Do you shake your doctor's hand? (GP)

[Monetsbridge]

I enjoy watching "GPs Behind Closed Doors" - new series has been on recently, and all the old series are showing once a day. I'm struck by how many patients shake the doctors' hands, at the start and/or the end. I've never done this! I don't know if I'm being rude. I say hello at the start and thank you at the end, but that's it. Lots of the patients call them "doctor" as well, but I suspect that's regional; I don't do that either - I say Dr. So-and-So if I'm asking for an appointment with her or talking about her in some context, but never just 'doctor', and never her first name, though I know some people do use first names for them.

I have possibly shaken hands with consultants in hospital, though I think only if they have offered their hand first. I wouldn't routinely shake hands with anyone like that.

I didn't grow up in this country.

Might create a lot of extra hand-washing for the doctors

It's a fascinating show, if you've never watched it. And interesting to see the pre-Covid, during-Covid, and post-Covid differences, especially with some of the updates at the end. You used to find out what happened to the patients, and now you just get "X is on the waiting list for..." . Or in how frequently people come in and for what, and how quickly - that's all changed too.
And some of the doctors on it are just SO nice. I don't think it's just because they're being filmed, either, as it goes on for months, and they only choose some consultations to put in the show but they're filmed all the time. Others I wouldn't really want as my GP. But some of them are really lovely.

No I don't.

No.

Mind you, you’re lucky if mine glances up from his computer and grunts.

No because they sanitise their hands between patients. Mine are all very pleasant, polite and helpful. I also know my practice nurse for spirography (not the art one!) so well by now that she just calls herself Mandy! I don't think a handshake is necessary (or helpful due to sanitary issues - if you're going to do it, do it at the end before you leave and before they sanitise before the next patient) but I usually just wave hello and goodbye as I exit the room. That said, I finally have my CT scan appointment - so will have to hold myself back from hugging and kissing everyone on the day as it's taken so long!

I did once because he put his hand out to shake mine

No. Only consultant when you're paying.

I shake their hand and say hello/thank you at the end Doctor, I do this with my dentist too.

Sounds like I'm not alone then. Phew.

Though I was very grateful when she was on my side about something the other day and said she'd write to the hospital asking for something, when she is usually quite distant and unsympathetic. So I know what PP means about wanting to hug her!! I can't quite imagine her reaction if I did that though, pure horror I think.

I've never heard of such a thing, certainly not in my lifetime.
Since Covid, many people who used to shake hands routinely are not doing it, or at least not as much as they used to, I've noticed.
I greet my GP with hello and he always asks me how I am.
I suppose that's a nicer variation of hello and why are you here?
After my 5 minutes or less visit is over, I thank my GP, and shut the door behind me.

I don't think I've shaken anyones hand for the last 50 years. It's not something I'm comfortable doing.
Similarly I don't understand people who greet each other by kissing cheeks. My son is the only one I am happy to do this with, although have been forced to do it with members of my wider family.
I expect it's to do with my Autism.

So no i would never shake hands with my GP- assuming I was lucky enough to get an appointment.

No handshake with any medical professional.

I do not. I presume they don’t actually want to spend all day shaking hands.

God no! I’m a teacher and hate when parents try to shake my hand at parents eve, too. I go along with it to be polite but inside all I’m thinking is when is this handshake going to end??

Perhaps I should see if they do it less in the more recent (post-Covid) series! or if it depends where in the country they are - they have been in London, Barnsley, Swindon, Bristol, etc.

Not post covid. It is a practice that seems to have fallen out of favor.

i have a pretty convivial relationship with my doctor’s though. My health isn’t great so i see them frequently. I also just tend to have a fair amount in common with most of them. Some I run into outside the office which I don’t love, but is inevitable.

I once bumped into a surgeon who operated on my son a few months earlier, and he gave me a hug!

No, I've never come anywhere close to this

There is one GP at my surgery who makes you sit on a chair on the other side of the room. I think she'd faint if I tried to shake her hand!

Very occasionally an older man will shake my hand but otherwise no one does it any more

Only the one whose kids I went to school with, it was a private school so when parents came in we shook hands. We were at school in the 80’s

Probably because it is on TV.
I feel dismissed half the time I see a GP.

I think mine lives in another town as I don't think most of them want to live too near patients. I know nothing about her in terms of interests, whether she has children, where she's from, nothing even slightly personal like that. So I've never run into her anywhere else. She doesn't come across as very warm or reassuring but I think her medicine is OK; she very much a rule-follower and gate-keeper though, which is why I was surprised when she seemed on my side about something this week.

I don't think the GPs on the show are so nice just because it's on TV, as the interviews I've read say that they record all day ever day for months on end, and they can't fake it for that long!! And some of them aren't so nice either, some seem quite dismissive there too. But there are half a dozen that I think would be amazing to have as your GP, just seem so caring and kind - every series I have a couple of favourites.

I love the programme too but I don’t think I’ve seen the new series so will check it out.

i think I do call my doctor, ‘doctor’ so if im leaving ill say ‘thanks Doctor’, but dont shake hands.

May have shaken hands with a consultant though, but I can’t recall!!

No. But my husband saw a locum recently who wanted to shake his hand to congratulate him on his general good health at the great age of 67.

I give him a gentle pat on the head

It depends who I’m seeing.

I don’t offer my hand first but I’ve had a some that shake my hand every time and some that never do.

It’s usually men that shake my hand rather than women doctors.
And most that shake my hand were also not British.
And so perhaps it’s more about old fashioned views, rather than what they’re taught.

I personally quite like it.
I feel it’s really respect that someone so ‘high up’ gives you the respect of a handshake.

No, although I do like my GP (in truth I’m terrified of her, but very grateful that she blackmailed me into a well woman check I didn’t think I needed, which uncovered a condition I’m now medicated for). She’s Spanish, so if anything a double kiss would be most appropriate I guess?