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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wish my GP would stop looking at her computer screen during appointments

61 replies

Canvas28 · 09/09/2017 22:31

Anyone else experienced this?

Just look the person you're speak to in the eyes and give them your attention. It's only for a minute or two.

She is sat there facing away from me, looking at the computer, sometimes starts filling in my notes after a minute.

I have severe postnatal depression so have to discuss my symptoms every two weeks. It's not the best speaking to the side of someone's head!

AIBU?

OP posts:

Hassled · 09/09/2017 22:34

What's worse is when they start googling things. That's unnerving :o.

You're absolutely right - I realise they're really pressed for time and are frantically trying to read your history while also listening to what you're saying, but a bit of eye contact is always nice. And for someone with any type of depression that must be even more important - you need to know you're being listened to.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 09/09/2017 22:35

That doesn't sound good, but Drs are under such pressure .

Is she writing up your notes when she's looking at the screen? Mine does this but I just feel she's doing it so she gets the facts down as she hears them. If she waited until the end- she may not get it right.

Original poster

Canvas28 · 09/09/2017 22:36

I get a 20 minute slot but she's always behind so it feels very rushed.

It's something I've noticed with a lot of Gp's not just her. I'm sure thIs wasn't so prevalent years ago.

OP posts:

LemonRedwood · 09/09/2017 22:44

YANBU. People are just data on a screen nowadays in so many fields of work. Boxes need to be ticked and it's forgotten that there's an actual human there.

Worst GP appointment of my life so far was not quite the same but did involve too much focus on a computer:

I had just registered with new GP after getting married and moving house. Stressful year at work and developed mild alopecia - a few bald spots rather than all over. Deliberately didn't Google as I knew what pictures would show up. Went to GP to see if there was anything that could be used to help (I know now that some types of alopecia can be treated topically with certain creams).

He just fucking Googled and showed me all the pictures on the patient.net website. I could have bloody done that but I didn't want to see a load of bald wispy heads! I really wasn't ready to deal with images at that point. Then he measured my bald spots and drew me a fucking diagram like I hadn't already inspected them closely in the mirror and got my DH to take photos of the back of my head.

Then he just said, "Your job is quite stressful, so I'm not surprised. There's nothing really to do about it. Maybe you could quit."

I will now see anyone else in the practice but him.

I went to a hairdresser about the alopecia and they were infinitely more helpful. I'm happy to say that 5 years later I have a full head of hair again and I didn't need to quit my job to get it.

Knobhead.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 09/09/2017 22:49

I think they type as you speak so they make notes correctly and don't forget to record anything important you've said.

Bluelonerose · 09/09/2017 22:53

Op I get that too and just going to the dr in the first place is really hard for me. (I'm not even talking about getting through the receptionists!!)
The last 2 times I've been though I've seen the same Dr (very unusual here) and I think I might be making some headway with her.
See if there's a different Dr you can talk too, they might make you feel more at ease.

laurielee23 · 09/09/2017 22:54

One of my pet hates. It's just rude. And yes, why just print off a load of stuff off th internet wasting ink and paper, when you could do it at home? The family doctor who knew your history and really listened is a thing of the past.

MrsSpenno · 09/09/2017 22:59

GPs type as you talk as demands on them are HUGE and they need to record the facts. And, Yes, they are checking your history to make sure they don't miss anything.. They DO care and that is why so many leave the profession. Like any person you meet you may/may not get on. Some people prefer direct approach whilst others like softly softly. Find the GP in your practice that meets your needs They won"t be offended. Take care and all the best. P.S. I work with 6 amazing GPs - all truly wonderful and caring and desperately sad they can't deliver more. Please don't moan on Mumsnet about NHS staff - they are doing their best x

WorraLiberty · 09/09/2017 23:05

YANBU

Years ago, long before computers were a big thing, I had 2 GPs who wouldn't even look up from their paperwork as you entered the room.

Even when I said hello and sat down, they would just completely ignore me, until they'd finished the paperwork for the previous patient. Not even a 'Hi, I'll be with you in a minute'.

So rude and even now I'm with a different surgery, every now and again there'll be a locum there who'll do the same thing but on a computer.

pilotswife · 09/09/2017 23:06

Extremely rude, they can greet you properly and ask if they can update your notes. Councelling should be face to face and fully engaged.

Sallystyle · 09/09/2017 23:07

The best GP I have seen for a while was when I took my son to discuss his depression and anxiety.

The GP turned away from her screen and moved her chair a little to show she was really listening.

I know GPs do have to write things and check history but there is no need to spend the whole consultation making no eye contact with the patient. I understand they need to type at some point but not while you're in the middle of talking to them. Many GPs manage to type what they need to type and spend some time looking at the patient while they are talking, especially when they are talking about sensitive issues.

Yes, they are under massive pressure and time constraints but there is no excuse for facing the computer throughout the whole appointment.

