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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GPs asking my occupation

93 replies

Crossastwosticks · 18/09/2016 22:24

In the last 2 months I've visited the GP four times. I've had a different doctor each time and they have all asked what I do for a living.
AIBU for thinking that's a bit strange?

OP posts:
NoMudNoLotus · 18/09/2016 23:41

My user asking about occupation isn't a CQUIN FFS.

CQUIN targets are actually very important because they originate from the identified DOH health targets to improve outcomes in health . The trusts that comply with the CQUINS get rewarded monetarily which then feeds back into funds for patient care.

Wrinklytights · 18/09/2016 23:46

I don't mind being asked, but I was pretty annoyed when I told my optician I was a SAHP and saw her write 'not working' on the form. I have five kids under ten, including one with SN. I might not be getting paid but I am definitely working ffs!

Couchpotato3 · 18/09/2016 23:47

Ilness and injuries can also affect your ability to work, and depending on what you do, your doctor might need to advise you to avoid certain activities or sign you off for a different period of time.

QueenLizIII · 18/09/2016 23:47

Queen I don't get in the least bit worried if a patient is a solicitor or a journalist if that makes you feel better!

It does. Everyone gets sick. Grin

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 18/09/2016 23:48

I don't mind them asking tbh, they did and it turns out in eligible for a free flu jab due to working with young children. Never would've known if they hadn't told me

Myusernameismyusername · 18/09/2016 23:48

Thank you for your kind words. I didn't say occupation as one CQUIN, I was talking about all of the patient demographic information required as a whole. Occupation is part of the patient demographic and is one of those collected with the other data. Sorry if you feel I have misled. Also CQUIN's can change for each Trust.

I also never said they were not important, they are but I have worked in the NHS for nearly 20 years and most of us and the HCP can feel overwhelmed by the pressure that is on us all to capture this data to reach our targets and also that these huge tasks can be so time consuming. And the patients often don't like it.

We lost money on a missed target quarter (bloody children's smoking) and it was overall quite horrible to think thaf the money wouldn't be able to go back into patient care.

TopazRocks · 18/09/2016 23:50

A friend was offended to find the doctor had written 'this prim 36 yo lawyer' or some such. Of course she was pregnant with her first child.Smile

Rinceoir · 18/09/2016 23:55

It's also useful to know what your patient does before discussing tests and procedures. For example as a very junior doctor many years ago I explained a condition in minute detail to someone who turned out to be somewhat of a world expert in that very field...

PurpleDaisies · 19/09/2016 07:34

rince the second ever patient I clerked as an F1 was a retired ENT surgeon... I had a running commentary on how I was doing. Grin

Groovee · 19/09/2016 07:53

I'm a nursery nurse so sometimes it is relevant such as the time caught hand foot and mouth. Or when I hurt my back, making sure I wasn't rushing back.

Rinceoir · 19/09/2016 08:00

I've had the same in reverse too though and always been very polite and amused by it. I agreed to take part in medical students finals when I spent a day hanging around in antenatal clinics at 38 weeks and was bored, and I think I was an excellent historian!

LunaLoveg00d · 19/09/2016 08:03

I'm relieved it's a standard question. I was starting to feel paranoid.

Are you a spy or something terribly secret???

cheminotte · 19/09/2016 08:08

I don't blame you Wrinkly - surely you having 5 dc to look after brings it's own occupational hazards?

Discobabe · 19/09/2016 08:12

I understand why they ask when it's related to me. What I don't understand is why health professionals ask when you have an appt with regards to your child?

HyacinthFuckit · 19/09/2016 08:19

I think there are certain conditions which are more likely to be seen in certain socio-economic groups? Though of course parents income doesn't necessarily correspond with occupation. There are legal aid lawyers on 25k and people in retail who are on multiples of that. I've never been asked but I can see why it might be considered relevant.

The farmer thing, I'd heard that before too!

Yy on the religion stuff also. It's less important in an outpatient context, though obviously eg some people won't countenance contraception for religious reasons and would be upset to be offered it, but if you have to be admitted to hospital suddenly it could be really important.

