Consideration from GP

The GP is surely there to pay attention to you as you weigh up the facts and to offer an opinion if you have missed a salient point? Otherwise what is the point of their existence?. If they are not interested in people then we would be better served by a bank of computers that weigh up the options and print out the results.

annemac
I need to correct you I’m afraid. My daughter and her husband are GPs. Last weekend by son in law did a shift during which time he visited nine care homes that had Covid19 patients. He only had two masks for the whole shift. In addition both my daughter and her husband are still doing some one on one surgeries. They do not know who will walk through the door and if they are seeing a patient rather than doing a phone consultation, it means the patient needs to be examined. Personal examinations require the doctor and patient to be in close contact, a patient cannot be examined from a distance of two metres. Your comment’GPs are not busy’ I find to be disgraceful. You are wrong on so many counts, GP receptionist or not, you clearly know nothing about their jobs. The reputation of GP receptionists who know better than the doctor is clearly alive and well.

GPS are notcbusycyouccan get a phone appointment and video consultation straight away at our surgery.My GP has told me how strange it is with no patient at the surgery.One of our GP as gone back to work in ITU as he felt he could do more with his time there.Its only a temporary arrangement

I am on lock down now for 12 weeks, but had a post op follow up telephone appointment with my Consultant last Friday - all i well other than having had only ONE lot of catheter care in 14 days, I ended up back in hospital again twice with a raging kidney infection not surprisingly, but they also discovered a 3cm solid lesion on my left kidney too ...... so today I am off for a CT Scan. Hopefully the speediness of the scan doesn't mean anything other than that they haven't much to do?? It is scary I agree, but I will go masked and gloved etc as they will also be .... good luck with your decision Lucky x

Really empathise Luckygirl. At this time any little thing can make me cry. Surely a GP of all people would understand this is really hard for all of us. Definitely go to another GP in the practice. I am a bit surprised because I imagined in this unusual period, people were being kinder. Anyway as I said I do empathise Luckygirl. Hope your procedure eventually works out x

Luckygirl, my condolences for the loss of your husband at this most difficult time.

Whatever decision you make, and we have no concept of your medical situation, take care and follow all professional advice.

It's sad that your G P has not spoken words that have been of more comfort or support to you.

Be safe, be strong and look after yourself.

Luckygirl
I’m so sorry you had such a poor experience from your doctor and receptionist. No receptionist has any right at all to deny you an appointment. She is not a doctor and is not able to make medical decisions. You also had a poor quality consultation with your doctor, so I would request a second consultation with a different doctor in the practice, as others have said.

I’m very sorry for your loss, and especially at this really difficult time for everyone

I phoned on Tuesday for an appointment with my doctor as I was severely breathless. I suspected I had a clot in my lung and told the receptionist this. It took two hours for the doctor to ring me back! Then I went to the surgery car park where the doctor tested my oxygen levels and eventually she sent me to A&E. stayed in overnight and I had several blood clots in my lung. I’m home with blood thinners but no advice on how to exercise etc. No family nearby.

Lucky I am so sorry that you were treated like this, especially when you must be feeling so emotionally raw. It hurts, doesn't it. My Dd was treated very rudely by one of the doctors at her surgery, so she went to the reception desk and requested that a note be put on her records that she did not wish to be treated by that particular doctor ever again. She didn't give a reason but felt that that was enough to make it clear that she was unhappy with her treatment.

I think your GP may be under alot of stress as lots are working more than usual at the moment. As I'm not privy to the actual conversation, the problem is she can't professionally advise what you should do. She should outline everything but ultimately the decision is yours. See what another doctor advises or speak to the hospital.

Have you anyone you can chat to to speak it through with? A friend or family member.

Lucky ,I am sorry that you were treated like ,there really no excuse for bad manners,I too had a similar experience last week.so I rang again and.asked for.another GP to call me back.I wrote my concerns down which he answered and this was the outcome I needed,perhaps you could try again.I hope you are successful.

I am shocked that the receptionist, at first, would not book an appointment for you, it’s not up to the receptionist to say that you can’t have an appointment. Very glad that the second time the receptionist was a bit kinder. Although we are all going through a difficult time, all the more reason to be a bit kinder to each other.

