GP's

[Sotv]

I think government sentiment is leaning towards face-to-face consultations. NHS England advice certainly does, as per the letter issued in May this year.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/w...-FINAL.pdf

I know for an absolute fact that our surgery is not aligned with this advice. When you (eventually) get through on the phone, you have to listen to almost 10 minutes of pre-recorded waffle, the main theme of which is "you will not be able to see a doctor in person". The Health Centre main entrance and the GP practice entrance are adorned with "do not enter without an appointment" signs. Doors are locked.

Of course the practice nurses are still seeing patients, they've never stopped. Difficult to imagine why it's different for them risk-wise. But you are welcomed in by the last surviving receptionist with a curt "sanitise your hands" - not even a please or a smile.

It's gone to shit, the staff (medical and support) don't seem to realise, or maybe they don't care. It's not just about funding, politicization of NHS services, Covid or anything else. Some of it is about public sector attitude and sense of entitlement. We patients are paying customers, not recipients of charity. But GP practices don't seem to see it that way.

+1 - 
this is the inevitable result of forcing people to pay for a service and not giving them the ability to take their money elsewhere if they are not happy with service levels. 
Even if you opt to go private your GP is still getting their cut of the money taken from your wages before you've even seen it.
One of the biggest con tricks of the state is to silently take your money then make a big fan fare about giving you a little bit of it back.