Major thread drift here, but hey that's what's great about this place.
I do apologise to everybody else for the ouburst above (except for Mr_Grubby....such a big man on the internet!). My comment about how crap the NHS is was flippant, however IMHO is can be the target of some major citicism. It wasn't a cheap shot at those professionals who work it.
The "evolution" of the sytem into what it serves as now is not very promising. And I realise a huge premise to improving it is both money and staff. Yet the government is prepared to inject God know's how much into a bid for the Olympics. *scratches head*
Concepts like 24 hour medical centres that are not associated with hospital A&E's are nothing new. And from personal experience, pray you don't move house on a Friday and require a doctor on Saturday afternoon. I had this situation only a few weeks ago. Contacted NHS direct to obtain a doctor for my wife.........they sent TWO Ambulance vehicles! On arrival they mooted taking her to A&E. Saturday night in an A&E for a throat infection..............don't think so. The Ambos suggested contact NHS Direct again and obtain a house call. Call 'em up, guess what. As we hadn't registered with a new doctor in the area (we hadn't even been here 24 hours), and were still registered with our old doctor (who understandably wouldn't travel 40 miles), we couldn't get a doctor out. We tried everything. No luck. The NHS Direct supervisor was adament, and kept saying "This is why you need to register as soon as you move". Their suggestion........take her to A&E!!! Great system.
And I'll only brush over the day surgery appointment to get a suspicious "spot".......and the notification of the appointment arrived 2 weeks after the date of the appointment (true story!!!)
So, you'll have to forgive me if I seem a little cynical regarding the system. And getting back to the origin of the thread, I didn't know about 7 days self certification before the requirement for a sick note. And if doctors are issuing and charging inside the 7 days, I fail to see the logic.
Last edited by Hawk; 28th January 2004 at 18:19.