To ask for a male DR

[Singlebutmarried]

So the story is my GP of 20+ years retired about a year ago, he recommended I then went with imhis replacement (lovely lady Has been really good). But. I have a chronic disease (need seeing every 3 months or so for meds reviews) and the new DR has now gone one maternity leave.

That is fine (she’s lovely so I’m sure she’ll have beautiful baby and a lovely time)

I just need some consistency. Have I been spoilt by 20 yrs of same GP?

Or am I ok to totally swap to one of the other partners?

Posted to soon

I can see why you need consistency, given that you have had the same doctor for a number of years. I have noticed that my surgery seems to weigh more towards older male doctors - I imagine there will be a spate of retirements soon which will cause some upheaval to the surgery.

In general, women stay in positions for longer than men do. This may not be true of GPs, but focusing on male doctors may not get you the consistency you want.

There are lots of defensive/offended responses here, despite the fact that posters frequently ask about requesting only female HCPs being treated with understanding and sympathy.

Statistically, you're right, OP. There's a major shortage in GPs, which is actually getting worse. This is because Health Education England didn't increase training places to account for the fact that more women than men study medicine, and have done for years, and a higher proportion opt for General Practice than other specialties. Now the first cohort of this majority of a majority are reaching child-bearing age, they're taking maternity leave and returning part-time. Subsequently, two GPs are required to fill one position, and there are too few.

Unless and until men and women have parity in parental leave rights (and access it equally), the inconvenient truth will be that a male GP IS more likely to be available over the longer term.

Sorry for letting facts get in the way of righteous indignation.

If OP were asking if it was unreasonable to ask for a female doctor, she'd be getting backed to the hilt.

I agree.

OP I understand what you mean. As someone who needs continual care I also have one GP who 'knows me'. Yes other GPs can read notes but it really isn't the same, if there is a huge back story to your illness.

Get any GP you want I agree

But I don't think being male makes it any more likely you will get consistency. There are loads of reasons why people move on or take time off!

This is a weird post. The title is would you be unreasonable to ask for a male doctor and then your post makes no mention of male doctors, but is ostensibly about whether you can ask to change doctor so that you can get to know one well (of course you can, why would you need to ask that?). Some posters have assumed that the male GP of the title was a reference to the fact that the female GP you saw has gone on maternity leave. I would be inclined to agree that that is the only logical conclusion, in which case I also agree that you are being unreasonable to assume that female doctors will always be disappearing off to have babies where male doctors will be a picture of consistency and reliability. If you have some more legitimate reason for wanting a male GP, then no, you are not being unreasonable. Very odd.

'If OP were asking if it was unreasonable to ask for a female doctor, she'd be getting backed to the hilt.'
i disagree not if it was on the basis of consistency however the government pays for the doctor therefore should decide the doctor you get so id suggest you go private and talk to a private company about only having a male doctor