Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the drs receptionist could have told dh on the phone he needed an appointment for dd

52 replies

Picturesinthefirelight · 16/08/2013 22:50

Dh phoned the drs at the beginning of the week to ask about a letter if general health/fitness for school. He was told to take the form in and depending on what was needed would determine whether he was charged or not.

The school don't have a form as such they just want a letter so dh on the advice if the school typed one out that dd is in good general health etc etc and left a space to sign.

Except when he took it in today they told him they won't sign it because she hasn't been to the drs since 2007. Why couldn't they have told him that on the phone. So now he has to make her an appointment except they only make them a week in advance. We are on holiday next week so he has to phone them next week from holiday to make an appointment the week after.

If he'd have known before he could have made an appointment at the start of the week for today.

Grrrr. And I bet they're going to charge a fortune now.

OP posts:
KatyMac · 17/08/2013 20:44

How many & what colours?

DD is deciding on her costume to perform Fame at Park Resorts Talent show this week; I'd rather she didn't enter as she can't have time off school for the final this year & she didn't do too well last year

marriedinwhiteisback · 17/08/2013 20:46

I think they could have been more helpful to be honest. Remembers when dd broke her leg and I needed an insurance form signed by the GP for a cancelled holiday. They got me to give them 35 before they put through the request to the doctor ( two to three minute job) and said I could phone at 3 to see if it was ready - And then got arsy and gave a cat's bum mouth when I said that for the equivalent of 1050 per hour the doctor could hand deliver it and if she didn't want to they could pick up the phonE and let me know when it was ready. Absolutely unfucking believable standard of service if you ask me.

thisisyesterday · 17/08/2013 20:48

"YABU. Let's blame the Drs Receptionist for our own stupidity again shall we?"

really?? if I called the doctors for a note I wouldn't necessarily think to ask how recently I needed to have been seen. I mean, surely the fact that she hasn't been to the GP is some indication that she is in good health? I would presume a note was just to say that a person has no major health issues that they're aware of? no?

how long ago is too long? a few weeks? 3 months? 6 months???

if, in order to get a signed letter, you need to have seen a GP within a specific time limit then it makes sense for the receptionist to say "has your child seen the GP within x months?"

I don't think it's an unreasonable thing to expect. that someone can tell you what you need to know, in order to get the item you are asking for Confused

roweeena · 17/08/2013 20:52

Surely it is common sense that a GP needs to at least see the patient recently to confirm they are good health. YABVU and a bit daft

KatyMac · 17/08/2013 20:55

It's often a ticklist when it's a form; do they have diabetes/heart problems/asthma etc have they been in hospital? you don't need to have seen a GP if you have never been diagnosed with anything

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 17/08/2013 20:59

We're just using whatever leos she's got. Her navy RAD one, her black cross back capezio one her old dance school used for tap & modern then a couple of plain black Lycra ones that have been used as costume bases in the past.

Plus she wants to take her two new school ones.

After this summer school her rad & capezio ones are being donated back to her old dance school.

OP posts:
KatyMac · 17/08/2013 21:01

Aw that's nice

DD doesn't really get into Leotard the way some children do - she likes a really plain black one (but she hates her school navy one - she says navy makes her skin look very yellow it does)

We might be going to Harpenden this week

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 17/08/2013 21:02

Really?

OP posts:
KatyMac · 17/08/2013 21:08

DD needs a lesson in Redbourne (sp) this week or next we are waiting to hear when

llittleyello · 17/08/2013 21:34

Agree you could have anticipated this appt. and actually have sought it out to ensure dd was having a mot before f/t dance school. Think it's a good thing.

SofiaVagueara · 17/08/2013 22:56

You haven't taken your school age daughter to the doctor for 6 years? Isn't that slightly irresponsible?

5madthings · 17/08/2013 23:01

Why would it be irresponsible?. If she hasn't been I'll and needed to go to the Dr why would you take her?

My eldest is fourteen next week, I can't remember the last time he went to the drs, he doesn't get Ill, he hasn't been in years. Generally none of my five go to the Dr very often, they may get the usual coughs/colds or odd sickness bugs but they don't require a trip to the Dr.