Would it help to make a list of pros and cons re the hospital appointment.

What will happen if I go ahead?

What will happen if I don’t?

I agree with your Doc - you are the only one that can make that decision - however, it could have been put over in a nicer way.

Good luck

I have no advice or experience in this but reading through the replies to the original posting I am in awe of the lovely people who can give great advice & sympathy.
This is what GN does so very well.
I hope you get it all sorted out soon.xx

Inishowen, good closed diverticular disease group on fb, join out if can.

Luckygirl, that was bad of GP, see another one when next able to. Am sorry for your loss. Good luck deciding re op.

Sorry, not feeling good but wanted to send best wishes.

On the whole I have great GPs, but the one thing which I find unhelpful is when they sonetimes say, "you need to be pragmatic" which I find the most unhelpful word ever, if like me - and you - you have to weigh up things, (as I have multiple illnesses). I am always that person who if I write a list of pros and cons for something they usually come to the same tally!! Pragmatic is the same to me!!

I certainly know my GPs are 'tense' right now, as one GP and her husband, (a hospital Cardiology Consultant), have both been very ill with Covid-19 and 3 or 4 staff have had it too, but not as bad.

One lovely young lady GP who calls me for a Telephone Consultation weekly - due to several serious issues with my health right now - which I really appreciate, is back doing full-time, when she normally does 2/3 days, and her husband is working at home, plus home schooling their eldest and taking care of their toddler. I can understand many GPs are struggling.

I think at this point in time you simply have to speak to family, and anyone medical you might happen to know, and along with their input, go with your gut instinct too on making a decision.

As to GP's being busy. How is it that I can get a same day appointment with most of our doctors without any bother. The last appointment I had my GP said she was working from home so did not have all the info with her. She was very nice and caring but she rang me on time and did not give the impression she was over stretched.

In answer to your question about the consultants Lucky I have a friend whose son is a consultant. He went back to his normal work this week doing endoscopies. Instead of doing 20 a day he is now doing 4 because after each one the room has to be deep cleaned and he has to changed his PPE. He is very frustrated.

I have also followed your posts and I am so sorry this all happened with the GP. Re the hospital visit and treatment my brother had to go and have some treatment two weeks ago, he first saw a receptionist who had a mask on and was directed to the nurse who was fully gowned, then he was sat in a waiting room that usually took about 50 people, there were two other gents in there and they all sat as far apart as possible. Once he was taken through he saw nobody else but the nurse who treated him, everyone was gowned and masked. I hope this helps a bit. Do try and speak to the nice Dr next time.

I’m sorry you had such an upsetting call with the GP but I’m not surprised . I honestly find GP’s pretty hopeless ! In fact if it was down to my GP I might be dying now instead of cured! I research my own illnesses and push for what I want ! I’m lucky in that they are usually cooperative 1) to get rid of me 2) not to bother doing the job. So if I were you I would love to make my own decision! I find NHS hospitals marvellous ! GP’s hopeless. I would listen to the specialists in the hospital. Weigh up risks of delaying it v risk of Covid. If you lose chance of treatment, or it’s vital, more important. But if it’s for something not life threatening maybe ok to delay. Is your hospital a good one in a good area with a good reputation? Big difference between Imperial health in London and Liverpool pathway hospitals.

Sadly this can happen. There are good and poor GP’s in all practices. Your experience is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. The only way to improve doctor/patient relationship is to let them know when you are unhappy with any part of a consultation. A GP cannot use the excuse of being busy especially now.. They are paid to do a job of there own choosing and care for patients. You are probably like many in a very dark place at the moment so needed reassurances which you failed to get. We are all feeling under strain and tearful at this time and my heart goes out to you grieving loss of your partner...l

Sorry for your loss and for the problems you are having with your GP, some of them have no empathy whatsoever.

