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AIBU?

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I feel mortified about this going to my GP. Would you feel the same or am I upset over nothing?

154 replies

Unisu · 21/06/2025 04:47

A couple of weeks ago I was very unwell on holiday. I called a private GP through my insurance and they diagnosed the problem and then refused to prescribe antibiotics as I had mentioned having a fever. They then said I needed to be checked in person and go to a walk in. I explained that the nearest walk in was nearly two hours away and I had a baby with me. The temperature was a symptom of the illness thay had themselves just diagnosed (and it was what I had suspected prior to the call as well). They appeared to then latch on to the temperature being potentially high and refused to prescribe the antibiotics and said these would be prescribed at a walk in but better to double check my temperature there.

I was feeling so rubbish by this point and couldn’t drive ten minutes let alone two hours. I said I didn’t think this was reasonable and given the nature of the illness it is actually standard practice to prescribe the medication when 1 out of 3 symptoms show… I had all three. They agreed with that but said they still wanted a walk-in.

Anyway in essence we disagreed and I said I wasn’t happy with this and that if I became more unwell quickly then I would be referring to this conversation in future. I recognise this was a bit of a shitty thing to say but I was despairing and also confused by their insistence they had diagnosed the issue but still wanted me to go to a walk in when very far from one.

Yesterday it came to my attention that the letter had gone to my GP explaining the private appointment I had had… and in it there was the suspected diagnosis, but this doctor had also said I was interrupting, insisting on treatment and they had to conclude the call because of this! This was simply not true. I did express I wanted the treatment but I was not interrupting and the impression given is that I was unpleasant. Aside from the comment above I was perfectly nice and listened entirely and was totally respectful.

I feel really upset by this. I always make a huge effort to be polite and decent to people in all contexts and I feel awful that this correspondence is now with my GP for all to see. Would you feel the same? Would you do anything about it?

OP posts:
babystarsandmoon · 21/06/2025 05:09

Very unprofessional of them tbh. You were unwell and dismissed so don’t worry about it.

AbzMoz · 21/06/2025 05:05

id focus on the treatment you need or how the illness is progressing. If you’ve been withheld care because they’ve looked at this note then that needs addressing but your focus for now needs to be how to get what you need tk get better.

in a few weeks I would contact the private gps administrator and say you’d like it noted that your care was denied because of the gps attitude towards you as evidenced in the letter. Your own GP will not mediate this for you.

Unisu · 21/06/2025 05:02

@Trallers thank you for responding. I really like my usual GP so I feel quite embarrassed by it. The way the letter is phrased makes me sound terrible, like I was insistent and rude which is simply not true. Thanks for replying I am awake thinking about it!

OP posts:
Trallers · 21/06/2025 04:59

If you have a normal and pleasnt relationship with your GP that letter won't matter a bit, they won't even remember after reading it that it possibly gave the impression you were a bit hard work.

If you see your gp about that actual issue AND theres a suitable moment, you could bring up that you know they got a letter about when you saw the private GP and that you thought it was a bit cheeky they made out you were being difficult and interrupting when you really weren't. Be light in tone and keep it at that - gp can respond if they care to ask more. But it doesn't even need that because your GP really won't care or think it reflects badly on you so please don't worry about it.