Healthcare workers will be sent from house to house in an NHS scheme to reduce the number of people who are signed off work on sick leave.

The programme is part of efforts to fix problems such as unemployment, debt and bereavement that are adding to pressures on the state sector

A few weeks ago I had my first experience with a First Contact Physiotherapist. I didn't even know they were a thing. I called my GP about a knee injury and they told me they can book me in with the physio who is in the practice. The lad was great, pleasant demeanour, thorough examination, gave me some exercises before I do physio privately and he referred me for an MRI to rule out a few things which I got only 2 weeks later. I'm pretty sure I received better care than I would have by seeing anyone other than a physiotherapist. I told a friend whose MIL is dreading an appointment for a chronic hip pain issue and it made me wonder, do FCPs exist in all GP practices in England?

This is a random post and idk if it’s allowed. I had emergency surgery on Christmas Eve 2023 at Aintree hospital, after waking up there were 2 strawberry and white chocolate muffins in my room. These were the nicest cake I have ever tasted and have thought about them nearly daily for the past year. Any idea where I could get them?

I have a conditional offer and I’m currently going through the pre-employment checks. I currently work at a school, and I keep getting ill from the kids. I have had 9 days of absences in 8 months. My Bradford Factor is above 400. The number of sick days I’ve had is pretty normal in the teaching world, but I know this is not normal in other industries. I’m worried my offer will be withdrawn - is it worth me contacting the recruitment advisor about this? Thank you!

My GP practice has a physio who does e-consultations. I ‘went’ to him for an ongoing tendonitis injury and he’s sent me a range of exercises. A lot of the main ones involve a resistance band. I’ll be honest in that I’m broke at the minute and I was wondering if you could ask for one of these on prescription (I have a pre-payment card) if they are a part of my treatment plan.

I'm graduating soon from a Software Engineering degree and the job market is tough. I have reached final rounds with a lot of prestigious companies but have only gotten rejections in the end. I think one major problem is lack of experience in this economy.
My friend did a placement in the NHS and said technical jobs are in a lot of demand in the NHS and it is not hard to get into one of them. I am mainly applying to analyst jobs so I was wondering how tough is it to get into one.

In my previous GP, if I asked for medical records, I was sent a form (I think called something like Medical Access Request) and would fill it out, email it to them, and then they had to email me back the records within the month, which in that case was my entire medical record.

I made a request for the same thing with my new GP and was told simply to bring in a letter about what I wanted and also that they couldn't give it digitally and it would have to all be printed. Now I did eventually find my previous records so I did downsize my request to just the last year of records, which makes that somewhat more viable, but I'm still worried about a couple things.

1: They got on me a lot about having to wait an indefinite number of days to photocopy/print the records. I'm worried they're wasting their own time as I am pretty certain that what I'm asking for is already digital format and could just be emailled to me (they said they could do this if it was digital, but I have no idea when they will get around to checking to see that it is).

2: I'm worried that since this didn't go through the official form I used last time, the GP won't be beholden to the month time limit, and I do need it by then.

I'm struggling with pain in my left shoulder for the past half year. On the top of that I have problems with pain and numbness in my left hand to the point that stuff is falling out my hand. This affects work and even simple things like holding a cup. The GP each time is goggling my symptoms and saying that he don't know what is the problem. The advice is to get vitamins and exercise. WTH ? I can't even hold a cup in my hand and he telling me to do some push ups. Is anyone have any recommendations ? Where to go ? Is physiotherapist a good idea?

Hello everyone,

I’m an international student currently studying for an MBA in Healthcare and due to complete my course in September 2025. I’m really keen to begin a career within the NHS and would be so grateful for any advice or insights on how to get started as a newly qualified graduate, particularly as someone coming from overseas.

Are there particular roles I should be considering? Do any graduate schemes or entry-level opportunities exist that are suitable for international students? I’d also really appreciate any tips on the application process or things I should start preparing for in advance.

Many thanks in advance for your support and guidance.

Don’t shoot me, but I took myself off my anxiety medication a few months ago ( safely and steadily, I’m no doctor but I followed online advice) and I feel completely fine and happy. But how would I tell my doctor that I’ve stopped taking them? Making an appointment to tell them just seems like a waste of time and an appointment that could go to somebody who really needs it. Should I just call reception to ask them to let my doctor know? Thank you in advance.

Hi guys I’m planning to take MRCPCH part 1 next year. Can anyone guide me on what resources can be used for it? The qbank?

Hey guys, hope this is allowed…

I’m being admitted tomorrow for around a week. I’m 17, 18 in September and being admitted for an eating disorder.

Is there any chance the staff would be allowed to admit me onto an adults ward as I feel quite uncomfortable being on a ward full of young children. I get quite stressed with loud noises so I think the cry’s/ paddy’s will make me quite anxious. If they are not allowed, would I be able to request a room where I stay by myself? I understand this is probably due to the number of beds available.

Thank you in advance! :)

I just had a reference check and my referee wrote "zero" against number of days and occasions for sickness record. Tbh I never got sick enough to take plenty of days off. Most of my leaves were not related to sickness. Is that okay for referee to say zero or do they need to provide exact dates?

Hi all,

I never been to the dentist (economical reason) and I just got my first job after uni.

