Does my GP have a drink problem?

[NotACompleterFinis]

Last week I went to see my GP to start the ball rolling having had positive PG result. We are fairly new to the area so this was the first time we had met. When I entered the consulting room the first thing that I thought was ?it smells of alcohol in here, she?s been drinking?.

Normally when you meet someone for the first time they say a few greeting words or something don?t they? Well the GP just stared at me and waited for me to speak first ? it was really awkward.

There were papers on the floor and the consulting bed had a bag and coat thrown across it.

It just seemed a bit off .

I have a number of alcoholics in my family so maybe I?m tuned in to it/oversensitive.

Now I don?t know who to mention it to ? if at all. Thing is ? if there is a problem and someone receives the wrong treatment or something I will be partly responsible for not speaking up.

WWYD?

Was it definitely an alcohol smell and not some kind of disinfectant?

I think you can't pass judgement after just one consultation, if you notice anything amiss at subsequent visits then report concerns to the surgery manager.

Definitely alcohol. It did cross my mind that it could be a medicinal alcohol. But added with the strange behaviour and the gut reaction I think not.

However good advice re subsequent visits - bit like getting quotes - make sure you get 3 quotes before you choose....

did she help you with your problem?
def wait and reserve judgement
could she have had glass of wine with lunch?

If you noticed, other people will have noticed. Some of them will be in a position to act; unfortunately you're not unles you re witness to something unprofessional or are treated wrongly.

Don't blame yourself for not saying anything because it's unlikely you can make much odds here.

But keep an eye out - and if you feel uncomfortable with them, change GP - it's important to trust your doctor.

Alcohol gel does smell of alcohol and it is a taught consultation technique to just smile and let the patient open the conversation. With regard to the coat etc some people are just messy (like me!!!)
I think there could be very reasonable explanations for this and if not other staff would have noticed (note to self: tidy up my consultation room lol!)

Maybe she had used alcohol gel and didnt feel 100%, that would explain her being offish and messy.

Oh and congrats on the positive pg result :)