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Doctors

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Our doctors seems to think a phone call is all we need now, her indoors has problems with blood pressure, she gets it checked at the pharmacy adjoining the surgery. Last time she went the pharmacist said it rather high so I'll go into the surgery with you so you can make an appointment. The result of that was " the doctor will phone you in two weeks time" and she was given the date and estimated time for the call. o_O
hear hear izzy
 
at one time a visit to the dr was private..not now what you say and have wrong with you goes on the pc, any tom dick and harry can have a look
:mad:
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Attending an appointment I found that my doctor for many years had moved to another surgery.I was seen by a locum who referred me to the hospital for tests.I had a tumour which needed removing.
After the op,during recovery,I discovered that my doctor had moved to the group practice nearby.I made an appointment and when I saw him he said " Well well,I haven't seen you for ages ".
I said " No,I've been ill "!!
 
Our doctors seems to think a phone call is all we need now, her indoors has problems with blood pressure, she gets it checked at the pharmacy adjoining the surgery. Last time she went the pharmacist said it rather high so I'll go into the surgery with you so you can make an appointment. The result of that was " the doctor will phone you in two weeks time" and she was given the date and estimated time for the call. o_O
The system here took a bit of getting used to. A visit to the doctor is chargeable at fixed rates set by the state, and then a percentage is reimbursed by the state, and the rest is paid by your own health top up insurance. For those of limited means, the state runs a top up scheme which is free based on a means test. If you wish, you can opt for a zoom or FaceTime consultation, which is charged and reimbursed as if it was an in person visit.
For an urgent hospital visit, the doctor will sort it directly. For a visit to a specialist, the doctor will hand over an introductory letter and you sort it yourself with whoever you want. My doctor wanted me to see an Endocrinologist, so armed with the letter, I chose one in the town of Albi and made an online appointment. Why Albi ? Because it is a lovely old town with the biggest brick built cathedral in the world. Saw the specialist, then we spent the rest of the day having a nice meal and wandering around with Julie. Nice day out.
As long as health care is centred on my doctor, I am free to choose my own specialists.
My doctor, and nurse like to have a recent blood pressure to look at each consultation. I do that myself with an automatic cuff, filling in a sheet over 3 days. They also like regular blood tests, so I have a prescription lasting a year for the various factors to be monitored. I walk into the health centre when I need to, no appointment, they extract the red stuff, and I get the results online the next day. The doctor also gets a copy directly. If I am in town, I can go directly to the testing laboratory that the health centre uses. Or anywhere else that does blood tests that might be convenient at the time. If the doctor sees something irregular, she will call me in. If I see something, then I will make an appointment, otherwise it is a 3 monthly cycle alternating with the nurse. The results I get also show the previous results, and the expected range for each factor for guidance.
Because doctors work within a charging system, they tend to feel that they must deliver value for money. I can't just have a repeat prescription, it has to be a mini health check every time. Normally a visit is about 20 min. That's fine though.

Andrew.
 
I have had many appointments at my local medical centre, some with nurses, some with nurse practitioners and some with doctors. All NHS.
 
at one time a visit to the dr was private..not now what you say and have wrong with you goes on the pc, any tom dick and harry can have a look
:mad:
View attachment 182231
Patient records are confidential except in very specific circumstances. Here's a quick summary of position:

Can anyone else see my records?

Your health records are confidential. The NHS shouldn't show your health records to anyone without your consent. Unless they share information with other NHS or social care staff members who are involved in your care.
 
Hi. I used this doctors from the 50s until the 70s and remember both Dr Essen and Dr Allen. Do you remember the other doctor, a lady who was just called Dr K. Her name was difficult to pronounce. Did you go to Yarnfield school, I was there from 1955 until 1962.
I went to Yarnfield School 1946- 1954. Dr K or Kaczmarska was a Polish doctor who , I think replaced Dr Essen. The surgery moved further up Spring Road towards Bowsteads paper shop. Dr K died in mysterious circumstances
 
Patient records are confidential except in very specific circumstances. Here's a quick summary of position:

Can anyone else see my records?

Your health records are confidential. The NHS shouldn't show your health records to anyone without your consent. Unless they share information with other NHS or social care staff members who are involved in your care.
that what i said anyone in nhs can login and have a look. i went to the chemist, he said i will have alook at your med history. i went to the hospital they said the same, the rec at the quacks can. if joe blocks gets the password he too can have a look. i think i am going to ask to opt out of the club
 
I only discovered this thread recently but looking back I saw mention of a Dr. Gourevitch. He was my Grandmother's GP in Aston. I recall that she admired him greatly, to the point that she kept this newspaper cutting concerning one of his sons. Sadly the date of publication is unknown.
 

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I only discovered this thread recently but looking back I saw mention of a Dr. Gourevitch. He was my Grandmother's GP in Aston. I recall that she admired him greatly, to the point that she kept this newspaper cutting concerning one of his sons. Sadly the date of publication is unknown.

Arnold Gourevitch​

Former consultant surgeon Birmingham (b Paris 1914; q London 1936; FRCS), died from pneumonia on 5 February 2004.

