Eccentric GPs (doctors). Anyone else?

[DuvetDayEveryday]

Dd (12) has had neck pain and stiffness since yesterday and woke up crying with pain this morning, so just to be on the safe side (she does a lot of gymnastics and trampolining) I made a GP appointment. I couldn't get an appt with our family doctor so we saw another one, who I've seen before.

The appt lasted two minutes, she's barely sat down and said 'neck pain' before he said, yes, yes, torticollis, very common, take these (he handed me a blister pack of co codamol out of his drawer) and come back if it doesn't go away.

He didn't examine her, or ask about any other symptoms or anything.

Previously he has told me to wrap the toddler with a temperature of 104 in a duvet as fevers are good for the body and should be encouraged. Prescribed me antibiotics for tonsillitis and when I queried if they were OK for breastfeeding said I should stop bfing as ds2 was four months old and doesn't need it anymore.

More seriously, when I went in saying I felt suicidal (I was later diagnosed with quite severe mh problems) it was another two minute appt where he gave me amitryptiline and Prozac and said, again, it's very common, take these and you'll be fine. I ended up overdosing and spending time in hospital.

Does any one else have a doctor who is a bit 'out there'? My usual doctor is brilliant. But I'm going to ask to see someone other than him next time if mine isn't available.

[bluecarpet]

Complain. Sounds rubbish in the lack of history but handing you drugs out of the drawer is against all sorts of dispensing regulations. I'm a GP and often on these threads I try and give the GP's point of view but this sounds like one who needs help.

[DuvetDayEveryday]

I didn't realise that about dispensing meds that way. I thought it was a bit odd but didn't realise it wasn't allowed.

[RedToothBrush]

'Eccentric' is not the word I would use.

Eccentrics don't give out drugs without proper prescriptions or give advice which is not consistent with health advice. Eccentrics might listen to the patient rather than make guesses based on the colour of you clothes today. Eccentrics might wear a bow tie and refuse to use the patient announcement system, preferring to call their patients personally.

The only reason you are calling him eccentric rather than dangerous is because he has a professional qualification you don't.

Make a formal complaint voicing all your concerns. Don't just ask for another doctor.

There could be a vulnerable patient being treated by this eccentric and is having their health put at risk as a result.

[CuteHoor]

What Red said. This isn't all kooky 'n cute and wacky, this is unprofessional.

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

He sounds nutty, but without the House genius to back it up. Complain and avoid.

[DuvetDayEveryday]

Is it really bad? Without sounding disingenuous, I've always considered him a bit left of centre but otherwise ok. I brushed off his comments about BF and wrapping my feverish child in a duvet.

I must admit I wasn't impressed with his advice about my 'depression' but I just put it down to being post Christmas and me probably being the 50th depressed housewife he'd seen that month.

As for today, I'm sure his diagnosis of dd is correct (it's what I'd figured myself) but I was surprised he didn't examine her or ask any questions.

Do you think it's worth complaining? He is the owner of the practice and I don't want to jeopardise the great relationship I have with my own GP.

[DuvetDayEveryday]

Yup.

[StuffandBother]

So now an anonymous moan about a GP has become a libelous (or slanderous - can't remember which is which) thread where the person concerned is unable to defend themselves!!

However unprofessional he is, this isn't fair.

[namechangingagainagain]

reported.
not on to identify him like this.

[IWantAnotherBaby]

reported
You can be asked to leave your surgery's list for posts like this on public internet forums; you have identified the GP!!

[Marynary]

Oh dear, I think the thread needs to be deleted and not restarted (even without anything that could identify the GP).

[YetAnotherHelenMumsnet]

Hi there OP,
We have removed that one detail from your post, as well as references to it.

[EffieIsATrinket]

Thread needs to be deleted - unfair to discuss his practice of medicine further when he can't defend himself and many of us know who he is.

I wouldn't treat a patient I'd seen slagging me off on the internet again.

[DuvetDayEveryday]

Thanks for deleting, I hadn't realised he was so identifiable.