I actually saw a doctor last week

4allweknow I love the Mayo Clinic website.
It's excellent!

ExDancer

I did feel quite guilty in that I'd taken up a slot that could been used by someone who was really ill. A phone call with a nurse would have been acceptable because all I needed was help to access a stronger shampoo than those I've already tried.
But I was annoyed that the doc hadn't bothered to listen so I will eventually need another 10 mins of precious surgery time.

it's very frustrating. Doctors are their own worst enemies sometimes , they often think themelves too important to listen, no time or whatever, but in not listening he has now cost the surgery extra time, and also if you hadn't realised you'd had that shampoo beforeyou could have gone and collected it, and not used it, thus costing the NHS more money. It's all crazy.
I hope you get the help you need to settle your scalp.

I went online at midnight on Thursday to see if there were any appointments for the following week. There was one for 8.40n Friday morning which was impressive.
A bonus was a lovely bubbly, welcoming new receptionist and then saw the GP who gave me time and congratulated me on how I looked and my attitude to life.
It was heart lifting and a real tonic.

All my ailments are either major and under medication, or niggling little things that seem a bit trivial for a GP appointment (or they are possible side effects of my meds).

I think a lot of GPs start diagnosing from when you walk in the room, so they've already decided how ill you are and what might be wrong with you.

Yes, I'd be really annoyed if I ended up buying something I've already got, just because the doc couldn't spare a couple of minutes to run through your list.

My GP has gone over to online forms to book appointments, great I thought no more rush to get through at 8.30, no more being 66th in the queue. Only to find they only release a set number of forms per day, all released at 8.30! So there’s still that mad rush and after three weeks of trying I’ve not even managed to get a form yet let alone an appointment!

maddyone

I’ve seen a GP twice recently, because I’ve been suffering from a significant asthma flare up, which has gone on since the beginning of last November. The first one I saw was not my own doctor, but she is one of the GPs at the practice. She listened to me carefully, said she could hear the inflammation on my lungs, and prescribed steroids, which significantly improved the problem. However it gradually became worse again, and as I’m having surgery in a little over a week, I once again went to see the doctor. This time it was my own doctor. She did the usual checks, told me it wasn’t an infection (which I was fully aware of since I’ve had asthma for many years) but said I had to collect some sputum (ugh, hate that word) to be tested, and had to go for a chest X-ray. Both came back clear, which I was sure they would. She refused to give me the steroids I know I needed on the grounds that I had no infection, and seemed unconcerned about my surgery, saying ‘I don’t know if they’ll do it or not since you’ve got a cough’. I’m still coughing a lot, using a lot of Ventolin, but perfectly well in myself. It’s simply an asthmatic cough which could easily be improved with a week of steroids, and would ensure my surgery goes ahead. She has sent me several times over the last few years for chest X-rays because I’ve gone to see her with an asthmatic cough, and they always come back clear, but she point blank refuses to prescribe steroids.

The problem is, the steroids would improve my condition. I’m getting a tad fed up with her!

The steroids only masks your situation and the side effect are horrendous, she is right in denying them in a way. However, in this instance I would have expected her to give them to you so your op could go ahead. Could you ask for a second opinion or just make an appointment with another doctor at the surgery and see what the outcome would be.

No I agree, doctors aren't for dandruff - I'd tried pharmacists and run out of shampoos available over the counter, so rand the surgery expeceeting to speak to a nurse who would be able to offer something stronger. What else could I do?
The last thing I expected was an appointment the following day with a real live doctor.
I'm sure a nurse would have studied my list and, hopefully, suggested another remedy.
Perhaps the receptionist was new and trying to be helpful.
I don't blame the doctor for being annoyed that I'd used a precious face to face appointment, and I feel dreadful that I used up precious surgery time and cost the NHS for an expensive bottle of shampoo I'd already tried.
If only he'd read my list !
The system is falling apart.

This struck a chord with me!

I share the desire for doctors to listen rather than exhibit a knee-jerk reaction. I know they are busy but where is the job satisfaction for them in not really trying to get to the bottom of problems?

I am seeing a cardiologist this afternoon and have written half a page of history, current drugs and latest problems etc. in the hope that he will not have to spend 15 minutes trawling through onscreen notes to find things I could tell him in two minutes. Hopefully it will head off blind alleys ......

Doctor what’s that? I haven’t seen one in years (apart from the hospital) I phoned yesterday about a lump and received a call back from a paramedic. No appointment offered and didn’t ask for a photo as they have previously for other ailments. Just prescribed antibiotics ?!!! I despair Private doctors are all very well if people can afford that option. I am in a position to be able to but there are many who cannot.

My mother spent her last miserable years in never-ending pain. Everytime she saw a doctor she was told that such-and-such a treatment would help or cure her. Nothing ever made the slightest difference. Raising then dashing her hopes, over and over again, made her suffering so much worse.

Juniewoonie

My GP has gone over to online forms to book appointments, great I thought no more rush to get through at 8.30, no more being 66th in the queue. Only to find they only release a set number of forms per day, all released at 8.30! So there’s still that mad rush and after three weeks of trying I’ve not even managed to get a form yet let alone an appointment!

Our GP's offer online booking too, but I have never seen an available slot. However I can email on their message system and do get a response and an appointment if necessary and wonder if they're simply not really offering the online booking system.

Our practice goes on line around 9am and if you make your case for an appointment, they ring with an appointment - maybe the same day or week, if you're lucky. I was given an appointment with a nice young man who I thought was a doctor, but then discovered was an 'associate'. He asked all the right questions and knew how to use a stethoscope. I don't know what qualifications 'associates' should have, but they seem to be increasingly employed in many practices. I won't be the only one here who would like to know more.

I saw a Nurse Practitioner about complications from Shingles. He really listened but had to go off twice to check with a GP, the second time for a good few minutes. I'm glad he did that, obviously, but I may as well have seen the GP in the first place.

Pam I think a lot of GPs start diagnosing from when you walk in the room, so they've already decided how ill you are and what might be wrong with you.

Yes, I think you are right. My brother-in-law said he was trained to look at how people walked in - gait, skin, eyes etc. He said one senior GP said it was worth walking to the waiting room each time and calling out the name yourself - rather than ringing the bell - so that you cam watch them for a bit longer - and see how they stand up from seated!

That is really annoying. What a waste of time, both for you and for the surgery.