To be annoyed at GP?

[LiviaAugusta]

This is petty I know, but it's made me quite cross this morning and I'm feeling brave enough to vent here. I took DS (2.3) to the doctors this morning, and had to take newborn DD along too. We had to wait over 30 minutes to get seen, by which time DS was thoroughly bored, refusing any distraction offered and getting cat's bum face face from a few other people in the waiting room. When we finally got called in there was no apology from the GP for being kept waiting for so long, I was just told I'd have to be quick as they were running behind. We were in there for all of two minutes and I think I just felt a bit like I was causing them hassle.

I know GPs work hard and do a good job, but surely I'm not being unreasonable to expect a little courtesy, especially when they can see I've been waiting ages with two very young children? I'm in a similar line of work so know what it's like to be running behind with a full waiting room. I'd like to think however that I would always a) apologise to anyone I kept waiting and b) always try to make the client/patient feel like I was listening to them and bothered about them rather than just another face to get out of the way as quickly as possible. I didn't really expect an apology for the wait, but I did expect to be given the doctor's full attention whilst in with them.

I did think about complaining but thought it wasn't really worth it as I don't want to be labelled a trouble-maker and until now the doctors I've seen there have all been great, hence the post here. Feel free to tell me to get a grip (not too free though as I've just had to take said bored toddler to get his prescription and had to wait ages for that too so am now feeling a bit frazzled)!

Yanbu to be frustrated, but as its a one off I agree with you about letting it go this time.

Did you get the outcome you wanted in the long run? That's the important bit!

YANBU. I was only kept waiting with my 2 year old for 10 minutes at the GP last week and she apologised for the wait.

Thanks for your replies. I think I got what I needed from them, but I was told to be quick even before they asked what was wrong so it's a good job it was nothing serious! The other doctors in the practice are lovely, it was the first time I've seen this one and it'll be the last as I'll refuse to see them in the future.

I had to wait nearly an hour on Monday...all I wanted was a sick note as I was still recovering from an op an a prescription!!!!

i've never had a dr apologise for the wait!! you're right it is annoying though, atleast you got what you needed so try to just forget it now

My GP is always running at least 20-40 minutes late. If I want one who sticks to time, I could see another partner. The reason she is always late is that she gives each pt the time they need. Sometimes I need 2 minutes, but I have been in there crying my eyes out for 15 before. When I am kept waiting I know it's for a good reason.

YANBU at expecting full attention though. That's just rude and unprofessional. If it happens again I would certainly raise it. It's a core skill!

Yanbu but there is a chance that the gp didn't know how long you had been waiting hence the lack of apology, though they should have given you attention when there.

The system is broken, sil is a gp and very dedicated, kind etc but that means she regularly gets lumped with far far too many patients to see in one clinic, plus paperwork. She is given 5 minute slots by reception, told they "are slipping a few more emergencies in" and using gaps for phone and house calls, what gaps??? She doesn't get frustrated but if it were me when an "emergency patient" turns up who absolutely had to be seen with a broken fingernail I'd get a bit shitty.

Too many gps once they're in a steady practice then just hire locums to cover as they don't want to work full time and the locus don't cover their paperwork or any specialities leaving the remaining gps to struggle it's just all a nightmare.

For the doctor to tell you to be quick is disgusting.!!!

Sit down, have a cuppa( bit early for wine) and don't see that particular doctor again. If he's always rude others will report.

My father left his GP yesterday rather bemused at having been told by the locum that he could only discuss one problem per appointment (he has a long list of ailments and would therefore need multiple appointments).

He asked what would happen if differing symptoms turned out to be related to the same condition and was met with a shrug.

YANBU to be frustrated, but YABU to expect apologies and top class service. This is the NHS we are talking about.

It is annoying when you are kept waiting, but I don't think having young children makes that any worse for you. I have had some horrible waits for hospital appointments where something is really worrying, and waiting for ages just sends me into a nervous wreck trying to fight off a panic attack. I woudo much rather be waiting about something minor with a baby and a toddler.

You have to remember that GPs don't run late because they have a passion for doing more work than is neccesary. They run late because sometimes their patients need more than the poxy 10 minutes they get allocated to discuss their depression, or their long term disability. Have some compassion for the reason the GP is running late in the first place instead of thinking you deserve something special just because you have two small children.

