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@DominicS 

Last reply

DominicS

Please can you help?

Primary care issues for MSers - your GP. What you want to know, your chance to ask. - I have convinced, much to my own surprise, my neighbour to be interviewed. She is a GP (not mine, that is creepy). Whilst I have a few questions rolling around in my head it would be really fab if you’d post in the comments here anything that you’d like to know about how the changes to GPs from Covid-bloody19 affect you, the MS patient. - Preferably not general but really about how much your GP relationship and needs from primary care are in question. Now is the chance. I just ask Nicky (Dr Osboutne if you prefer) and she will answer them as best she can. If not she will be able to signpost the answers.
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@Vixen
@Vixen
 

Hi, my understanding about the list/letters for vulnerable patients, is that the 12-week letters are decided by NHS England. However, is it correct that next GPs will be expected to trawl through their own patient lists to find further instances? (If so, good luck with that one!) UK MSers two weeks ago were on the Government list as a vulnerable patient. However, we've now been demoted, I believe. AS a GP, what would you recommend as being the single-most credible advice at this time, for our condition? As MS services are currently being redeployed to help manage hospitals with the crisis, who is the best person to help an MSer be guided as to if they are safe to be back at work.? At the moment, its 'only really if necessary' to be at work. Thanks!

@ItsMewithMS
@ItsMewithMS
 

Sorry to say but I don't consult with my GP much on issues as I really don't find them very knowledgeable about MS and our challenges. On the other had my Neuro says I should take issues that aren't directly tied to MS to my GP. I have refused him in this saying that until he can "cure" MS he can at least help me manage symptoms. I admit that wasn't very nice of me ;-) but that is how I feel. The GPs don't really get issues like spasms, spasticity, sleep issues, MS Fatigue, badder/bowel, etc. when they are related to or caused by MS. My Neuro really doesn't seem very well trained in them either as he is really a Neurology specialist. So that leaves us a bit un and under served. How does she see that gap being filled? what can we do to help that and what should our Drs do? Of course that can also lead to the issues noted above by @vixen how do we navigate through the forms and services we need and/or are due? Again-my perspective and how the system works for me being in the US is different than in the UK or when we are in different health systems and governments.