My OH has dementia and in the late stages, now confined to bed and hardly eating and drinking. I have Emphysema but have been his carer for many years since he had two brain tumours. I'm one of the 50s women who has to wait until I'm 66 for my pension (I'm 65 now) so I rang the GP to ask if he would do a fit to work letter so I could claim ESA (we live off OH pension and carers allowance). He was quite offhand and said I've looked at your notes and you've only got mild COPD you can go and get a job. He obviously hadn't because the hospital diagnosed my condition and now with telephone appointments they don't seem to care. I hope things work out for you xx

I can quite understand your feelings I think. If it were me, it would feel as if she hadn't listened to or understood, and that it was basically a rejection of me, especially if I were going through what you have had to cope with Luckygirl. I think it shows what a caring person you are that you considered her own stress levels, despite being so hurt!

For whatever reason, you have not been treated with what you need and are entitled to. I would do what many others have said and ask for an appointment with someone else at the practice to go through the medical advice that you need to make your decision.

I do hope this gets sorted out for you; it sounds like a very difficult time for you. Please remember that you DO matter, and you have a right to expect to be treated fairly. xxx

Lucky girl, I am sorry for the loss of your husband You are only recently bereaved and most probably not yourself at the moment, you are still grieving.

Having a consultation can be stressful at any time but with the added strain of your bereavement, C-19 and your health issues, you may not be your usual self and therefore have a different view of how it went

To those who think GP's are not busy, I despair. Seeing patients, face to face is, surprisingly, only some of their work. My GP daughter has set up a C-19 respiratory hub which has taken an enormous amount of time, as has trying to buy PPE on the open market and dealing with the CCG and Government departments. Sometimes working from awakening at 5.00 am until bed, she has little left to give. I may be able to speak to her whilst she is driving home, usually around 9.30pm. if I ask how her children are, the answer is "I don't know, haven't seen them".

I relate the above to try to give a better understanding of the pressures that the profession have at the moment and yes, many others have been under immense strain too but I can only relate to what I know.

Your GP may have just have heard sad news either personally or about a patient or perhaps just given a patient news of a poor prognosis - you won't know.

It goes without saying that your GP should treat you professionally but please forgive her if she was not at her best on this one occasion.

Patients are now treated in a more inclusive way and there is less of the "I am telling you what to do" attitude so perhaps your doctor was trying to help you reach a decision in a collaborative manner.

You mention that you have known your GP for a long time. If this is the one time you feel let down by her, perhaps both she and you are having an off day - we all have them. Don't jeopardise your relationship for one occurance.

Personally, I have had two recent telephone consultations with my GP which were excellent and bar some conditions, I would be happy to continue these

I have also had three hospital appointments cancelled - they were obviously not important enough to risk going in/not enough staff to see me. If it is suggested that your appointment goes ahead, there is probably a good reason and I would try to attend.

I understand that many cancelled hospital appointments will shortly begin to made again. I guess that it's hoped that those staff and buildings roped in for C-19 useage will be made available.

I hope that you have been able to reach a conclusion as to your appointment and that you will soon feel better.

Yes can you ask the nurse who you spoke with to ask consultant for a phone consultation beforehand at all? He maybe could discuss it with you instead? Perhaps if you explain you weren't able to discuss it with your gp? I understand the problem though, as i need a dble knee operation as soon as but i have a lot of other medical problems to consider as well, so yes its not as simple as saying you'll go ahead with it, is it?Try not to be too hard on your gp though- im sure at the moment they're going through terrible strain, and i suppose she is right,that she cannot make the decision for you,it must be yours alone- she wouldn't be allowed to decide for you- and try not to blame her too much for 'not asking how you are' - perhaps she didnt want to mention your husbands passing in case it upset you all over again? Also they do get so many patients through their doors in one day/week/month etc. I'm sure she didn't mean to offend you, but they do have such a workload.Especially right now..I'm a bit concerned the first receptionist wouldn't put it through for a phone consult though-they do have to do that i think, if you request it,just same as if we (normally) ask for an appt.

I know two people who work in GP practices as receptionists. Over the past two weeks they are going to work less as the surgeries are less busy than ever. Why the first receptionist was so stubborn goodness knows. Given all the concern about whether to go for treatment or not can you contact the consultant for their thoughts. No matter what they say the decision will still be yours though but if you have more information it may be easier for you to make that decision. Hopefully today is a better day for you.