GP - is it worth it?
Posted by Weary_Bat2456@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 46 comments
For context, I haven't been to a GP in years. I went once just after the pandemic due to an allergy and she just used the NHS website to tell me what to do.
Is going to a GP for a general checkup a thing and is it worth it? I feel I should go, as it's been a long time, but is it even possible to just go in without a specific reason? I know it sounds like a silly question but I genuinely have no idea and considering the work I do it seems like something that would be a good thing to do.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
They'll weigh you, measure your blood pressure, ask a few lifestyle questions. There's really nothing to lose except a few minutes of your time.
West_Category_4634@reddit
The GPs at my local practise have always been condescending and less useful than Google tbh.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
There's quite a difference between you Googling something, and someone with a medical degree Googling.
Civil-Koala-8899@reddit
Yes let's not forget that GPs, however much people like to talk down about them these days, have minimum 10 years of medical training to get to where they are (5 years med school + 5 years post graduate training).
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
I have noticed that GPs do respond better with you, and are less dismissive, if you're a bit more educated; which is a shame.
Weary_Bat2456@reddit (OP)
When I was younger my mother would go with me to the GP saying exactly what was wrong with me and the GP would often look at her with a 'how dare you know exactly what's wrong with your son' kind of look
vipros42@reddit
Bluntly, no. Without a specific reason you are unlikely to even be able to get an appointment and if you do it will last about 5-10 minutes tops.
Some places offer health check appointments on the NHS but not sure how widespread or for what age groups.
You can also pay for private health checks which entail blood work, various tests and the opportunity to generally have a chat with a much more relaxed doctor, but they are pricy
throwaway768977@reddit
Health checks are for 40-74 year olds without pre existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, CKD ect. They usually check height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and HbA1c (test for diabetes) and other lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol intake.
QueefInMyKisser@reddit
When do I get another one? Had one when I was 40 and I was in pretty good shape then. Now I’m 45 and fat. Do I have till I’m 50 to get back into shape?
LakesRed@reddit
Yeah I'm over 40 and got a text offering me one. I ignored it. I already know I'm fat and drink more than is recommended, I don't need to occupy NHS resources to figure that one out.
vipros42@reddit
Assumed that was probably the case. I'm in my early 40s so I get the reminders
Kaioken64@reddit
When I first registered with my GP they booked an appointment with me for a "health check".
Complete waste of time. Didn't actually check anything, just asked a few questions and told me to lose weight and cut down on drinking.
No_Preference9093@reddit
On the opposite end, I told them how much I actually drink (hardly anything) and the strongly insinuated I must be lying?
Tonythetigertits@reddit
To be fair they have told you two things to improve your health
Kaioken64@reddit
Well yeah, but I didn't need to take time out of work and go to a GP to be told them lol.
Tonythetigertits@reddit
Yeah you'd of thought so. They do at the over 40s health check
LakesRed@reddit
Yeah I'm over 40 and got a text offering me one. I ignored it. I already know I'm fat and drink more than is recommended, I don't need to occupy NHS resources to figure that one out.
Ok_Adhesiveness_8637@reddit
10 mins is all you get at the local surgery.
Son can't poo? 10 mins
Your about to jump off a building? 10 mins
Need a repeat script because once again, they didn't put your asthma inhalers on repeat... 10 mins.
Otherwise_Cut_8542@reddit
If you want a blood pressure check you can go to a pharmacy instead. That’s a good starting point to check your health, but unless you “need” an appointment, or are in certain age or vulnerability groups it will be hard to get an appointment without a legitimate concern.
If you went in without any concerning symptoms the GP wouldn’t do anything except take your blood pressure anyway. They aren’t going to do tests unless there is a specific reason. That’s said, if you do have any concerns at all, that is a legitimate reason for them to review you and get the relevant tests
Bobinthegarden@reddit
I think you need to be over 40 in a pharmacy, but some GPs have a machine in the waiting room that anybody can use.
I don’t think it’s silly really. It’s preventative if anything, we don’t do much of that in the UK. Big fan of Dan Buettner here who has somewhat ropey but mostly scientifically backed information on longevity (blue zones was disproved, but his ideas are rooted in things we understand well anyway.)
OkayTimeForTheTruth@reddit
They do blood pressure checks for anybody in my local Boots
Bobinthegarden@reddit
Thats good to know, my bro was diagnosed with HBP before he was 40 but only by symptoms.
BG3restart@reddit
I'm 62 now and I do find that the GP listens to me more than when I was younger. I used to get fobbed off with a 'you'll just have to live with it' answer and it took three years of going back and forth with something that was really getting me down before I finally got referred to a specialist who sorted my problem within three months. Recently I went about a couple of things that were bothering me and weren't normal for me and I was immediately booked in for a full set of blood tests and an urgent CT scan of my head requested in case I'd had a stroke. I hadn't and I'm fine now, but it was reassuring to be listened to.
NecktieNomad@reddit
If you want a general health check and there’s nothing specifically worrying you, there’s more options than your GP, even at your GP’s surgery! As others have said, pharmacies can offer basic screening and advice and surgeries may offer nurse or nurse practitioner appointments.