SofiaVagueara · 17/08/2013 23:04

In six years? I think even if your child hasn't been ill you should at least take them for a general health check once every 3 or 4 years.

curlew · 17/08/2013 23:10

"You haven't taken your school age daughter to the doctor for 6 years? Isn't that slightly irresponsible?"

Really? I have a 17 year old who has been to the doctor twice in her life (croup at 4 and a viral infection that made her glqmds swell up and i was worried was mumps at 15)and a 12 year old who has been once- (a grumbling stomach pain I thought might be an appendix but turned out to be an unidentified something that went away at 10)

5madthings · 17/08/2013 23:11

A general health check, given how hard it is to get a gp appointment if I got one for a check up for a perfectly healthy child they would think I was mad.

At most at a check up they would weigh/measure them,,listen to chest and maybe look at eyes and ears. Pointless. They are weighed/measured at school. Have regular eye sight checks and they are perfectly healthy, growing and thriving with no health issues at all. I have taken them for issues if need be, ds3 was very poorly a few years ago and then had follow up appointments.

We have had minor injuries that required a&e where they get a quick check anyway but absolutely no need for a gp appointment.

If I ever have any concerns I ask my mum (nurse) first anyway,many people go to the gp needlessly.

With a little baby/under one/two I would always erron the side of caution but for your average healthy school age child they do not need gp check up.

curlew · 17/08/2013 23:14

And what on earth would you be looking for in a general health check in a healthy child?

cumfy · 17/08/2013 23:19

Ah, but curlew you need a rather special level of health if training daily at a specialist centre of excellence in your sport with a view to representing your country.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 17/08/2013 23:36

A lot of GPs do "well person" clinics where people who haven't been to the GP for over 2 years can have a check up.

My dad's GP did but he never quite got round to going. In 2007 his mouth / neck swelled up randomly and he figured he should go to the doctor. Once they had decided he was a patient of theirs (it had been 23 years!) and the doctor had confirmed that the mouth / neck was just a minor reaction to something the doctor figured she should do a few tests in case he didn't come back for another 23 years. She discovered dangerously high blood pressure. Now completely controlled by pills but had he not had the weird swelling thing he probably would have had a stroke by now.

Worth investigating anyway.

curlew · 17/08/2013 23:47

Well person clinics are a good idea for adults- particularly older adults. But for children? Why?

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 17/08/2013 23:57

I take it you're being sarcastic comfy

Dd has not been doing any sport. She hates sport but was just trying to explain the similarities in the type of training she will be starting in September when asked how dance was different to PE. She hasn't been training at that level thus far.

She has chosen this path. I haven't - in fact there is a thread where I discussed the fact that I had discouraged her from auditioning and I was told I was beingbunreasonsble that I should have had faith in her and not told her she probably wasn't good enough. Hence she applied late but was fortunate enough to still get a place.

Anyway that's by the by. I guess in your eyes whatever u say I will be a pushy mum who is boasting or stealth boasting or whatever about my distinctly average dd.

OP posts:
llittleyello · 18/08/2013 00:04

Tbf I did wonder if your next post was going to mention summer school at the marrinsky:-)
But well done to dd - great achievement- you must be very proud of her averageness:-)

Floggingmolly · 18/08/2013 00:07

So it's essentially a declaration of good health for insurance purposes?
On what planet would any doctor worth their salt put this on record for a patient they hadn't seen for six years??????

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 18/08/2013 00:15

I agree flogging. But when dh phoned up on Monday he was told she didn't need an appointment - just to take the firm in to be signed.

When he turned up with the letter on Friday he was told she needed an appointment but couldn't make one them for two weeks time. He has to ring up next week (whilst we are away on holiday)

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 18/08/2013 00:20

Oh sorry, missed that he was actually told he didn't need one. What a womble! (the Receptionist, I mean). They surely know better than that.

lancaster · 18/08/2013 00:25

In these circumstances I would normally write a short letter stating that no significant conditions recorded in notes and I do not really see what would be added by a consultation. Also, please don't bring healthy children for general check ups!

Swipe left for the next trending thread