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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GP is forcing me to go for an appointment

200 replies

alwaysprepare · 11/08/2017 17:00

Don't like going to dr's or hospitals, never have. Moved to a new town and was told I need to have a dr appointment if me and the kids are to be accepted.
What would they find to refuse us a place? If I have cancer or an infectious disease, does that mean they won't accept us? Why is this linked to my children who do not have an appointment?

I ask because I have had 4 GPs in London over 15+ Years and have been advised to do a check up with the nurse, but never once obliged to take this appointment or else...........

Also, we are just not sick people. We had the usual coughs, noro, etc, nothing you cannot treat with over the counter medicine. Been to the hospital for a broken arm, but do not go to dr unless it's an absolute emergency- I am talking post baby years here. Still all this was no problem with previous GPs, they only saw us when we made an appointment. It seems like a waste, when that time could have been given to someone who actually feels they need it.

OP posts:
User843022 · 11/08/2017 22:05

'Myrtle, be grateful your experiences have been straightforward, I'm not sure you would have the same opinion if you tried to do the job.'

They've been far from straightforward. Anyway yes, I shouldn't generalise. It is only my own extensive health problems plus those health issues of all my family, friends, colleagues etc that has given me this opinion. Hard working yes, not that clinically specialised .

AngeloftheSouth84 · 11/08/2017 22:05

This thread has been absolutely twisted

You'll find that on here if you talk about doctors or the NHS. They are Gods. You MUST do as they dictate. Good for standing up for your autonomy, OP

mogulfield · 11/08/2017 22:14

My Dad moved to a new area and registered with a new Gp, so went in for the routine medical. They checked his blood pressure and it was sky high (he had no idea, otherwise relatively healthy). They also checked his cholesterol and he was in the high risk category for stroke/heart attack.
It's worth getting a health check occasionally whatever the reason.

MsPassepartout · 11/08/2017 22:14

80% of what a gp sees could be managed by a nurse practitioner

The receptionist at my GP surgery would agree with this. The last time I rang up to ask for a GP appointment, the receptionist said that there weren't any GP appointments available, but that I could see the nurse practitioner, and she told me that the nurse practitioner can do everything the GP can. I admit to being a bit Hmm Hmm because if that's true, why bother hiring GPs at all?

sumsumsum · 11/08/2017 22:27

The main thing is to get an intermediary to speak to the surgery for you, OP. Otherwise, as you can see from this thread, you will be written off as a "nightmare patient".

sumsumsum · 11/08/2017 22:31

If the Patients Assn can't help you, maybe these people could:

www.patientsfirst.org.uk/page_id=83.html

sumsumsum · 11/08/2017 22:33

Or any of this lot:

www.gmc-uk.org/information_for_you/organisations_working_for_patients.asp

ChuffMuffin · 11/08/2017 22:33

So far no one has come up with a reason of why It's absolutely vital why GPs cannot register you without seeing you for an appointment first.

Erm, to make sure you are who you say you are?

PacificDogwod · 11/08/2017 22:34

It's not 'absolutely vital', it is common and good practice.

notreallythere · 11/08/2017 22:48

To be fair to OP, I must be on my 8th GP surgery now due to moving around a lot and I have never had to have a preliminary appointment with a GP in order to register. Quite surprised to hear that so many posters have had this.

ringle · 11/08/2017 23:22

Pacific Dogwood pointed out that there have to be exceptions to good practice. Or it wouldn't be good practice....
An exception seems sensible here for the kids' sake.

TrinityTaylor · 11/08/2017 23:28

Just go you wrong un

notevernotnevernotnohow · 11/08/2017 23:37

If they are so friendly, why are they punishing my kids for my DR phobia

They are doing the exact opposite.

frumpety · 12/08/2017 07:05

They are unlikely to diagnose you with anything like cancer at a booking in apt , unless you wander in with a visible fungating mass , so unless you have blatantly obvious symptoms or worrying symptoms you are willing to share , I don't think you need to worry on that count .

Infectious diseases , again if you are symptom free and have no knowledge of prior infection then I wouldn't worry . Are you concerned about the recent news about HIV testing of new patients ? I think this was in London and you can always decline .

