Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Doctor's appointment

537 replies

10greenapples · 04/08/2017 12:03

I missed a drs appointment for my dd as I just wasn't going to make it on time. Anyway today I recieved a letter which says if one more appointment is missed she won't be allowed another one for 6 months! We can cancel an appointment but need to give an hours notice. So we will only be seen at the walk in if another is missed which is 8am-11am and a 2 hour wait. Aibu in thinking this seems pretty harsh?!

OP posts:
Lweji · 04/08/2017 17:44

Why wouldn't you trust a pharmacist?

Not as much as a doctor, or even a nurse, no. Because... training.

Coconutspongexo · 04/08/2017 17:44

The walk In would send them to a&e if needed.. its rare that a swollen eye would be serious.

Lweji · 04/08/2017 17:45

The walk In would send them to a&e if needed

Sure. Would a pharmacist be able to tell if it was serious, though?

WeAllHaveWings · 04/08/2017 17:48

I always if it is anything remotely or potentially serious pharmacists error on the side of caution and will refer you to the GP/A&E/Out of hours as appropriate.

If its a weekend they can also call 111 for you to explain they have seen you, the symptoms and get an out of hours appointment for you.

MsHippo · 04/08/2017 17:48

Today 17:44 Lweji:

Why wouldn't you trust a pharmacist?

Not as much as a doctor, or even a nurse, no. Because... training.

Uh...what do you think pharmacists spend four years at university (plus another years pre-registration, on-the-job training before they are qualified) doing!?

Coconutspongexo · 04/08/2017 17:49

As wings said Smile

paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking · 04/08/2017 17:53

Our local pharmacists are brilliant. Have seen them for burns, eyes, skin infection. They are always very clear when GP would be needed (skin infection, things that have gone on for a while) but have always given appropriate advice for clearing up minor things. Saved many a trip to the GP.

frankyj · 04/08/2017 18:01

Would you think it unreasonable if, for example this had been a hairdressers with the exact same set of circumstances.
They would be unlikely to allow you to book another appointment due to loss of earnings,
If you had called when you got home however, they might be sympathetic.

No difference just because it's a GP. It's free at the point of use, doesn't mean you've not wasted money. A quick call to the surgery even the next day would most likely have stopped the letter. Most of the rules and regs your surgery are stipulating are there to stop time wasters.

But, I will say a pharmacist is every bit as qualified to diagnose and treat minor ailments as any dr. I'm a nurse, I regularly ask for advice from my local pharmacist.

MommaGee · 04/08/2017 18:11

I'd usually prefer a call back from the pharmacist than the doctor for medicines as the doctor just speaks to the pharmacist anyway lol

Lweji · 04/08/2017 18:22

what do you think pharmacists spend four years at university (plus another years pre-registration, on-the-job training before they are qualified) doing

Drugs. Not so much patients.

Lweji · 04/08/2017 18:22

How long do they spend on learning diagnosis?

abigcupoffuckyou · 04/08/2017 18:27

Uh...what do you think pharmacists spend four years at university (plus another years pre-registration, on-the-job training before they are qualified) doing!?

Not training to be a dr, that's what.

coddiwomple · 04/08/2017 18:27

what do you think pharmacists spend four years at university

god knows, everytime I have asked them a question, the reply was to go to GP and/or A&E Hmm

frankyj · 04/08/2017 18:28

Drugs. Not so much patients.

Learning about the chemical properties of a drug is useless to a pharmacist unless they know about its purpose, action, interaction and side effects. Pharmacists check every prescription before it's given to a patient, not just for calculation errors but they will check to make sure that the drugs prescribed are correct to treat the condition.

Original poster
10greenapples · 04/08/2017 18:29

The same here, when I went about my son they told me to see a gp. It was 6 o'clock so couldn't. That's why I didn't think to go to one at first tbh.

OP posts:
Lweji · 04/08/2017 18:34

Learning about the chemical properties of a drug is useless to a pharmacist unless they know about its purpose, action, interaction and side effects.

But a drug is useless if the pharmacist can't do the right diagnosis.

Lweji · 04/08/2017 18:37

It works like this:

Doctor: looks at patient, determines a diagnosis, has a reasonable good idea what drug to prescribe (may check with pharmacist or drug book)

Pharmacist: is given a diagnosis, works out the best drug. Or may recognise some basic illnesses and be aware of more serious symptoms to look for, and advise based on that.

frankyj · 04/08/2017 18:43

An example from one uni. Outlining the learning aims of a pharmacy degree. They have had professional accreditation as prescribers for quite a while now. Which you cannot get without the basic skills of clinical examination and diagnosis.

Doctor's appointment
frankyj · 04/08/2017 18:48

My opinion of pharmacists and their scope of practice is vastly different from yours.
Of course a doctor would do this in most settings.
In community they are more than capable, and more importantly qualified to examine and diagnose minor ailments. And prescribe out with over the counter medications within there professional scope of practice.

balsamicbarbara · 04/08/2017 18:55

What's unreasonable is that a doctor would refuse to see a sick child merely because of their parents' problems. That is not on.

Original poster
10greenapples · 04/08/2017 18:57

I just thought about that tbh. The letter was addressed to my dd who is 7, so punish the child for me being late, nice.

OP posts:
Coconutspongexo · 04/08/2017 18:58

You're only late if you turn up.. you didn't even bother to turn up

DoctorDonnaNoble · 04/08/2017 18:58

They're not refusing to se the child. They operate a walk in clinic as well (as does my surgery). It means OP won't waste an appointment someone else could use and those of us who can't get appointments will still be seen (as long as we're booked in by 10am we're seen). We also don't know whether the surgery would have refused in the circumstances to honour the appointment. The OP couldn't be bother to see. Or to apologise.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 04/08/2017 19:00

The letter was addressed to your dd as it was her appointment. It will be computer generated. My 22 month old gets letters about his appointments!

Floggingmolly · 04/08/2017 19:06

They very likely wouldn't have, balsamic. They'd probably have made op wait until the scheduled appointments were done, and seen her then.
Op didn't find that out because she had things to do, people to see; so never actually made it to the surgery at all.