During the second world war Arnold helped establish a hospital west of Canea, Crete. After being captured by the Germans, he and another doctor climbed the wire and escaped. He was awarded the Military Cross, ending the war at Trieste, Italy, and being demobilised in 1946. He was appointed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and Dudley Guest Hospital, and later to the Birmingham Children's Hospital. In the early 1960s he spent time in Ethiopia, teaching and operating and helping to develop a new medical school. In 1973 he took time off to help Israeli surgeons in the Yom Kippur war. He leaves a wife, Corinne; five children; and nine grandchildren.

(My underlining)
 

Arnold Gourevitch​

Former consultant surgeon Birmingham (b Paris 1914; q London 1936; FRCS), died from pneumonia on 5 February 2004.

During the second world war Arnold helped establish a hospital west of Canea, Crete. After being captured by the Germans, he and another doctor climbed the wire and escaped. He was awarded the Military Cross, ending the war at Trieste, Italy, and being demobilised in 1946. He was appointed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and Dudley Guest Hospital, and later to the Birmingham Children's Hospital. In the early 1960s he spent time in Ethiopia, teaching and operating and helping to develop a new medical school. In 1973 he took time off to help Israeli surgeons in the Yom Kippur war. He leaves a wife, Corinne; five children; and nine grandchildren.

(My underlining)
A wonderful human being!
 
Does anyone remember a Dr Sangster (H J Sangster I think). His surgery was on Gravelly Hill Erdington 1950's / 60's?
I do, he was our family doctor for years when I was a child. He was Scottish ? We lived on Kingsbury Rd. I remember him as a kind man, v helpful to my widowed mother
 
I do, he was our family doctor for years when I was a child. He was Scottish ? We lived on Kingsbury Rd. I remember him as a kind man, v helpful to my widowed mother
hi ada...that was in the day when the family doctor almost became family...sadly these days we dont always get to see the same doctor..my dad used to drink with our family doctor :) and when he retired dad took a good bottle of whiskey down to the surgery

lyn
 
I have mentioned our doctor on here before the wonderful Richard Pomeroy R.I P.

He delivered my son 50 years ago and delivered most of the babies in Chelmsley around then.
The old surgery was demolished a few years ago and a new Medical centre was built in the road now named Pomeroy Way, a lovely tribute to a lovely man.
 
On off topic but it seems that Birminghams planning horizon is 50 or 60 years then they tear everything down, re Albertas statement above, the Bull Ring, Perry Barr? That is a vey low and expensive horizon. One could have some pretty draconian thoughts about the planners there! It’s not about criticism it’s about careing.
 
Are there any past Harborne-ites reading? Maybe you went to Dr. McCook?

In the '50s when I was just single-figures old our Dr. was the very pleasant Dora K. McCook with a soft Scottish burr in her voice.

Her surgery was on High Street around a dozen properties down from the Post Office, in the photo possibly the further of the redbrick houses just down from Paynes though I am more drawn to the lower-roofed houses next to those - that the lady on her bike will be passing in just a second or two ... now!

There was a low garden gate that opened inward with a thumb-lever, and a path to the door past a small front garden and I can still clearly see - and smell, but not in a bad way - her waiting room that was the hallway inside with 4/5 barley-twist legged wooden dining chairs facing each other on the two sides: the door in the far-left was her office, which was the front room alongside in what I assume was her house.

Nothing but nice memories of someone I was always perfectly happy to be visiting if a need arose.
 

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Just thought I would leave this here. Over here we have a gov sponsored health website, for doctors to leave prescriptions, and for specialists to leave reports for docs etc. There is a section to update your own details, so I thought I would update my current weight as it has gone down lately (hurrah). The page comes up "Enter your weight, value must be between 1 and 600 KG". (I was so tempted, just to see if anyone noticed. But I resisted).
Andrew.
 
Hi Amanda

Yes I remember Dr Gubbins . Was there another Dr , I seem to recall the name of Dr Tighe or something like that ? I vaguely remember Mum having a card that she used to pay money on . It all seems a million years away , but reading the memories of everyone else on this brilliant site does help to jog the old memory.

Isobel
I think this would have been too long ago for anyone to remember but my mum said my 2x grt grandmother used to get a few pence from the doctor to go in and help with births and pop in to look after the Mothers for a couple of weeks afterwards. Her name was Susan English and when she remarried Susan Hudson. She lived at 81 Henry Street. She died in the late 1940s I think.
 
The 1911 census gives Susan English as at 89 Henry St, but she probably moved (not very far)
 
Anyone remember a Doctor who lived/worked out of his house situated on the right hand side of Wood End Road above Rookery Park Erdington in the late 1960's early '70's ? I can't remember his name but I was recommended him and registered with him and the following month he saw me on a home visit when I was laid low with a bad dose of 'flu not long after I moved to Erdington to start my first teaching post in 1969!
Looking google maps was the house/surgery where a nursery now is?
 
In 1970, James Houston, physician & surgeon, was at 134 Wood End Road, which is where the nursery now is
Much appreciated. Am in the process of writing about the years I spent working and living in Erdington and Sutton Coldfield so may be posting more questions in the future!
 
Dr Francis owned the surgery on the corner of Weoley Castle Road, It was a big white house, he had his own honey hives. Rode a bike and had a dark beard.
 
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a visit to our doc you seen the recepionist who looked your name up from a few cards in a wooden draw she gave you the card and you sat in a converted front room of the docs house that had a gas fire when it was your turn in you went give the doc the card:grinning:
 
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