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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to absolutely hate the anti GP/doctor bashing mentality on MN?

197 replies

macdoodle · 13/07/2010 10:10

When most if not all the doctors/GP's I know personally and professionally have a lot of training, and are doing the best they can, despite ridiculous government rules and beuarocracy, and dont get paid a fortune, far from it!

In fact I know IANBU, so much so, that I am taking a break from MN because the lot of you dr bashing makes me feel slightly ill, and some of those calling their GP's twats make me feel so angry I may say something I will regret

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 13/07/2010 10:11

i'm anti gp today.....but this is first time ever

ArthurPewty · 13/07/2010 10:11

This reply has been deleted

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ArthurPewty · 13/07/2010 10:12

This reply has been deleted

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Bestb411pm · 13/07/2010 10:13

Do you not think that your annoyance is more your problem?

If people have bad experiences they should feel comfortable relating them, it's not a personal critisim of every GP on the planet - just the individual they've entrusted to help them.

I've had fabulous GP's and terrible ones, the terrible ones have cost me a lot in terms of my future health and (now never going to happen) family.

If I've had validation from other GP's and clinicians that my grievences are valid then damn straight I will air my opinions publicly.

mayorquimby · 13/07/2010 10:14

I love the fact that everyone seems to know better than these medical professionals and also want to dictate the terms "aibu to think gp should prescribe xyz because of abc..." well no frankly, even if your logic is sound if they in their medical opinion do not think it's the correct course of action then they shouldn't. You can go to another GP who agrees with you if you disagree with your professionally qualified doctors opinion but don't get pissed off because this one doesn't.

GypsyMoth · 13/07/2010 10:14

macdoodle....yanbu!!

bit of respect for them costs nothing....i feel i was let down yesterday by mine,but i should have spoken up,so partly my fault too

ReasonableDoubt · 13/07/2010 10:15

There are eight GPs at my surgery, and only one of them actually takes the time (by which I mean all f five minutes) to listen to what I am saying. Two are completely bonkers and seem to revel in the sound of their own voice, and the others are cold, rude and always leave me feeling stupid for having 'wasted their time'.

I do sympathise with GPs to some extent. Our expectations on what they should know have never been higher. And the amazing access we now have to information via the internet means that often, patients have more in depth knowledge of particular conditions than their GP.

However, the GPs at my surgery work 8.30am-6pm with a three hour 'paperwork' break in between. They are paid handsomely. They ought to suck it up, really. Very few professions are so privileged.

lisad123isgoingcrazy · 13/07/2010 10:16

sorry but too many horror stories of Gps getting it wrong, ours for example missed cancer in DH 4 times!
Not all GPs are bad and some are great but we shouldnt feel we cant complain if we want, its called freedom of speech and plus its all true ;)

Tortington · 13/07/2010 10:16

they get paid a fortune unless your average friend and beighbour erans over 60k.

we all have to work to ridiculous beaurocracy , especially those of us in the public sector. we all have to work with fewer and fewer resources.

however those people who are providing a service to the public, should do it professionally and with courtesy.

it doesn't matter if you are a doctor or you take council tax payments at the council.

I really dislike the patriarchal tone of some people in the public sector who think that the people they are providing a service too should be greatful.

I pay my tax. having a GP is a service that i can tap into. that service should not have any different standards with regards to customer care than when i go to a supermarket and i pay for goods and services there.

onedeadbadger · 13/07/2010 10:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

traceybath · 13/07/2010 10:19

YABU

There are good GP's and bad GP's - same as in every profession.

And sorry but the ones I know (family and friends) do get paid very well indeed.

lowenergylightbulb · 13/07/2010 10:21

I'm trying to work out if the most unpopular mumsnetters would be teachers married to doctors, or doctors married to teachers

lowenergylightbulb · 13/07/2010 10:22

Oh, YANBU Macdoodle.

AnyFucker · 13/07/2010 10:24

Mac, yanbu

I too get a bit put out at the general NHS-bashing that goes on here

I have hidden a few threads recently !

You can't win, really. Best not to get sucked in. Don't take a break from MN, take a break from the bashing

Lynli · 13/07/2010 10:24

My current GP is brillliant, professional, caring, organised.

