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.

you change your clothes after each doctor visit? I've never even considered that. I don't think I even wash my hands specially, but then I don't usually touch anything when I'm there. And obviously I'll wash them when I next visit the loo or whatever. But not as a reaction to being in the doctor's or hospital.

I shook my hairdresser’s hand 20 years ago. I don’t know what came over me. Still haven’t got over it 🤣

We never got to see our GP. the only ones who shake hands are the consultants who are being paid £275 by the insurance company to see us.

I do sometimes. It depends a bit if there was just me in the waiting room or a dozen people coughing and looking ill or sitting with a vomit bowl.

But yes, if I have been sitting on those chairs, I don't like the feeling of then sitting on our sofa at home in the same clothes. It obviously isn't a hundred percent failsafe as I sit in the car on the way home, but it does help me to feel I am at least not bringing germs into our home where children loll on the sofas, bedding etc. Of course, most are airborne ...

Probably comes from boarding school where they would strip our bedding in the dorm if we were moved to sick bay and we had to wear fresh pyjamas when back in dorm afterwards.

I also never thumb through magazines in a gp surgery. Our current GP doesn't have them actually - for that reason.

Fuck no. They never reach for yours to do so. It could spread germs? Obviously they wash hands and wear gloves but it's an extra risk to both of you and the other vulnerable people coming in there.