Was this a bit unethical for my GP to suggest this?

[TheWholeShackShimmies]

Last month I went to see a GP as I am totally and utterly worn down with everything in my life.

I am 51 and in the depths of perimenopause, I have some decades long health issues (including poor mental health) which have gone crazy over the last few years, I care my my mum who suffers from Alzheimer's and cancer, I work part time as a carer and on top of that I have the normal life stuff such as helping my teens navigate the world, trying to train our previously abused and very anxious rescue dog and finding time to enjoy some fragments of my life with dh. I am frazzled, feel awful every day and have had enough.

Wasn't expecting much from the consultation, we all know we can only get so much across in a 10 min GP consultation and our surgery does have a "one consultation, one problem" policy.

Anyhow, I ended up seeing a new GP and I can honestly say that I thought she was fantastic. She gave me 45 mins of her time which was unbelievable. I got upset whilst explaining everything and she was so kind and gentle and started explaining that in her opinion the NHS is pretty poor at seeing the whole picture when it comes to health issues and as a result she is very much into a holistic approach. This all sounded great until she started telling me all about a natural health clinic in our local city which she is working at and suggested to me that I go to them, she gave me the details of one of the practitioners and said I really should go see her as she will be able to help with all my health issues). I was so bamboozled by it all tbh, it was left it at that and no other help via the NHS was offered.

In my naivety (and desperation) I believed this place was somehow connected to the NHS because she was involved in it but upon further investigations it is an 'alternative' health clinic, the lady she recommended is a nutritionist and not a state register dietician. She also charges £300 for an initial consultation. Tbh, I have spent a small fortune over the years going to see people like this and am still struggling with the same chronic health problems so can't say they have been much help.

I can't help but feel this is wrong. I feel bad saying this because, as I say, this GP was absolutely lovely but I am kind of back to square one now and will have to make another appointment with a gp which will be a least 4 weeks wait.

I get that a doctor may suggested other avenues when someone is looking to treat various conditions but should NHS doctors really be actively promoting places outside of the NHS especially if they have a vested interested in the place they are apparently promoting.

I am not sure what to think tbh but I no that I am in the same position with my physical and mental health right now and nothing has changed so back to square one.

Spot on Bobby!
sounds totally unethical to me and I’d even go higher than the practice manager - the local commissioners for your area or even GMC.

I am certainly not one of the people dismissing alternative treatment, I actually like some of it (reflexology, acupuncture etc). What I am saying is that I can not afford it, most treatments are not cheap. I had told the GP that I have no funds for any kind of private help yet she continued to promote this one particular place and as lovely and understanding as she is I am still no nearer to feeling better because I was not offered anything like hrt.

Hey? I'm just sat typing a few lines out on the internet, how is that wasting time and energy?

Believe me, I do everything within my power and budget to try to feel better, I am very proactive in this but the truth is that I am not feeling great so went to my NHS GP for help and advice (isn't that everyone's port of call?) which she gave but it mainly involved advising me to try this private clinic which I can not afford so am no step further to potentially feeling better.

@Lifelover16 yeah. You're not wrong. I'd be probably contacting the GMC. She was selling her private services during an NHS consultation. And 'clinically' suggesting they would be more appropriate than medical science. And maybe a referral to a professional in the field of your illness at an NHS hospital?
I wanted to sue that doctor that gave me fake treatment but they said there's no point as she's no longer practicing. Thank goodness she isn't.

I hope you are recovered now.

It’s criminal for NHS qualified professionals to profit from encouraging people to invest hope and money in such quackery.

I no that I am in the same position with my physical and mental health right now and nothing has changed so back to square one.

Sadly that can be a frequent occurrence taking several appointments to get taken seriously - if you don't want to report - then just refuse appointments with this GP going forward but also ask reception if they have a nurse or clinic for menopause you could get into see - of see if you can change GP practises locally.

I'm not sure seeing her again and trying again to get a referral will get anywhere next time on NHS either - may be best to try another GP than waste more time.

@Lifelover16 Thank you, thats really kind. The truth is I do believe that lack of treatment did lead to my life long chronic major depressive disorder. But who knows? It's just wrong for an NHS doctor to suggest anything other than NHS medical treatment.

She should have made it clear that this was a private option and not NHS before even mentioning it. The fact that she also works there makes it entirely unethical.
It is particularly unethical as the OP has emotional difficulties at present and is vulnerable.

Some posters have suggested OP should put in a complaint, but I do understand how uncomfortable it can be to be registered with a practice against which you have made a complaint. It is, as I have found out, impossible to register with another practice as they have their catchment areas and will not budge on this.

Agree with you about Dr Chatterjee! He’s amazing and his podcasts have helped me so much!

I understand where you're coming from but she has potentially broken a code of conduct.

You went there for help via the NHS and she's referred you to her private company which will make money from you.

Please reconsider referring the matter to the GMC. If she's done nothing wrong, nothing will come of it. If she has been unethical, you have protected other patients.