AIBU because I'm really not sure

[Ilovesunflowers]

I went to my GP today as my consultant wants to change my medication. The GP received the consultants instructions about 2 weeks ago. I got to the GP and he had never heard of the medication. He looked in his medication book to find out about it (while I was in there). The consultant had recommended a certain dosage and the GP said the book said it should be half this dosage. I suggested the GP contact the consultant to double check as I obviously don't want to take the wrong amount (double the books recommended dosage). I have no problem with the GP not knowing the medication and no problem with him checking the dosage but I took time off work for the appointment which was ultimately a waste of time and I'll now have to go back once he's spoken to the consultant. Should he have checked this before my appointment - should he have read the letter before I entered the room so he could look in his book before I went in (doesn't fill a patient with much confidence if the GP is using his textbooks for help!) or do they literally have no time to quickly check things?

I'm not sure if AIBU or not but I'm not impressed that I had to take time off work for this and didn't get the medication anyway.

I think yabu but understand why you are annoyed. GPs just don't have time to go through everyone's files before their appointments.

I don't think GP probably had time to do anything else tbh so YABU

GPs are not super human. They cannot remember every condition, every medication or every letter that needs read.

YABU.

Thanks. I thought I probably was being unreasonable but just wanted to see what others thought. I have no problem with him checking his books and I know they can't be expected to remember every drug. Just annoyed at the waste of time I suppose.

Gps have no time set aside in their days to do the kind of preparation you're talking about - when you come in for an app they'll look at the latest position on your file then, that's completely standard.

Also completely standard for them to check textbooks during appointments, they can't remember everything!

Think yabu on this one, sorry.

I agree there should be some action/thought prior to a visit to your GP BUT on the other hand, there is a time problem as well.

GP's don't know it all, and I find it positive when one double checks facts before filling out a prescription.

It's inconvenient for you, and annoying and YANBU for that, BUT it is GOOD that your GP wishes to double check before signing their name on a prescription that they are unsure of.

I went to my GP recently for results of an x-ray. The GP hadn't looked at the x-ray before my appointment. My appointment time was mostly silent whilst my GP read the notes attached to the findings, and then I was simply informed that I was going to be referred to a specialist... whilst I do think this process did not require my physical presence, that me being there added no value, I also accept this is the only way my GP could progress my treatment. My GP apologised by the way. I think the system is flawed and under tremendous pressure, but eventually I will get the treatment I need so I guess it's something I can do little about.

It does feel like a waste of everyone's time though.

The OP has not suggested that the GP should have read her entire medical history, but a letter specifically sent should have been read by him at some point otherwise what is the point of sending it? I think sadly, that the ideal scenario, where the GP knows his /her patients and their case histories is many decades behind us unless you are a member of a small, very quiet, village practice so whilst I can see why the OP feels the way she does and is therefore not U to be a little peeved, it is not realistic to epect anything other than what happened. I hope that the poster above was right and that the rest of the issue can be dealt with by phone.

I think you should be thankful the GP is contacting the consultant to check details. YABU

Sorry, cross post!

You do realise that you've taken on other people's views, responded politely, and accepted that you were being unreasonable? That is very unreasonable behaviour on an AIBU thread!

gp's check the bnf about medication all the time, I've even had the gp look something up on the internet to check during a consultation. tbh i'd rather they admit they weren't know-it-alls and actually check rather than fob me off, but maybe I'm weird. I prefer it when it's a new graduate gp as they tend to be more thorough and work through every possible scenario for diagnosis. Yes it would be great if they'd read your consultants letter and checked the meds before-hand, but in reality they probably didn't have time. I'd be grateful they checked and queried the dose, rather than just blithely accepting the consultants recommendation.

I am thankful for that 8thplace (and I suggested he do that myself!)

Probably yabu but I totally understand your frustration. It can be stressful and time consuming going back and forth between Gp and consultant and it is difficult if they don't understand or agree causing further delays. Probably an unavoidable thing but annoying too.

LunaticFringe - no they won't do that as it's a medication where they need to keep a close eye on blood pressure (not contraception though) and they need to do it before issuing it everytime.

Now you've seen your GP can you just collect the prescription once they have sorted out the fine points without the need for another appointment?

DD was recently prescribed an antibiotic by her consultant, her consultant said to her "So. You're allergic to clarithromycin?" To which DD replied that she was. A few days later DD collected her script from her GP. Luckily before she took it she read the leaflet. It said "Do not take if allergic to Clarithromycin" After several phone calls to the pharmacy, the GP and the consultant's secretary we were told she should never have been prescribed that drug. All of her GP and hospital notes show her allergy (which is an anaphylactic one so is serious).

I think yanbu the whole point of seeing a specialist consultant is to get specialist advice and treatment, not the book version.
I think the GP should simply had prescribed what the consultant ordered.

Norem

If the GP prescribes s/he is responsible - if there has been an error in the dosage they will be accountable. Therefore the GP is entirely justified in checking the dosage before writing the prescription. Although frustrating for the OP the GP does appear to have their best interests in mind.

Norem Consultants are fallible just like everyone else, the GP is absolutely right to question the dose.

YABU

As other people have posted there is no way that a GP would have the time these days to check through the records of all the patients they see in a day (from 8.30-6.30 every 10 minutes - maybe a 3-4 hr break in the middle for home visits).

There are many GPs of the prehistoric variety who would just do what the consultant ordered and pretend that they know what they are talking about. By checking and then asking you to come back after they have spoken to your consultant, your GP might well have saved you from an adverse drug reaction.

It takes a brave person to admit that they might not know all the answers.

And consultants are not always correct.