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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Doctors won’t see me (saga continues)

324 replies

TheCatsPaws · 12/02/2018 09:13

Previous posts about severe anxiety, recurrent miscarriages.

Had a D&C on Wednesday. Yesterday had a raging temperature, coloured discharge and general unwell feeling. Rang EPU who said to make an emergency doctors appointment today re possible infection.

Got an emergency appointment today. Stuck in traffic for half an hour because road is covered in snow. Rang GP, stuck on phone for 20 minutes. Got told by a receptionist that “sorry you’re too late, we won’t see you”

I explained I had surgery on Wednesday and the ward thinks I have an infection, and wants me to see a dr today. “Sorry that’s our policy”. After much arguing, I asked if she’ll be personally responsible if I get sepsis to which she just quoted policy at me again.

AIBU to be fuming? I’m going down to the surgery and demanding to see the manager right now.

OP posts:
Wetwashing00 · 12/02/2018 09:25

that is shocking. I am sorry to hear you are having such a rubbish time.
I would turn up crying, clutching your belly.... maybe even a fake faint to the floor.

LemonShark · 12/02/2018 09:26

Sorry, I had a lot of sympathy with your previous post (and offered advice) bud YABVU.

You missed your appointment. Whether it was for a mild rash or a suspected lump is irrelevant. If you couldn't get to it in time you have to accept that you cannot have it anymore.

Do you have any idea how jam packed GP surgeries are? Imagine the knock on effect on everyone else if people who were late were still allowed to be seen. People would have to wait even longer, be unable to get back to work in time, miss picking kids up, etc.

It's not their problem. You should make another appointment or make alternative arrangements to be seen, such as a walk in centre or minor injuries unit.

To place blame and responsibility on them for not seeing you when they gave you an appointment you didn't keep is immature and childish. You are a grown up, yes you're having a hard time but you are responsible for yourself, not them. If it was crucial enough to make that appointment you'd have set off earlier or checked the weather forecast.

Don't bother going to kick off, you'll just embarrass yourself. Go to a walk in centre, calm down, and stop trying to take your anger out on someone else.

LemonShark · 12/02/2018 09:27

PS if you hadn't already posted the other day with such a lot of info I'd have thought this post was a wind up! Of course YABU.

Sirzy · 12/02/2018 09:27

So you have a walk in centre or anything locally?

As annoying as it is docotors are right to not see people when they turn up over half an hour late, they have enough trouble keeping up and fitting everyone in as it is

DriggleDraggle · 12/02/2018 09:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LemonShark · 12/02/2018 09:28

Wetwashing00 What do you expect the surgery to do? Not see one of the other sixty patients in that GP's diary that day? Hmm

Onceuponatimethen · 12/02/2018 09:30

The system should be able to cope with lateness that isn’t the patient’s fault where the need to see the GP is urgent.

Op i think you need to call the ward and ask if they can help. Explain situation and ask if you should come to them or if they can contact GP.

mollifly · 12/02/2018 09:30

You were late... they haven't refused to see you- you just missed your appointment.

PaddingtonsHat · 12/02/2018 09:30

Doesn’t responsibility still rest with the EPU? You are less than a week post op. I’d contact them again

Onceuponatimethen · 12/02/2018 09:31

If your temp is very high and you are feeling very unwell and think you have post d&c infection but GP won’t see you then I would think a&e is the only option

Bourdic · 12/02/2018 09:31

FFS lemon is your post for real? OP go to the surgery and say you have to see a GP straightaway. There’s bound to be someone not turn up - we’re always being told how many DNAs there are aren’t we?

Bourdic · 12/02/2018 09:32

Do people realise how quickly sepsis can set in?

greendale17 · 12/02/2018 09:32

YABU- you missed your appointment.

Go to the walk in centre then.

IHeartKingThistle · 12/02/2018 09:33

Do you think we could be a bit kinder to someone having a really awful time, maybe?

Hope you're OK OP.

PaddingtonsHat · 12/02/2018 09:33

Yes. In which case you need to be in a hospital not your GP surgery

TerfsUp · 12/02/2018 09:34

YABVU. You were late; you can't expect the GP's surgery to magic up an appointment for you.

If it's that serious, go to A & E.

Original poster
TheCatsPaws · 12/02/2018 09:34

Lemon I set out an hour earlier. I’m sure it’ll be really inconvenient to all the non life threatening conditions in there if they were made to wait an extra 10 minutes.

I don’t mind waiting, I mind being flat out refused when I’ve possibly got a post surgery infection...

OP posts:
LemonShark · 12/02/2018 09:34

Hmm okay so given that there has to be one rule for all, how do you imagine the surgery copes if every single patient is allowed to be seen when they're late? And it goes without saying not a single patient is going to say 'it was my fault' if that means they don't get seen. And yes, not leaving adequate time for the journey is the patient's fault.

I genuinely don't think posters on here have the first clue about how busy a GP surgery is or how tightly run they have to try and keep it to have any chance of keeping up. Our clinic gives you ten minutes grace and then you've missed it. That's more than generous.

They've not refused to see you. They offered an appointment which you accepted. You refused to attend.

Rebeccaslicker · 12/02/2018 09:34

Really sorry you're going through all this OP, but sadly YABU - always allow loads more time for travel if it's snowing.

You'll just have to ask them for the first possible cancellation or next slot Flowers

norfolkenclue · 12/02/2018 09:35

Sorry for your difficulties OP...but to be honest, you could see the weather conditions before you left home. It's not a huge leap to assume that you ought to allow extra time for travelling when it's snowing. Appointments can't be held open if you are late unfortunately. You know this. Be apologetic and really, really nice when you go into the reception area and you MAY be given a new one there and then! Go in all guns blazing, shouting the odds and you'll get nowhere! Why would you even think that you should be 'fuming' when you are the one who messed up here?

MistyMeadow · 12/02/2018 09:35

Going in there kicking off isn't going to help anybody. Just go in and calmly and politely explain the situation and I'm sure that they will help, if not then make your way to the closest walk in or call the ward.

I understand that you are upset and unwell and hope you are feeling better soon.

Rebeccaslicker · 12/02/2018 09:36

Although it's slightly different when I got an infection in my c section scar the GP simply sent me straight to hospital - would a&e be an option?

LemonShark · 12/02/2018 09:36

"Lemon I set out an hour earlier. I’m sure it’ll be really inconvenient to all the non life threatening conditions in there if they were made to wait an extra 10 minutes.

I don’t mind waiting, I mind being flat out refused when I’ve possibly got a post surgery infection..."

So yours is life threatening. But nobody else's is. Sure.

Original poster
TheCatsPaws · 12/02/2018 09:36

I allowed an hour! My surgery is 20 minutes away!

OP posts:
frogsoup · 12/02/2018 09:38

Jesus. The op might have a life-threatening infection but if she drops dead, it's her fault for being stuck in traffic? GPs need a triage system. Nobody who is potentially dangerously ill should be refused a pretty much immediate appointment. Luckily that is how our gp surgery see it as well. Glad you guys don't work in healthcare is all I can say.