Remarkable-Shoe-4835@reddit
No you’d have to pay privately for general checkup so to speak. GPs barely wanna talk to you when you have an issue, let alone none. They’re actually pretty useless in my opinion even with issues, 111 is the way to go.
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
I’m not entirely certain in saying this so don’t take it as such but I think NHS GP’s tend to offer “general MOT’s” when you get to 40+… so I’m not sure they will entertain you if you don’t have a direct concern?
I might get downvoted for using private healthcare but it is what it is and there we go - I get an annual checkup as part of my overall package and I think you can pursue one (at cost obviously) without having to fully commit to going private on a permanent basis… could be an option…
OkayTimeForTheTruth@reddit
Why would you get downvoted for that? I think anyone who can afford private healthcare should use it if they want to.
(Not for any moral reasons... Just because it's better!)
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
You’d be surprised!
Apparently it contributes to the disassembling of the NHS…
Not an argument I want again.
oliviaxlow@reddit
Does your work offer private health checks at all? I just went for a Nuffield 360 paid for by work, it was brilliant. Like a full body MOT with a written report and advisories. Highly recommend.
dazed1984@reddit
No. They’re so busy you’re not going to get an appointment, you’d have to go private.
culturerush@reddit
I work in a GP surgery
It depends how old you are
If your under 40 then no
After 40 is when we start doing some of the annual health checks, blood pressure, cholesterol etc
If your over 40 and haven't been checked for a while it's worth doing for the preventative medicine aspect
MFA_Nay@reddit
Big fan of going to a doctor as a way not to die or get ill.
Honestly bit of a daft question.
If you have a reason or concern, go book an appointment with your GP.
Civil-Koala-8899@reddit
They don't have a specific reason though, that's why they're asking
Girl-From-Mars@reddit
I think it depends on your age, how long it has been since you saw the doctor and what you're worried about.
I remember getting a repeat prescription and the doctor put a note on it to say I was to come in again for a review at they hadn't seen me in a while. So they do sometimes offer general check ups. But it may depend on your history.
As a side, you can buy blood pressure monitors for yourself these days for fairly cheap. My mother actually went in to your doctor based on the result of it so you could try that or if you have any niggles go for an appointment based on that and chances are they will check your weight and blood pressure while you're there.
NeedCake707@reddit
If you feel it would put your mind at rest, then go for it. But as others have said it would probably be hard to get an appointment. Pharmacies can be a good starting point for weight, BP etc. they're being given the authority to do more and more.
PatTheCatMcDonald@reddit
Very often a nurse will just do height, weight, blood pressure tests. Maybe take a blood test to check chloreserol levels.
GPs are more when you have a specific sympton these days.
mibbling@reddit
The reason the NHS don’t offer general checkups like this to the ‘worried well’ is that (aside from cost, which is the bigger reason!) you can run a plethora of tests on someone and eventually one will come up positive. Whether or not it’s a false positive, and whether or not it’s a marker of something causing issues for that person’s body specifically, is a WHOLE other question.
missuseme@reddit
I've gone backwards and forwards so many times on my opinion on this.
I used to be fairly strongly against regular checks due to the reasons you stated. These days I do think we should be better at preventative healthcare.
Milam1996@reddit
The problem is that it’s not preventative. You’re just searching out false positives. There’s only so many mri machines and blood test machines in the country. If everyone starts using them for no reason you’re pushing back the people who actually need them. We do mass prevention care when it’s appropriate I.e bowel cancer tests at 50 because that’s where the evidence shows a benefit. Mass bowel testing every 20 year old will have incredibly low success rates and will delay the 50 year old tests. It’s a total waste of time, money and general resources.
DameKumquat@reddit
They'll probably arrange a checkup with a nurse (and if you're 40, definitely want to arrange one).
They'll do height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, discuss your lifestyle etc, then may request some blood tests or refer you to the GP if there's an actual concern. Handy to have some baseline data on hand
Stinkinhippy@reddit
Have been wondering about this myself.. I generally avoid doctors at all costs, i spend enough time there for work, i don't need to be there on my days off too.
That said, i've hit my 40's and grew up with the old jokes about turning 40 and the doctor starts rubber gloving each time you go in and all that... feel like i should at least go and have some face time with a medical professional as it's been best part of 20 years at this point, lol.
Fresh-Research3450@reddit
It depends on your age, it's good to know your blood pressure as it's symptomless to have high blood pressure but can cause heart problems, I would say yes, go for a general check up and say you would like to have your blood pressure checked, it might be a nurse who checks you not the doctor, if they find anything unusual then you can see a doctor.
Fit-Breakfast-3116@reddit
I’m not sure I get what you mean, are you saying you’re in general good health and don’t have active concerns, but are just worried cos you haven’t see a doctor for a while?
IIRC if you’re over 40 in England you can get a general health check via your GP, that would be perfectly reasonable to ask for
Fun-Explanation-8278@reddit
It’s a good thing for everybody to do. I don’t know your age but if you’re “young” they may try palming you off because as we all know, younger people are immortal.
Alternatively you could try one of the many private blood testing clinics. They can screen a huge amount of markers and often test more than the NHS.
frailstateofmind_@reddit
If you feel like you need to go the GP, why not? What are you really losing apart from the 10 minutes or so?
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