That GP waiting times are unacceptable?

[frustrationfrustration]

I very rarely visit the doctor, I have only needed to visit once in the past year. I have rang up for an appointment today and apparently every single pre bookable appointment to see the one female GP at the practice has already gone, she apparently only sits on a Thursday morning and a Friday afternoon. The earliest I can ring up in the morning for an on the day appointment to see her is the 16th of March. I was interrogated by the receptionist who demanded that I tell her what my concern is as apparently this dictates who she should book me in to see, she was sharp with me and asked why I couldn't just see a male gp with a chaperone provided. Has anybody else had similar experiences with GP practices recently? I can't help but feel that this is the reason that a+e's are being overused. This is a busy practice that serves a large council estate so I can't help but feel that the female GP provision is inadequate.

I might add that I was willing to let him examine me.

Where was he chaperone then?

..the chaperone? Sorry typo

I wasn't aware of this until I was sitting in the appointment, I didn't request a chaperone as I didn't feel the need to.

Having a chaperone doesn't change the fact that' the doctor is a man

I would just like to add to my comment a few posts above, that as female GPs number fewer than male, male GPs who refuse to examine female patients are utter tossers. I cannot understand a person who goes into a career knowing full well they will not be able to fulfill some of the role. Any surgery that has male GPs who refuse to deal with women's bodies needs to have a higher proportion of female GPs to make up for it, and make patients aware ahead of time.

So much for I think this poster must have a very high view of how appealing she thinks her fanjo is to a professional who sees genitals every day!

Current wait here is 6 weeks, for ANY doctor (usually the temps). To see a female specifically is usually a few days to a week longer (there are more male than female doctors at the practice), and to see your actual preferred doctor (especially if you have a long term issue and they know the history and specifics) can be an extra 2 weeks on top of that.

Standard practice is to offer a chaperone at the time of the appointment and then nip out to ask one if the female receptionists or nursing staff to come in. Easy to sort out and most staff will have had chaperone training.

I once heard two women in the waiting room discussing how they make an appointment for every week just in case, so they've got one if they need it - and they just don't turn up if they don't! People like this are what makes it as bad as it is, or at least heavily contribute towards the situation!

Fortybingo, I have no idea why he didn't want to examine me then if that is the chaperone practice, his appointments were running late so I think he probably just wanted me out.

He is probably helping to block up the system though as every woman he doesn't want to examine has to make another appointment.

It has really knocked me actually as it took me a lot of courage to make the appointment and I feel a bit dismissed.

Brendas - isn't it more that they fear possible allegations than that they don't want to deal with female bodies??

A patient that previously refused to be seen by a male doctor, and is now requesting to be seen un-chaperoned for a breast exam? If I was that doctor, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'd be refusing to do the exam without a chaperone as well - the patient clearly has anxiety or concerns around male doctors and it wouldnt take much to misconstrue a normal breast exam as assault if the patient doesnt understand why things are being done.

The chaperone isnt for the patient, its for the doctors safety so that they cant be accused of inappropriate behaviour.

Its quite reassuring (or not, when you think about it) to know that I'm not alone in having issues with my GP practise. First, the ridiculously long wait (2wks+), not having any choice who you see and the utter incompetence of one of the doctors.

Its my first pregnancy, I'm scared and needed to talk things through - what I should be eating, when to tell my employer (my job is quite physically demanding), how to access free dental care etc - all i got was "talk to your midwife" when i don't even have one yet because that was the first nhs appointment about the pregnancy. Worse, the utterly cold and mechanical way he asked me the list of questions about prior mental health, miscarriage etc.. Also couldn't or wouldn't explain the nhs process steps to me. Literally everything i know I've picked up from the internet. Still not heard from the midwife and I've got no number to ring to chase it up

Ok sorry for the rant i just needed to get that off my chest!! Am literally going to change my GP as soon as possible. Most of them are better than this.

Storm, how would he even know that it was me? I phoned the surgery and asked if any female gps were available and I was told there's times and dates that she was available, I never even got the chance to give them my name as no appointments were available with her

I then rang back a couple of days later and asked for a normal appointment and didn't request a woman. If he wasn't willing to examine me without a chaperone he should have made that clear before the appointment.

Whenever I have needed a breast examination or gynae examination the male doctors have always needed to wait for a chaperone. It’s always been a female doctor or nurse from our practice and never needed to wait or come back.

A patient that previously refused to be seen by a male doctor, and is now requesting to be seen un-chaperoned for a breast exam? If I was that doctor, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'd be refusing to do the exam without a chaperone as well - the patient clearly has anxiety or concerns around male doctors and it wouldn't take much to misconstrue a normal breast exam as assault if the patient doesn't understand why things are being done.

The chaperone isn't for the patient, its for the doctors safety so that they cant be accused of inappropriate behaviour.

My thoughts exactly.

Either that or the OP is a massive liar.

@hariboismycrack I wonder that too. Then I realise mine is run by a community enterprise scheme and open 7 days a week from early until late and is just, frankly, really well run and listens to its patients.

The receptionists are really good too (see my earlier post) and can tell a chances from a genuine need - and even filter through the "I'm alright just need to talk to someone" actually no you need to be seen people like me!

The medical staff ALL without exception go above and beyond. Nothing is too much bother for them they never stick to 10 min appointments, if you need 20+ you're in their 20+ but everyone accepts that when they are waiting. It's seriously one of the best run doctors surgeries I've ever been under.

Some practices just can't recruit. So they get worse and worse as everyone is downtrodden and no one wants to work there. I am a gp trainee and have been on placement in many different practices with different booking systems. Some work better than others, but whatever they do some patients don't like the system. It is very hard to please everyone, and believe it or not, they do try their best to get the right system in place to suit their particular demographic of patients, which of course will vary from practice to practice in terms of their needs.

So, you get to decide exactly who gets to examine you but when you decide a man is acceptable, they have no choice but to do as you bid?

Interesting set of ideas you have there!

Are you real or just looking to cause an arguement?

So, you get to decide exactly who gets to examine you but when you decide a man is acceptable, they have no choice but to do as you bid?

Err, yes? You make it sound like she specially requested a red headed doctor with an Edinburgh accent, no, just one of the two genders, no more exacting than that...