LikeDylanInTheMovies · 19/09/2016 08:21

Alongside the fact that your ill health might be caused or exacerbated by your job, I guess it influences their prescribing decisions. If they know you are operate a crane for a living, they will know to avoid prescribing drugs not suitable for operating heavy machinery.

NoahVale · 19/09/2016 08:24

Last time I was asked I just said I have a Sedentary job Grin although GP did ask me to elaborate

shinynewusername · 19/09/2016 08:27

It's called a CQUIN

GPs don't have CQUINs.

We are interested in patients' professions because most people's jobs have a huge impact on their lives and therefore their health. It's not a conspiracy Hmm

NotBadConsidering · 19/09/2016 08:30

Discobabe

I always ask parents. It's not often relevant but can be. Examples:

Behavioural or sleep problems: does a parent work long hours? Shifts? Are they not around at important times of day? Does one parent do it all? You only have read a day of MN threads to realise the impact of parents' work on behaviour.

If a child sees a paediatrician with learning issues their parents' occupation and school history can give an initial idea about their level of functioning.

Physical problems: less relevant but allergies/asthma etc could be triggered by various things brought home eg animal dander.
Frequent respiratory infections: does the child go to day care? Does it impact your work when the child gets sick and can't go to day care? If your child needs time off from day care to reduce the exposure to viruses and allow some recovery how feasible is that with your work?

Just some examples.

MaidOfStars · 19/09/2016 08:32

I use the title 'Dr' and always get asked by any health care professional what I do. I think they're trying to check I'm not a medic Grin

My optometrist is genuinely interested in my work though (one of my research strands is genetic eye disease). His notes on me contain stuff that isn't at all relevant to my eye care at all!

shinynewusername · 19/09/2016 08:32

I recall writing it on the form when I signed up. It would only irk me in the context of their failure to read my notes. "sweetly patient smile - oh dear didn't I write that on the registration form? Would you mind awfully checking to see for me - of course I did, there you go - litigation lawyer"

Oh do fuck off. In the 10 minutes per appointment I get as a GP, which includes the time it takes for patients to walk up from the waiting room and writing up their notes at the end, of course I have time to read what they wrote on their registration form, often several decades earlier. And of course no one ever changes jobs.

NightNightBadger19962 · 19/09/2016 08:33

Bet the practice manager is trying to improve the date on their patient records for some reason and has got them to all make sure they ask every time.

LikeDylanInTheMovies · 19/09/2016 08:45

I recall writing it on the form when I signed up. It would only irk me in the context of their failure to read my notes. "sweetly patient smile - oh dear didn't I write that on the registration form? Would you mind awfully checking to see for me - of course I did, there you go - litigation lawyer"

And I am sure they'd be thinking. 'i wonder how does she fit in the litigation work around her busy schedule of being a full-time prat'.

Given that people are often registered at the same GP for many years (since infancy in some cases) and years may have elapsed between their last visit, there's a very good chance their job will have changed in the intervening years.

By way of illustration, I've been registered with the same GP for eight years. I've only been twice. When I registered I was unemployed. Last time I visited I was a museum attendant, now I work at a university. All three carry very different health risks and the Doctor would have no idea unless s/he asked me.

shovetheholly · 19/09/2016 08:52

It's totally standard and absolutely relevant to your diagnosis. If you work with chemicals of any kind, for instance, a certain set of symptoms might 'mean' something potentially very different from the same set in someone who doesn't. If you are suffering physical pain, and you do a very physical job, that would also be relevant. Occupation and health are connected in all sorts of ways!

I get asked it all the time because I have a PhD, and they want to find out whether I am a medical doctor so they know how to pitch the explanation.

TopazBurns · 19/09/2016 09:01

I got asked my ethnicity by the nurse taking my blood last week at GP's surgery. She was very tactful & asked if I minded telling her. I didn't mind, but it felt strange & was the first time I'd been asked that at the GP's (I've been asked on forms that I fill in, but not in person iyswim)

I'm often asked what my job is, I understand why they might need that info.