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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

About a Christmas party at GP surgery

48 replies

bearleftmonkeyright · 24/12/2015 23:04

Some health care assistants had a Christmas party at my GPs. They had it in a treatment room at the surgery. The photos are on Facebook. They put the food on a treatment bed. I have had a smear test there and coil. Some one made a comment about a patient on the thread. Am I being unreasonable to think this is unprofessional? Could they not have had party in an office? I feel quite panicky about this if I'm honest and wonder if they talk about patients. I get that everyone needs to offload about work but this seems really beyond the pale. But it might be me. I feel very happy to be told if I am being unreasonable.

OP posts:

inlectorecumbit · 25/12/2015 00:04

Total over reaction to change Gp's over a FB page and a non comment.
Believe me if that is all you have to worry about in your surgery -you are lucky.
It's Christmas time, a once in a year event, they have to work, let them have a bit of fun...

Original poster

bearleftmonkeyright · 25/12/2015 00:08

Fair enough. I wasn't sure about my perspective on this. I appreciate comments. Think I will just unfollow the posts of person concerned.

OP posts:

unimaginativename13 · 25/12/2015 00:11

What is it you feel panicky about?

To be fair no names have actually been mentioned. Still it's a bit unprofessional to say anything as you could be sitting there thinking they are discussing you.

The food on the bed? Doesn't really have much impact on you.

Original poster

bearleftmonkeyright · 25/12/2015 00:14

No, no impact on me at all. But why have the party there? There is plenty of office space. I didn't realise it was the done thing to eat party food in a treatment room

OP posts:

maryann1975 · 25/12/2015 00:16

So, they didn't name the patient, you have no way of knowing if it's the man down the road or a man you work with or the local shop keeper. They could be talking about anyone.

The food thing, I guess the bed is clean and will be cleaned again before a patient gets on it for an examination. I can't get worked up about this tbh. (But I gave birth on my sofa and my family sat on it later that day and ate their tea in the same place I'd given birth just hours before, so maybe I'm just not squeamish about these things).

Original poster

bearleftmonkeyright · 25/12/2015 00:18

I'm going to leave this thread now. I think I've established iabu. Night all.

OP posts:

Tapirbackrider · 25/12/2015 00:26

It's entirely possible the offices & doctor's rooms are locked, after all, confidential information is generally kept in those places. Treatment rooms, not so much.

x2boys · 25/12/2015 00:28

Not botherd.really about food on a treatment table but broadcasting it on social media.and making a comment about a patient is fucking stupid I would make a complaint really unprofessional and inappropriate.

MozzchopsThirty · 25/12/2015 00:47

Commenting on patients in any form is inappropriate

Re: food
As a fellow nurse I can say we will eat anywhere and out of anything
One ward I worked on put a NYE buffet on dressing trolleys
Most of the time we're just grateful to be eating 😜

thewolfof34thstreet · 25/12/2015 00:59

Of course they talk about patients in private! They're a bit thick to be doing it on FB though (even if not naming names).

I'm not at all sure why you're panicky about food on the examination table? or a party in the treatment room?

kali110 · 25/12/2015 01:10

I am at the doctors a lot, i am sure they probably talk about me.
I don't think they've been unreasonable.
Everyone talks about their work with each other.
If they'd said 'do you remember when mr...'that would have been unreasonable and unprofessional.
I don't understand about the food thing?
How do you know they had the office space free?
Maybe it was all being used, or the treatment room was the biggest?
I certainly wouldn't change my gp over this.
Do you normally have anxiety overthings?( not meant in a mean as i know what it's like).

Original poster

bearleftmonkeyright · 25/12/2015 01:23

Yes I am generally an anxious person. It helps to have perspective on things like this so it is useful to post here.

OP posts:

Headmelt · 25/12/2015 02:06

They may not have been talking about an actual patient, it could be a hypothetical "bloke" as a giggle. I am not suggesting they laugh at patients just laughing at a hypothetical situation. The food thing wouldn't bother me, presumably they wouldn't risk food poisoning so the area was disinfected before and afterwards again.

Wagglebees · 25/12/2015 03:13

bear Every place I've been into for gynae/fertility type things use a disposable paper covering on the bed which they remove immediately after use and put a fresh one on for the next patient. They'll also use an anti bac spray or wipes after each use. There's no risk to you or other patients from them doing this.

I'd maybe find it a bit bleurgh to eat in a medical room but they'll be more blasé about things like that as they are there every day.

Whether it's odd or off or not, it's definitely no risk to you and you should feel comfortable to go there again with no worries. Hope that reassures you a bit.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 25/12/2015 03:18

YaBOTT, sorry!

DyslexicScientist · 25/12/2015 05:57

I think you have to remember they are real people with a very tough job.

If they talked annonmousmosely about a patient that shit themselves on a table being used for Pringles that's kinda understandable, but shouldn't be done.

Bit of a molehill but neither of you Abu.

poocatcherchampion · 25/12/2015 06:04

My surgery talk about me. All the nurses look after my children and poorly baby when I turn up also poorly. I was crying yesterday so they also rejigged my appt to a sympathetic doc who saw me straightaway.

When we are all better they will be getting thank you gifts.

Talking is good.

Jibberjabberjooo · 25/12/2015 08:42

Agree that HCP eat out of anything. On nights we've put popcorn and crisps in those disposable vomit bowls.

To be honest op, it's not often we get to have fun or even eat. I'm not sure what you're getting anxious about regarding the food, the table will be cleaned more times then you realise before you even have your next appointment there.

Sidge · 25/12/2015 08:52

I bet I clean my treatment room couch more thoroughly and regularly than you clean your dining table!

And my treatment room IS my office. Makes sense to have our informal Christmas staff party in there.

kali110 · 25/12/2015 18:35

bearleftmonkeyright It prob does help, as you can have some nice people on here.
I suffer from anxiety too and find talking some things over with friends help to see if i'm overeacting as i can sometimes do the same.
Hope you had a nice day op

takemetomars · 25/12/2015 21:51

Practice Nurse here. If any of my team had a party in a treatment area, there would be trouble. The FB issues is a disciplinary offence. To talk about patients in a public way is unprofessional. I would be concerned about their understanding of confidentiality and infection prevention and control.
I would take this further if this happened at my place of work and I think you should too.
It does not promote professionalism and trust. YADNBU

Dipankrispaneven · 26/12/2015 10:46

I would be totally amazed if medical professionals never talk about their patients. I can't see that mentioning an unnamed person who did something on the treatment couch is in any way identifying, and indeed it may have been made up anyway.

JustAnotherOP · 26/12/2015 11:21

Posting the pics on social media is a massive no no. As is discussing patients publicly but other than that I can't see what the problem is.

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