Maireadplastic · 12/08/2017 17:33

What about smear tests? You can't (shouldn't) use your hospital as a GP service.
You have some sort of phobia, it's clear, but we are bloody lucky to have this service and free at the point of delivery too.

Writermom22 · 12/08/2017 17:44

It's one family appointment. It's normal, and it means the family will be registered with the surgery should they ever need medical attention. Stop being such a prat and go to the appointment.

NoPressureNoDiamonds · 12/08/2017 17:50

You sound like one of those people who just go through life feeling like everyone is against them or out to get them. The amount of arguing must be exhausting. Who cares if it isn't absolutely vital? Surely you have more important ways to spend your energy than fighting it? Also, the less you go the worse your phobia will be and one day you might actually need to go.

Mulledwine1 · 12/08/2017 17:54

I don't remember ever having to see a GP before I registered. It's a waste of appointment time and I suspect that in most cases a nurse does the checks. Why would a GP need to check blood pressure? The nurse can do those checks and refer to a GP if she finds something warranting further investigation.

I have usually registered when I needed an appointment so have registered and seen a GP at the same time, so to speak. But the last time was around 14 years ago so I don't know what the procedure would be now.

LellyMcKelly · 12/08/2017 17:57

Why wouldn't you do this to protect yourself and your children?

ThanksForAllTheFish · 12/08/2017 18:04

Not read all the replies yet so sorry if I'm repeating anything.

I have had to do this the past couple of times I've registered for a new GP. Last time I saw the nurse. She asked me general health questions, asked about my family medical history, took my weight and height, asked if I was a smoker, how many units of alcohol I drank a week etc. I think she might have also taken my blood pressure but I can't remember. I'm sure it was a quick 15 minute appointment.

I think it's just to see you in person and get some of your basic health info on file (as it can take ages for info to transfer through from previous GP's).

Honestly OP nothing to worry or stress about. I would just go and get it over and done with so you can be registered with a GP.

cutie101 · 12/08/2017 18:05

Like you OP I don't like going to the doctor. I put it off as much as possible. I see what everyone is saying and I agree in theory, however that's not so easy to go if you have such a strong dislike about going. I know I'll get shot down for this comment but I think it is worth knowing you aren't the only one out there who would seriously rather not belong to a surgery than to go to a registration appointment. I guess I was lucky when I joined my surgery I didn't need an appointment. I think it would be worth explaining to the receptionist (or even head of surgery) how you feel about appointments in general and ask if it could be done by phone etc or not done at all in this instance as it is causing you so much anguish.
Time to be shot down now.

Sara107 · 12/08/2017 18:47

It does seem a waste of resource doesn't it? Surely they can see when your medical records are transferred exactly what your history / state of health is. It would make more sense to just sign you up and only request an appointment for new patients who have some ongoing condition. I think when I joined our local practice I just filled in a form.

lettuceWrap · 12/08/2017 18:53

Op, it's a completely routine appointment, not something to get worked up about.

Pp's mentioning Nurse Practitioners as a solution to GP shortage, there are a lot of reasons why that works much less well than you might hope.

Firstly, there aren't enough qualified, experienced Nurse Practitioners available to fill those posts. Secondly, they can do certain bits of the job, but not others, and what often ends up happening is that the patient ends up seeing both NP and GP.

My DH (a GP) has been involved in setting up a scheme and assessing the use of NP in an Out of Hours setting - everybody was very keen, as NP are paid a lot less. However, analysis shows the NP's see considerably fewer patients over the course of a shift, and refer so many patients on to the GP's (working the same shift), that they were actually increasing pressure of work (stress) amongst the GP's, while also costing more money (i.e. If someone is paid 60% of the money but sees half the number of patients, while also referring on a 1/3 of their patients to a GP down the corridor who has to spend probably the same amount of time assessing them as they would have without the NP's input, well, you can see why that can end up costing money, rather than saving it).
DH is now involved in trying to make this scheme work better, because it needs to (not to save money, but due to GP shortages to ensure that SOMEONE, GP or NP is there to see patients).

milliemolliemou · 12/08/2017 19:18

What have you decided OP?

Ruhrpott · 12/08/2017 19:20

We had to do this. Wasn't with the dr was with a nurse and just weight and blood pressure and general questionnaire.