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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think everyone else was being unreasonable...

14 replies

chirpygirl · 23/04/2007 11:20

I had an appointment at ten past 9 at teh doctors for DD's cough. Turned up at 9 just as a woman and her DP were going into the doctors.
All we heard for the next 45 minutes was hysterical sobbing coming from the room, it really upset me and a few people looked a bit uncomfortable so I know they all heard it.

Anyway, after they had gone and the enxt lot went in the receptionist came up and said that Dr said she was very sorry but she was running abour half and hour late due to an emergency but to wait if we want and everyone would be seen. Out of nearly 10 people waiting I was the only one who didn't start shouting at her saying it was 'unacceptable' 'ridiculous way to run a surgery' that they were going to complain to the practise manager and all that crap.

I was so shocked, this poor woman had obviously had a serious problem and we had all heard why the dr had taken so long.
Am I a complete pushover or should I have complained too?!
(Oh, and not one said they were late for work or anything like that, which I would have understood!)

OP posts:
Original poster
chirpygirl · 23/04/2007 11:21

Sorry about spelling, DD is asleep on my shoulder!

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 23/04/2007 11:22

chirpy, you were in the right. some people have no compassion.

Original poster
chirpygirl · 23/04/2007 11:27

I was more concerned about this woman than my DD, who was hacking up a lung in the corner, and I was next in after the apology and the dr looked all red eyed and said she had been crying too.
Miserable bastards.

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 23/04/2007 11:30

yes indeed, chirpy. sometimes it is easy to think we live in a selfish society

PrettyCandles · 23/04/2007 11:32

And what did the other patents expect? That the GP should chuck the weeping couple out? I'll bet plenty of them were with her for longer than their allotted 10min (or whatever) appointment.

JodieG1 · 23/04/2007 11:33

Poor woman, I wonder what was wrong? I wouldn't complain and I think you're in the right.

fryalot · 23/04/2007 11:35

How heartening to hear that there are still some doctors out there who will listen to their patients.

Sorry you had to wait, but I personally would rather wait for hours to see a doctor who will actually give me his/her time when I need it.

You were completely in the right, and the other selfish b*ards want to thank their lucky stars that they weren't there for anything particularly serious and distressing.

Would be interesting to see how many of them went over their allotted time

Marina · 23/04/2007 11:36

I have been that person crying in a room and knowing a room full of waiting patients can hear me. And we had to walk past them all to leave the building.
What an awful situation for you to be in chirpygirl, too. For everyone really.
Maybe distress made some people express anger rather than other emotions? In some way they resented the surgery for forcing them to overhear this?
But I think Iquite agree with you, it is a selfish society we live in
Hope your dd gets better very soon

MegaLegs · 23/04/2007 11:37

Poor people, must have had some awful news.

Out of interest, how old were the others that were waiting?

I would like to think I would have been compassionate like you. I wonder if the other patients stopped to think of what the implications of someone crying like that in a doctors office were.

MegaLegs · 23/04/2007 11:39

The poor people being the crying lady and her DP not the horrible waiting room crowd.

misdee · 23/04/2007 11:41

they were all unreasonable to an extent. poor lady and her dp. we have been in docs surgery a lot longer than the allocated 10mins with dh many many times. its terrible as you can see people glaring at you as if they have timed how long your appointment has been.

when dd1 had an asthma attack last week and the gp saw her next as an emergency in case she needed a neb, we got so many looks for jumping the queue.

Original poster
chirpygirl · 23/04/2007 12:55

Thanks for replies, I almost felt like it was expected of everyone to complain, the poor receptionist was almost shaking.

I would say half of the people there were retired, there was another couple with a 2ish year old who had bad nappy rash (They told me!) and a couple were 30-40, so was expecting them to be pissed off as they could have been missing work, but none of them mentioned it.

The elderly couple that went in after the woman had gone were in there for 30 minutes, I was in and out in 5 (Can you listen to DD's chest? Is it clear? Can I be cheap and have prescription paracetemol? thanks bye!)

To be honest all this has done to me has made sure I will never change my surgery, one of the doctors is a complete arse and I refuse to see him but the others are all so patient and it feels like they actually listen, and for her to have been crying too just shows me that she is a GOOD doctor.

OP posts:
GreebosWhiskers · 23/04/2007 13:22

You weren't unreasonable in the slightest - the other miserable sods in the waiting room were. This poor couple obviously had some devastating news or the doc wouldn't have let it upset her so as well. When I had my first scan with dd3 I waited an hour & a half over my appointment time (with a full bladder) while a couple in front of me had an emergency anomaly scan. The state of that poor woman as she was helped from the scan room still haunts me yet & there is no way on Earth I could have felt anything but pity. For these people to feel anger just shows they have no compassion. Well done on you for being the only decent human being there.

agnesnitt · 23/04/2007 15:50

The service we get from the GP is free. I'll happily wait my turn if it means I get seen to eventually.

Agnes

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