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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:

ShapelyBingoWing · 09/09/2017 23:34

They have no time.

Patient assessment is a huge part of their role. Huge. It isn't possible to assess a patient while failing to look at them. However stretched the NHS is, it is possible for there to be doctors who have become piss poor at patient care and assessment.

niccyb · 09/09/2017 23:35

Yes I also find it rude but since I have started running clinics myself I have found myself doing the same thing as there is not enough time and when I have all the history and bloods results to assess as well in a short time, it is difficult to not do it

Sallystyle · 09/09/2017 23:35

They have no time. They can't make notes afterwards as there is another patient waiting then another after than and then yet more.

Like a PP said, why is it some GPs at my surgery manage to look at me when I'm speaking about sensitive issues and others don't? This excuse just does not hold when so many manage it.

when are they supposed to make notes otherwise?

Well, when I took my son for MH problems the doctor turned her chair round to listen to my son intently. She then wrote some notes before he left the room. She was still discussing the treatment plan whilst typing but she managed not to type until he had explained the problem.

It's ok to write notes during the appointment. It isn't ok to not look at a patient when you first go in and start talking.

Timefortea99 · 09/09/2017 23:35

LOts of people pluck up courage to visit GP. This behaviour does not help. Nobody wants to be critical, but as in all professions there is good and bad. Just working for NHS does not confer sainthood - nobody is beyond criticism.

WorraLiberty · 09/09/2017 23:35

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

You see I could get my head around that if the nicer/more empathetic GPs at my surgery didn't exist.

But they're working at exactly the same surgery as the ruder/less empathetic ones and dealing with exactly the same workload.

That tells me, it's probably far more to do with their attitude/manner.

Miraclesparklestars · 09/09/2017 23:37

I had a doctor answer the phone whilst I was talking recently (hospital consultant)

Fortybingowings · 09/09/2017 23:39

It's far from ideal but it won't matter soon as there won't be a GP service much longer.

umbongokid · 09/09/2017 23:40

They have 10 minutes to assess you and also make your notes upto date. YABU in my opinion.

Sallystyle · 09/09/2017 23:45

I also hate the attitude that we should just be grateful for what we get and NHS workers are above reproach because they are under pressure.

They are and it's shit and I've seen how under pressure they are working in the NHS myself, but that is never an excuse for poor people skills. If some can manage to spend time looking at their patient then they all should be able to.

ShapelyBingoWing · 09/09/2017 23:45

love the gangrenous limb comment Shapely - it's the sort of thing I'd think of to say about 2 hours after the appointment!

That's usually me but I had my wits about me knowing it would be him we were seeing. I ended up in surgery at 14 after he'd diagnosed me with indigestion for 6 months and period pains for 6 months before that, as if I was simply incapable at 14 of describing my pain accurately. In that year he didn't even feel my abdomen, never mind order any scans. He even suggested at 1 point that I was being bullied at school and was putting it on to get out of going. I had gallstones (unusual for my age, but immediately identifiable on a scan if he'd bothered ordering one) and was getting attacks of acute pancreatitis. DD is 3...not worth the risk of him just guessing for the sake of politeness!

Miraclesparklestars · 09/09/2017 23:46

Posted too soon!
I most recently saw a doctor in a mental health unit. She spent the first 45 minutes of our 1.5 hour appointment writing in her notebook. I assumed she was writing notes as I was speaking, so she didn't miss anything (fair enough)

About 45 minutes into the appointment, she said 'Sorry, can you just recap what you've been saying' so I repeated what I'd just said and she said 'What are your symptoms again?'
She'd been writing notes from her previous patient whilst she was meant to be talking to me
I just went home after that. She then sent a letter to my GP telling him I apparently refused to discuss my symptoms with her, therefore I was to be discharged as there was nothing wrong with me.