WorraLiberty · 09/09/2017 23:08

Please don't moan on Mumsnet about NHS staff - they are doing their best x

Well of course the vast majority are, but just like in any other profession, you'll get some who are indeed worth moaning about.

PurplePillowCase · 09/09/2017 23:09

yanbu
reading your notes for a bit at the beginning of the appoinment and then typing up summary/prescription at the end is one thing, but not even looking at the patient is shocking.
I had that before and complained.

Original poster

Canvas28 · 09/09/2017 23:10

They can make notes after you've spoken. They're intelligent people that shouldn't miss anything major. It's very sad.

Or at least just look at you to greet you and for a few minutes after wards. It's important to make eye contact.

OP posts:

ShapelyBingoWing · 09/09/2017 23:14

There's a Dr at my local surgery like this. He was my doctor as a kid and I know first hand how dangerous it is when he misses things. DD ended up in an urgent appointment with him recently and he was very embarrassed when I announced "DD could have 4 gangrenous limbs right now and you'd be complete oblivious as you've not bothered looking up from your computer yet."

scottishdiem · 09/09/2017 23:15

They can make notes after you've spoken.

They dont really have the time in a lot of places.

I suppose its an effect of a different effect of what different people want from doctors. They are not therapists so dont have time for in-depth discussion of emotions and whats the problem is. They have certain questions that, depending on the score of the answer, help provide indicators about medicine required or referrals made.

I got to doctors for physical pain so get inspected and medicated if appropriate.

They're intelligent people that shouldn't miss anything major

Indeed. Which is why they can take notes, type them and think of how to treat you.

Mrsbclinton · 09/09/2017 23:18

Yes my old GP was like this, typing furiously, unless she was actually examining me. She was rude at times. I always felt rushed & a bit of a nuisance in her busy day.

I have since found a much nicer doctor who will actually make eye contact and take time to answer questions etc.

SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 09/09/2017 23:21

YANBU in your situation. There are times when eye contact and giving a person your full attention is more important, dealing with mental health problems is one of those times. I don't care if I'm wittering on about my sore throat and cough if I don't get that but if I'm sharing my deep emotional pain, I'd expect a human response. I say this as a professional who also needs to take notes and is under the same pressure as GPs but I know when to put the notepad away.

WorraLiberty · 09/09/2017 23:24

My surgery is so busy it's bursting at the seams and yet some of the GPs have a wonderful 'bedside manner' and people skills. They manage to show real interest/empathy for the patients.

Other GPs in exactly the same surgery are just as busy and yet appear to have no people skills at all.

At least it makes me more grateful when I come across the nicer ones.

Beadieeye · 09/09/2017 23:27

My GP walked out the room and closed the door whilst I was speaking to him, explaining how shit I felt. Walked back in 5 minutes later saying 'sorry I was just assisting a nurse'.
It was so rude I didn't know what else to say, so left!

PopGoesTheWeaz · 09/09/2017 23:28

OP, in your case, especially considering why you are there, I think you should say "I really need you to focus on my rather than your screen, or perhaps we should think about refefring me to a specialist?" If you don't think you can say it, you could always write it before hand and then hand it over. That is extremely unprofessional of your GP considering you are visiting for MH isues.

Sallystyle · 09/09/2017 23:28

Bollocks that they are so busy they can't manage to make some eye contact or turn away from their screen for a bit.

I worked along side many doctors in my old job and plenty of them managed not to face the screen/ notes throughout. No one has a problem with them taking some time to look through your history or typing notes but when someone is talking to you then you look at them. It's normal for GPs to take notes, but many have the good grace to spend some time looking at you when you are talking.

Guavaf1sh · 09/09/2017 23:29

They have no time. They can't make notes afterwards as there is another patient waiting then another after than and then yet more. The notes need to be comprehensive to avoid errors and now sadly for medicolegal reasons as everyone is so ready to complain at a drop of a hat. You can't have it all ways. GP land is about ready to collapse as it is. YABU

AccrualIntentions · 09/09/2017 23:29

It doesn't bother me, when are they supposed to make notes otherwise? The next patient will be in 20 seconds after I've left the room.

But then I've never been there for any mental health concerns, maybe I'd feel differently in those circumstances.

FlyingGiraffeBox · 09/09/2017 23:32

It doesn't matter what kind of customer/client facing role you do, you have to observe the basics of human interaction. Staring at a screen and making no eye contact is rude in any situation.

When you're dealing with a doctor, it's so much more important as you may be there for something incredibly difficult and personal and you cannot get any non-verbal cues if you're not actually looking at a person. LemonRedwoods GP above may not have shown her all the alopecia pictures if he'd been looking at her and seen the expression on her face.

There are also physical symptoms that they may miss if they never actually look properly at their patient. (love the gangrenous limb comment Shapely - it's the sort of thing I'd think of to say about 2 hours after the appointment!)

And as for never criticising NHS staff because they're under pressure - so are lots of people doing all sorts of jobs. It doesn't make incompetence any more acceptable, nor does it mean people should put up and shut up when someone behaves unprofessionally.

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