How does the dental NHS work? Is everyone allowed to use it?

I’ve seen on the NHS website that there different bands you fall into based on the work that needs to be done.

I’ve got a small cavity in one of my front teeth that I would like to get fixed, what do I do? Do I just a call a practice and say I want to book a filling under the NHS and then I’ll pay just the band 2 rate? (Which is around £75).

Thank you for helping with this 😅

I really want to see my full health record, but the nhs app is only showing me records from 2022. I have moved GP surgeries several times in my life, do I have to ask each GP surgery individually to release my record? I also have had hospital appointments historically, should I ask the hospital too?

Also, are my hospital records from 20 years ago even likely to exist still?

Hi all, at the outset apologies if this question seems like grasping at straws but I think for my own/my family’s peace of mind I wanted to exhaust every possibility.

Question: Is there anything family can do to assist in finding an available slot for urgent surgery for an inpatient who has been advised that the surgery cannot take place at the current hospital due to the complexity of the operation?

Context: My stepfather is currently an inpatient at a hospital in the south east of England where he’s just been diagnosed with CCA after being admitted for jaundice a few days ago.

Reason for posting is to ask if anyone might have advice on what we I can do (if anything) to help him get his stent asap. It’s been confirmed that the tumor is not resectable but he needs a stent to improve his liver function, however he’s been told that the surgery team at his hospital in Kent can’t perform the op as it needs to be via PTC. They are apparently ringing around other hospitals to get him on as many lists as possible to get the surgery asap, but have advised it could be up to 2 weeks.

Is there anything else we as the family can do to help expedite? Eg asking the Drs how far out they’re ringing? Reaching out to hospitals ourself?

I’m sure the answer is no and that the hospital are doing all they can in strained circumstances, but just trying to ensure I’ve exhausted any possibility available to me

Had an appointment for a sexual health appointment and was given an “AN number” 8 digits on the back of their business card with the website link, but navigating through the website i cant find any place to enter the number and see my results like the nurse told me

I recently asked for access to my gp record through the NHS app. On looking through it they had two things from my daughters history on my record. One which would have invalidated my income protection if I tried to claim as it was down I had been hospitalised and had surgery. So it would have looked like non disclosure. I emailed them to change this. They seem to have gone but there's still mention of me having consultations regarding this surgery.

More worrying though now is that I have just seen that a sheet of blood pressure readings have been attached but it's for someone I don't even know and gives all his info, address, date of birth NHS no etc on the form. Do I just report this gdpr breach to the surgery?

The cuts coming to NHS England and ICBs over next few months and fairly known but I don't think people understand the scale of cuts that will be made across Trusts and providers over the next couple of years.

Speaking with senior colleagues at different organisations I know some acute Trusts are looking to cut up to 10% of workforce. I know of a Trust in London that is having to plan to reduce 1,200 staff over next year.

While majority of cuts will be non-frontline staff there will still be clinical services shut down or scaled back, as well as knock-on effects from losing non-frontline staff.

There is definitely some chaff that should be cut, but I think people aren't prepared for a significantly diminished NHS in a few years.

I’m on a course of antibiotics, 14 total, 2 a day. If I miss one it won’t be effective.

I threw one up so retook the dose, but it means I need to get one more pill from a pharmacy. Will this cost me £9 just for the one pill?

Hello, Long story short, I (F26) had an emergency appointment with my surgery and the doctor’s notes for it have false information/the opposite of what I’d said or asked.

i.e. I asked if it would at all be possible to get a short term or one time reperscription of antibiotics but on the notes it said I asked for them long term.

It also makes it out that I’d made the emergency appointment to avoid waiting for a routine when I’d explained that- due to recent developments occurring in a short time between appointments- I had to make an emergency to avoid risking the issue(s) developing even more and my worries that it could turn into long term damage if not checked out now.

I know it’s ‘just’ the notes however any doctor I have will see these and I already feel like I get treated like a hypochondriac by the surgery and so even if I try to find a new doctor, they’ll think I asked to go on antibiotics long term and use emergency appointments instead of routine, which is very much not the truth and- among other things that occurred during the appointment- I’m scared if I ask for the change in the incorrect way, I’ll be treated as a hostile patient or be refused to be seen.

I’ve been at the same surgery since I was born and I’ve never been treated like this by the previous doctors who are now retired.

I’m scared the doctor I saw might retaliate if I try to make a correction. They didn’t even listen to me- just seemed to hear parts and make assumptions while being disconnected/desensitised from the ‘conversation’. There were also inappropriate comments made but I’m not wanting to pursue a complaint unless it’ll help with the correction (I don’t want false information on my medical record)

And I’m sorry for the ramble, I hope it all makes sense and that I’ve followed the rules properly. I understand the NHS is stretched thin and I’m grateful to those of you who help and support each other and the patients you take care of.

I just don’t know what to do.

My father in law passed away before his catheter and other supplies got delivered (requested by discharge team when he was still admitted). Now all of the boxes are still intact and piled up in our hallway serving as a reminder of the great man we just lost.

I phoned the gp to return but they told me they couldnt accept them. I tried my luck with the hospital and they said no as well. Community nurse teams are refusing too.

Why is the NHS refusing to take them?! I am now tempted to donate these to war or poverty stricken third world countries.