Would you be happy with an appointment with a medical student not Doctor ?

[inkyspells]

I have been having issues with breathing and mucus a lot of it
Waking up coughing and gasping for air
Anyway completed a e consult forum
They’ve gave me a appointment with a medical student not a GP
I know everyone has to learn etc but would you be happy with this ?

Yes. They will be supervised. This is common and necessary. Unless you don’t want any further doctors trained for the future

Am happy with a trainee, the medical student will be a qualified doctor doing the GP training.

Yes. You tend to get more thorough time. Then at the end of the day they have a supervision with someone who will double check.

It doesn’t say she will be supervised ,it says we have booked you an appointment with “Lisa medical student “

I expect it's with a GP trainee, who is already a qualified doctor and will be supervised by a GP at your practice. If the trainee is not confident with your diagnosis or treatment they can call for another GP to come in and check things over. I would be OK about this if I was sure I just needed a prescription for antibiotics.

The medical student at my GP is brilliant, if she’s not sure about something she’s always got a second opinion if she needs it.

Supervised by a qualified Dr would be absolutely fine with me, in fact possiblely even better as two people are less likely to miss something then one and the fully qualified Dr will be checking everything even if it is the trainee doing the talking.

Unsupervised, I wouldn't be happy, though I doubt it would be allowed anyway.

Honestly I think you’re likely to get better service from a trainee. They will be more enthusiastic/eager to help and have up to date knowledge.

You know a doctor can be qualified and only have got about 51% in their exams?! I'd rather have a conscientious student/ trainee who knows their limitations than a recently qualified one!

Unless it was something highly specialised/specific (in which case you'd likely be under a consultant) then absolutely. It's not going to be a first year medical student. It's likely to be someone close to qualifying. I've had this before, and they sometimes nip out to confirm the plan with their supervisor. It's important for trainee medics to gain independence and formulate their own treatment plans.

Not really, no. I know everyone has to learn sometime, but I had an appointment recently where it was as pointless for the student as it was for me. I was going in to discuss test results to look at reducing medication, for which he would have needed to know an extremely long back story to have been any help in the conversation. The actual doctor was my regular doctor who is great, really helpful and interested in her patients so she took over.

I kind of lost faith in the students abilities anyway when the doctor had to tell him twice to write down the two actions that we'd agreed and he couldn't remember what they were either time.

Yes because how is someone supposed to learn how to become a doctor without seeing patients. They will have a senior supervising them.

That's the way medical training works. A lot of it needs to be done with real patients.

It's not like the person is going to be performing a triple heart bypass. If there's anything wrong beyond the need for steroids or antibiotics then they'll refer you to an ENT specialist anyway.

I called up and she will be unsupervised in the room but at the end of the day a senior GP checks over notes etc

If it is a medical student of course they’ll be supervised but that doesn’t necessarily mean the supervisor will always be in the room. They’ll have a longer appointment and will discuss you with whoever their trainer for that session is. This has been part of normal training since the dawn of medicine.

I would, yes. In fact, I would be included to think they would be even more thorough because they're learning.

Very. They're supervised, whether that supervision is with someone in the room or not they won't be left to their own devices.

Moreover they'll be fresh, eager and focused, unlike many GPs who are tired, fed up and just want to get rid of people. I've had very pleasant experiences with med students. Try not to worry.

I work in an NHS profession and by the time you are managing your own caseload / clinics you are close to being qualified and I also train students - I have to supervise and “sign off” everything as they are practicing under my registration! You get better care if anything!!

Yes, for all the reasons given already!

They are supervised (not necessarily in the room but have to check everything). If you have a mucus cough i would not be making an appointment anyway, most likely viral, had three bouts this autumn/winter

I had an appointment with a medical student, during which I collapsed. She was great and when I came around she was there with another GP, so she obviously went and got help when she wasn't sure what to do.
On all occasions all the students I have had have been great, knowledgeable, absolutely no complaints at all.
I would have no hesitation with having an appointment with a medical student.

Yes I was ecstatic as he sent me for all the tests.
They’re supervised anyway.

No I wouldn’t be happy, supervised yes

My husband went to see a training gp and he picked up something that gps had missed so yes I would go

Medical students and specialist training gps are two very different things.

I doubt you were with an undergraduate medical student. A trainee gp will have graduated after 5 years at medical school, completed their 2 year foundation placements and probably a couple of years in general hospital medicine. Training on the job in a medical practice while being supervised by experienced GPs is the final part.

That very much seems like an actual medical student rather than a GP trainee and I wouldn’t be happy with unsupervised with only a review of notes. Half the art of medicine is history taking and it’s pretty easy to miss seemingly inconsequential cues that require further investigation.

I say this as a doctor who is keen on giving more responsibility to med students but this is a high risk environment (underestimated patients with unknown pathology). I’m all for students taking histories either in front of a doctor of whatever grade or direct feedback and review of patients.

this smacks to me of a practice short of appts fobbing off patients with students. It’s neither fair on the students or the patient.