Iamnotamindreader
Op is posting about GP running late. Dont you think people with a long list of problems might contribute somewhat to a GP running late!!! You can't have it both ways.

YANBU. Any wait beyond your appointment time, especially with young children, can be annoying and frustrating, especially when you've been through a frustrating wait for a shoddy service.

I don't mind long waits as I have taken longer than my allotted 10 minutes before, and my regular GP is very patient and attentive, but I don't have to wait with small children to entertain. To wait for ages then be treated as an inconvenience, when listening to patients is their damn job, is just

Outraged, I wasn't implying that I expected preferential treatment just because I had children with me, it was just to complete the story. As I said in my OP I work in a very similar field, have to deal with clients and waiting rooms on a daily basis and regularly have to apologise for being late seeing my clients as I try to give everyone I see my full attention. When someone says 'and while I'm here can you check...' I'd never say no, even if it means that the next person has to wait a little longer (even if they have children with them!). But from personal experience I've only rarely had a complaint about running over time, because I try to make people feel that they are getting what they need from their appointment.

My doctor is usually running late, especially in the afternoons. I have no problem with it usually as I know it means they have spent extra time with someone who needs it; however he always apologises. I would be very if he said 'be quick, we're running behind" and would have to say something along the lines of "I won't waste your time but I do have a reason for being here".

Our doctor often runs late; I have no recollection of whether he apologises, but that is probably because he would never tell me to be quick and he always gives me and the DC his full attention. And he is always right.

There's no excuse for telling you to be quick, that's just rude and I would be tempted to mention it to the practice manager. Failure to properly pay attention to you is also horrible
You might be a bit unreasonable for expecting an apology. I know it's nice to have one, but GPs are human too and he was probably a lot more annoyed about the late running surgery than you are. The late running was almost certainly NOT his fault.
Re: multiple problems, it's a tough one. Multiple symptoms = obviously, all of them need to be discussed to look for links. Multiple ailments = tricky, obviously some will interact with one another whilst others will be independent. Most GPs I know would be happy to have a quick chat about all ailments that were concerning you, but it would mean overrunning. Most GPs also accept that the important thing is to put the patient's mind at rest.
However ...
Multiple patients from the same family, all expecting attention for different ailments in the same, single appointment slot?
Really quite common in my DH's former surgery. Very, very difficult to handle as family members tended to get angry if asked to come back to discuss their ailment later in the morning / day. I'm not talking about a mum who asks about her baby during her appointment ... I'm talking about multiple adults crammed into one room, all expecting medical attention . I thought DH was pulling my leg when he told me.

I agree the OP's GP should have apologised if running over 20 minutes late (I give most appointments 20 minutes slack) and not tried to rush her.
Multiple alilments is difficult though. Most GP appointments are only 10 min long and if someone comes with a list of several unrelated problems either they are all going to be rapidly skated over and not dealt with properly, or the GP prioritises this patient over the other waiting patients and keeps the following patients waiting 30 minutes.
It is more sensible and fairer on the other patients to deal with the most pressing problem then and ask the patient with multiple problems to come back for a double or triple appointment to deal with the other things later.
You can only do 10 minutes work in 10 minutes.

1 appointment for one ailment is ridiculous, could you imagine, hmm i have 5 problems.....

Me: Hi i'd like to make 5 appointments please.
Receptionist: hahahahahahahahahahahaha

OP YANBU - An apology costs nothing as for telling someone to be quick, words fail me.

And there lies one of the reasons the GP was running late no?

I agree. 20 minutes late deserves an aoplogy, though I have never had an apology from a GP for that.
I think also that it is totally unreasonable to tell you it will have to be quick because they are running late, that is their problem, not yours.

Could have been a million reasons, op wasn't bothered that there was a wait though, just how it was dealt with.

Having been the patient causing the hold up - 45 minutes with the GP, ambulance called, off to hospital etc, I am always patient when waiting. The only time I've been rushed is when attending the late evening surgery - that can't go over as the building is locked up at eight by the security company. Even then the GP booked another appointment for the next day as he thought there was more to discuss.

I love my GP. Had a shocking one in the past who had a standard question for every appointment 'Do you think you should go to hospital?' and openly argued with the nurse (his wife) in front of the patients.