Hope you're feeling better soon OP

prh47bridge · 10/09/2017 00:06

What's worse is when they start googling things

I would be more worried if a GP never googled anything. A GP has to be a generalist. It is impossible for them to know everything they need about every condition. If they don't know I would rather they looked it up than guessed. Some doctors take the view that a doctor who doesn't use Google is incompetent.

sometimes starts filling in my notes after a minute

I would hope so too. I would prefer a doctor to make notes as I am talking to them rather than wait until I've left and rely on memory.

WorraLiberty · 10/09/2017 00:12

I would hope so too. I would prefer a doctor to make notes as I am talking to them rather than wait until I've left and rely on memory.

Me too, but then I'm lucky enough to have never had to visit with anything more serious than a chest or ear infection.

Can you imagine the same scenario, as you're opening up about a mental health or extreme anxiety issue?

I mean finally opening up after months or even years of not feeling brave enough to make an appointment, stick to it and then sit there spilling your heart out?

worridmum · 10/09/2017 00:16

btw what doctors are doing normally is not google but a detailed database for illnesses only normally accessible by doctors as no GP is going to know everything about every condistion and its totally unfeasable to expect as much.

(Plus computers are quicker would you prefer them to go to giant reference books for the symptoms?

CantChoose · 10/09/2017 00:35

You're right that this didn't used to happen years ago. But people didn't sue GPs so freely then. Much of our documentation is defensive rather than anything to do with patient care or clinical factors, sadly.
My colleague's notes from years ago say things like 'throat - Abx'. Now I have to document a full history, examination findings, BP, pulse, temp, differential diagnoses, treatment plan and safety netting / follow-up advice. And talk about the cholesterol they never called for the result for. And their painful toe, 'while I'm here, doctor'. In ten minutes.
I still make sure I don't constantly face my computer as I really do appreciate it's frustrating but I then run late (never more than 20-30 minutes, usually) and people are utterly vile to me for it on occasion - at least weekly.
As a trainee I'd have 20-30 min appts, would read the notes thoroughly before calling the patient, give full attention (sometimes writing down key words on paper as prompts but nothing else) then document once they've left.
I've considered taking a private gp job as you have more appropriate time and resources. Doing it properly is much more rewarding for both the patient and the doctor.

DorisDangleberry · 10/09/2017 00:38

Googling is ok. It's worse when they start looking at your Facebook page and then day 'no wonder you're feeling under the weather, looks like you've been drinking prosecco constantly all summer. Btw, suggest a one piece next year'

laurielee23 · 10/09/2017 00:45

The point is they are supposed to be a doctor, I.e know what is wrong without searching on the internet for answers. Otherwise what is the point of going to see them? I have had doctors print off shedloads of stuff and just hand it to me, but not explain or talk about the issue. It's appalling.

BackforGood · 10/09/2017 01:15

YABU.
Sometimes, they are able to remind me of something, or questions me further about something that is on my notes that they are reading on the screen during the 5mins I am in there. This makes for a MUCH more efficient (and therefore accurate, and - for me - safer) diagnosis and consideration of what the next step (treatment / referral / prescription / whatever) might be.
I would be pretty concerned if my GP didn't pull my notes up and glance over them whilst listening to me.

I would also be concerned if the GP didn't make notes as we went along, and was trying to remember things after I'd left the room to be noting on my medical records.

ladybird69 · 10/09/2017 02:40

Worst one I've had and I've had a few bad experiences was with a top professor he started dictating into his dictaphone before I'd even sat down! And was booking me in for biopsy asap as my levels were elevated to dangerous levels showing serious disease which would probably end up with going onto the donor list!!!!!!!! I just sat there with my chin on the floor. Then the nurse coughed and said should he take a look at my new updated results as there was 6 months in between readings? Well the readings were perfect A* so no treatment let alone surgery was needed. Did he make eye contact did he apologise did he hell just muttered into his dictaphone which I wanted to shove somewhere. As nurse escorted me out of the room she quietly turned to me and said It would be quite understandable if I made a complaint to the hospital trust. But tbh I was just in total shock! Like WTF just happened. Scary in this day and age and the wonderful technology that we have.