My previous GP nearly killed by GD. When you have a GP who will not listen, who you cannot trust it is something that stays with you forever. I will rerun events of that night through my head again and again. Luckily the outcome was good, no thanks to him.

Many MNs have had terrible experiences with their GP, I am sure they are not the norm, but like anything the people with an axe to grind will be the ones posting.

I think it is quite cathartic to get your rant out there. And know you are not alone.

None of us believes the all GPs are bad.

foreverastudent · 13/07/2010 10:26

Well my ex-GP is in jail for abusing several of his patients so I think I am well within my rights to never trust another doctor again.

Doodleydoo · 13/07/2010 10:28

NBU, there is always the option of changing your gp if you are unhappy, you aren't stuck with them forever if you don't want to be!

I have had some very good gp's and some that I have found it difficult to build a rapport with, sometimes you are unable to see the same person more than once (Cities for example) so they don't get to know you, out of towns you are more likely to have a relationship with them. This could be both good or bad but there it is.

We are the customer with them and therefore if we don't feel we are being heard then surely it is our responsibility to keep pushing for a correct answer. Frankly I like my GP, so far, I didn't like my last one but that might have been because she told me that my tummy wasn't baby but was fat. Was mortally offended by the comment (interestingly she was the only one that suggested that I might have a mild form of PND and was most intense on monitoring me fortunately it wasn't but I am still ever so grateful to her!)

AMumInScotland · 13/07/2010 10:29

But the GPs you hear about on here will be in the same category as the (D)Hs and MILs and SILs that you hear about - people start threads about bad experiences, and people join in and sympathise because they have also had bad experiences. So of course what you hear about will be the negative side.

But you also see plenty of threads where people say "diagnose me" or "I don't want to go to the GP but..." and they will get a whole heap of replies saying "Get an appointment and see your GP about it", becsuae most people most of the time think that GPs are a good thing.

twoisplenty · 13/07/2010 10:29

I use the NHS quite a lot, and usually find GP's are lovely.

But the NHS in general is in dire straits. Seems to have imploded in itself lately. I am getting nowhere with it ie. can't get a physio, speech therapist, etc etc.

But to answer the OP, yabu. Our health is the most important thing we have. GPs should be courteous, understanding and have enough knowledge to avoid disaster, some of which clearly have none of these attributes.

mangoandlime · 13/07/2010 10:30

Yabu

some GPs twatty.

I'm having the same problem LeonieD went through. I may as well talk to a brick wall a lot of the time.

Patients aren't stupid, you know. We do have a bit of a clue as to what actually might be wrong with us sometimes. Doesn't make us Googletwitchingneuroticidiots though.

If you're not being listened to, and you're really not well, that does have some bearing on the opinion you hold of GPs in general.

This isn't about you personally, all you can do is your best for your patients and accept some GPs aren't up to your own standards.

AnyFucker · 13/07/2010 10:30

FAS...you can never trust another doctor again ?

Let's hope you don't get involved in a serious accident or develop any illnesses then

Nor do any of your family/friends etc

What on earth will you do ?

UberPot · 13/07/2010 10:30

yanbu. A bad experience is awful and terrible but it doesn't apply to all doctors everywhere.

Plus my extended family seems to have a lot of doctors, surgeons, consultants and specialists so the default attitude was trusting medicine. I was surprised to hear derision from some mothers re GPs recently.

But I do think a bad medical experience is awful and there is a need to express disappointment etc

traceybath · 13/07/2010 10:30

Thats shocking Forever but pretty rare thankfully.

I did have a lovely GP but have seen a few pretty poor ones.

My closest friend is a GP and she is utterly lovely and I know goes way beyond what she needs to for her patients.

However I do know some who are not quite so lovely.

They're all earning over a £100k a year too which I do think is pretty good by most standards.

AnyFucker · 13/07/2010 10:31

oops

time to hide this thread

mac..hope you are ok x

UberPot · 13/07/2010 10:32

Everyone I have met in the NHS strikes me as someone who cares greatly about public service and medicine. Pretty much everyone.

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