

 

[Flying mermaid]

And many of the vet practices are now corporatised as well

And the same problem. The young vets are really dedicated but worked to death. Our vet sometimes phones at 8:30 at night or on a Sunday to discuss results. I don’t think the care is bad (although they do push every conceivable procedure and product), but I do worry a bit about the vets!

 

[drron]

And dentists now corporates as well.The dentist we used on the coast sold to a corporate about a year ago but stayed on.He left after a couple of months because of what was expected of him.
Interesting we could go to that dental practice for the covid vaccine.

And all older people should have a GP.I have been going regularly to mine for quite a few years.

 

[Pushka]

And dentists now corporates as well.The dentist we used on the coast sold to a corporate about a year ago but stayed on.He left after a couple of months because of what was expected of him.
Interesting we could go to that dental practice for the covid vaccine.

And all older people should have a GP.I have been going regularly to mine for quite a few years.

Well yes, as we age we need to find a GP dedicated to our own situation. I am doing that as of 18 months ago and being in her late thirties she didn't blink at all my issues and lupus. But best thing - her husband is a Qantas Pilot! But her clinic didn't opt for doing the vaccination.

 

[jonboixxx]

Do you mind saying which state/city? Just curious.

Sure. Nundah Village Family Practice, Brisbane. These guys have also run an adjacent COVID respiratory clinic, so are well prepared and structured for the vaccination rollout.

 

[drron]

The fact that her practice is not partaking in the vaccine roll out in my eyes is a positive.
Surely since this is a national effort and we have set up Government run Covid clinics why on earth couldn't they have been used as vaccination centres.Wouldn't take too much effort.

 

[Lynda2475]

Surely since this is a national effort and we have set up Government run Covid clinics why on earth couldn't they have been used as vaccination centres.Wouldn't take too much effort

Couldn't agree more

 

[Pushka]

The fact that her practice is not partaking in the vaccine roll out in my eyes is a positive.
Surely since this is a national effort and we have set up Government run Covid clinics why on earth couldn't they have been used as vaccination centres.Wouldn't take too much effort.

Because it is up to each state to deliver. And therein lies the issue. SA Health, other than managing Covid restrictions, has a less than positive management process.

But what exactly do you mean by Covid run clinics? Currently they don't want to know anyone who is not an SAHealth employee.

 

[dajop]

Just to share how it works in benevolent dictatorships (Singapore), registered interest in appointment about a week ago. Received an invite to make an appointment today, clicked on the link and filled in a form and then made my appointment at the nearby community centre for 8 April. and second 3 weeks later (Pfizer it would seem, the other one being used here is Moderna, which has 28 day interval). My partner did same (we're both around 50yo +/-). The process took about 2 minutes. High density populations, and a technology oriented government seem to make things a bit easier. Although for 60+ they've been sending out letters, and allowing phone appointments, but will be all electronic for younger generations.

Meanwhile back in regional Victoria, my 75 yo mother is not quite there yet with appointment has rung several clinics etc, her GP maybe getting it during April and taking appointments then.