SofiaAmes · 10/09/2017 02:50

My children's pediatrician (in the usa, so kids see gp specializing in children instead of regular gp) and my ds' geneticist have started utilizing medical students on rotation (or during their summer break or during a year out) to take notes for them. It's a fabulous system. The student sits in the exam room and does all the note taking on a computer while the doctor does the examining and talking. Occasionally the doctor will turn and explain something to the student, or ask them a question if it's a teaching moment. And in my ds' case, after his last visit to the geneticist, I got an email from the doctor to say that he'd brainstormed with the student after the exam and came up with some fabulous ideas to try. It seems to be a new thing here in the USA to deal with the pressure to see so many more patients an hour than before. And my GP has a whole stream of students on rotation who actually do the exam and then go in to see the doctor afterwards and if it's something simple (rash needs a cream) they take care of it and if it's more complicated (needs referral to a specialist etc.) the doctor comes in to complete the exam. It takes a little longer for the patient, but I like the idea that the students are learning (sometimes if I'm in a good mood and not in a hurry, I'll mess with the students a bit).
Maybe you could suggest this to your doctor.

Seren85 · 10/09/2017 02:58

Worst I've known was my then regular GO taking a call from his wife, arguing about their childcare arrangements and then essentially kicking me out as our 10 mins was up and saying I seemed fine so maybe pick up a leaflet about mindfulness on my way out. I had gone in as I was teetering on suicidal but never had chance to explain. Best was a locum I saw a few months ago who turned his chair to directly face me, listened closely then wrote up some notes whilst explaining his medication plan and how counselling is self referred so to speak to the reception. When I approached reception he was already on the internal line to tell the receptionist not to let me leave without the necessary documentation and to explain exactly what l needed to do. If he can do it, under the same pressures (pressures of which I'm well aware as my DH works in healthcare and my job is connected to it) then surely others can at least look up and acknowledge a patient?

Longislandicetee · 10/09/2017 02:59

Yanbu. I avoid one of the GPs at my surgery for exactly the same reason. The Googling and taking notes is all fine. Not looking at me once during an entire 10 mins appointment is not okay.

KiwiKaz · 10/09/2017 03:19

I try to look at my patients during a consult and type notes afterwards- I do jot important things down as we go though! Communication is a huge part of General Practice and some days I am better at it than others.

As for googling, it can be really helpful :) Normally, as someone explains their symptoms you are formulating a list of possible diagnoses in your head and googling the most likely is a confirmatory process. In the days before computers we would have pulled out a text book, now we use the internet. The thing is, GPs etc are taught reputable websites like patient.co.uk which has info for patients as well as a separate section for health professionals, so it really is an online textbook! As a GP I can't possibly know all the ins me outs of every single illness but I try to. People seem to think that GPs are only good for coughs and colds etc which is frustrating, we have spent years training and are 'specialists' in generalism- we have to know something about everythjng (just not teeth, don't get me started on teeth- I don't have a clue!)...

Newmanwannabe · 10/09/2017 03:32

YANBU, but the system is shit the world over. In a perfect world time would be allocated at the end of each appointment to take notes.

Health professionals are overworked and burnt out. We all go to work with the best intentions. But if our documentation is not perfect it leaves us wide open to be sued. If a problem occurs and we have not documented properly do you think the workplace would back us up? No. And if we appear less than perfect to our patients we are disrespected all over the Internet. Because "you know your body, and have done your 'hours of research', not the stupid GP, Health visitor, nurse, consultant etc".

Is it any wonder the health system is failing.

GreatFuckability · 10/09/2017 03:41

perhaps she has her own reasons for being socially awkward? being a doctor doesn't make you immune to anxiety and similar things.

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