Consideration from GP

just picking up a little additional comments here, re. recent bereavement and GP`s....
my dh died in November, I had to see a GP (not mine we have not choice at our surgery) as I had had a bad fall, this was just a couple of weeks after my dh had died.. the doc didn`t even examine me,, I had hurt my shoulder very badly... didn`t take my bp. (I have bp medication) so how would he have known that I was recently bereaved? just wondering from some of the comments above, that some of you seem to think the GP would know?

I could rant here... now on the tv. some doc telling us that no one is visiting A&E or gp`s and want us to! don`t they recall that just before this virus we couldn`t get a docs appt!!! many people couldn`t even get through to surgery to make appt!

they have trained us well.. keep away, we don`t care, we don`t want you.. now... oh dear! come, come , come!
sorry for the rant!

so Luckygirl.. please talk to us some more, if anyone else`s opinion helps, I find just talking helps me to make a decision on some things... hope you feel a little better now
and you are not alone Luckygirl HUGS

I completely understand your sensitivity and at a time when you needed a little help and kindness it wasn’t there! It’s sad to say a lot of GP’s (and I’m not saying all of them by any means) have lost that personal touch. Of course they are all under pressure at the moment but this has been happening for a long while. We are extremely lucky as one of the older GPS at our surgery is lovely. I wish you well.

I am sorry to hear about your experience with the GP Luckygirl. I don’t think GPS are very busy. When I asked for an appointment I was told that the GP would ring me in half an hour.

Personally I'd go ,there are less patients at the hospitals now and you will probably get treated quicker when you are in there ,they've got handwash and precautions more people will die through not getting treatment than will of the virus ,maybe they are already and that's what is bumping up the figures,especially in nursing homes

So sorry for your loss and regarding your appointment, I would give the gp surgery a last try, if there is another doctor there that you can speak to. Ring them and say that you’ve been advised to talk to a gp and the first call didn’t help you resolve the problem. If that doesn’t work out, and you can postpone your hospital treatment without any serious detriment to your health, I would do so. You have enough to deal with, without this as well.

To Luckygirl - February isn't that long ago, and you need all the emotional help you can get (I've been through this, and I know.) I eventually joined something called WayUp, and found it helpful because we were all struggling with the loss of the most important person in our lives. Cruse and Samaritans are helpful, too, but might well be overloaded at present.

There is at least one online GP service called Babylon - check it out. You can find out a lot about your condition online if you're selective about what you look at, which you obviously would be. Sending you a big warm virtual hug xx

The GPs & their staff in my area are not very busy with visiting patients but dealing with many phone call enquiries. My GP neighbour said over 3 weeks ago that it was bizarre how appointment requests had almost stopped and he was concerned that many patients would be suffering in silence with heart problems, stroke & undiagnosed cancers etc. He has recently been seconded for 2 days a week to one of the nearby hospitals.
Thinking of you Lucky. I hope you find a more sympathetic GP to talk to.

I’m so sorry Lucky but I don’t think there are many proper caring GP’s left. Most of us are just a number and a computer record.

Sorry to hear this Luckygirl. Yes, all Frontliners are mega busy, but they are now asking us to keep up with our medical needs, so that we all come out of this as well as can be. In fact, they are worried that we are keeping things too much to ourselves. You should not have been treated like that. Your idea to try a different doctor is wise. Before you phone, have a list ready of everything you want/need to ask. We can't help with your medical issue, but are all behind you, wishing you good luck. I have to say that was a welcome description from the GN who posted what it was like to go into hospital just now for an appointment.

I am also wondering what the doctors, consultants , anaesthetists, physiotherapists ........etc. Are all doing at the moment . They can’t all be treating the CV patients can they?

Personally I would write to the Surgery and say how upset you were, with both the 1st receptionist and then the Dr. I would of course make reference to the stresses and strains of current ongoing problems, but even so, you should not be left feeling so upset by someone who is basically there to help you.

Perhaps you could speak to yr specialist nurse and explain to her the GP conversation you had. Ultimately though it will be yr decision with regard to treatment. GP’s are under extreme pressure themselves. Going forward you could in future see a different GP. These time are difficult for everyone.
Good luck with yr treatment.

Our GP practise is closed . They are not busy . In fact I have it on very good authority that they are taking turns doing a few telephone appointments .

Sorry to say this, but I am not too sure that your GP even realised who she was talking to when she didn't make any comment about your OH.
I saw my GP after I was seriously ill and hospitalized , first of all weekly, then monthly for a year. 6 months later I went back for yet another check up to find that he really had no idea who I was! He spent most of my consultation reading through my notes on his computer screen before a "carry on as you have been" dismissal after my 10 minutes was up.
You are no longer stuck with having to see the same doctor if there is more than one in the practice - next time , see someone else.
Try contacting the hospital and even if you can't speak to your consultant, I'm sure that one of his nursing staff will be able to give you the advice and reassurance you need.

The question really is. Can your hospital treatment be delayed. If you don’t mind. Then let the hospital know that you would rather wait. No one can make that decision for you.
I’ve had three hospital appointments during lockdown all which have been done by phone. You need to speak to the department that is going to provide the treatment and discuss your options with them. I’m really sorry your gp was not helpful. But she is probably not the right person to speak to.

My GP gave me my flu jab without even looking at me , he knew it was me from my odd name , but he never asked how I was since Jim’s death . I felt as if I had had a slap in the face
I would keep the hospital appointment , they take great care , and are probably kinder than that Doctor

So sorry for your loss. Have you tried writing down pros and cons for having treatment this might help, I don't feel they would be encouraging you to come into hospital at present unless they felt it necessary. Remember you can change your mind right up to last moment if unhappy. Doctors must be under so much stress as well at the moment , all we can do is care. Good luck

I have had 2 telephone consultations with my GP since lockdown began, both very helpful and no problems. My GP's receptionist also phoned last week to check if my husband (who has some health problems) and I were coping. She even asked if we had been getting groceries ok and gave me a helpline number, just in case.

My husband has had a telephone appointment with his dermatology consultant which was fine can you ring your consultants secretary and ask for one ? Also shouldn’t you be entitled to telephone bereavement counselling? Surely there must be such a thing? No wonder your struggling at this time xx

I am sorry you've had this experience with your GP. I recently had a colonoscopy and was supposed to see my GP to discuss the results. Instead i had a telephone appointment with a GP i didn't know. She had zero interest in me and like you i felt she was doing something else on her keyboard as the conversation didn't flow. I tried to ask advice about diet as I'd been diagnosed with diverticulitis. She offered no advice. She scanned through my results and said they found 5 polyps when I'd been told at the time they found 7. I started to worry she was looking at someone else's results. I ended up buying a book about my condition and following the advice they gave.

A school would be a wonderful place were it not for the pupils.

Likewise a General Practice would be wonderful without patients.

I should add that few HTs or GPs think like that but there's always the occasional one.

Really Hetty58? Drs are supposed to be professional and not treat patients as if they are an inconvenient nuisance that they can’t be bothered with.

I suppose you feel the need to keep up your reputation?

My GP used to be an anaesthetist so isn't even there!

I don't believe GPs are busy. They are discouraging people from attending and people don't want to attend. Telephone appointments are much quicker. How on earth are they busy?!

I also disagree that GPs are busy at the moment. Ours certainly aren’t as most people are staying away. It has never been easier to get a (telephone) appointment.