Doctor let door close in my face

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I've just been to the doctors with my 2 month old. He called me in, the door was 2 meters if that from where I was sitting. I stood right up, baby in one arm, changing bag in the other. He walked in to his office and let go of the door. It literally closed in my face.

AIBU to think this is pretty poor? Yep, I'll get over it but there's nothing worse when you have PNA to not be treated with at least a little bit less f respect. He then sat and did the appointment without even looking at me.

Feel like crying and didn't raise the embarrassing issue I had been building up in my head all morning as I just felt like he didn't care..

*a little bit of respect

Wretched Dr. Can you request another? Would definitely see someone else. Good luck!

I’d complain about him not looking at you, it’s not on. You can’t diagnose/support someone without looking at them.

The door thing is probably him rushing to get back to your notes/didn’t see you/completely unintentional though.

You should have walked in rubbing your nose and made out the door hit you..

That sounds like thoughtlessness. I would try hard not to let it trouble you though.

fire door weighted with springs starts to shut automatically - probably small office dr calls you & goes through first - I doubt it was deliberate - at worst he misjudged or was distracted/exhausted?with number of patients & didn't realize/think of door. I would suggest you don't take it personally - did he give you/baby treatment otherwise?

Doubtless he's just preoccupied, and one of those doctors whose bedside manner isn't their strong point. I wouldn't take it personally. Hope he was more helpful with the medical matters.

Yeah it’s unprofessional and rude. I was a specialist nurse and ran my own clinics. After calling the patient in I held the door to allow them to enter first - it was basic manners, don’t turn your back on the patient.
I often had lots of data to enter during the appointment but made sure I kept looking up at the patient regularly and stopping when they asked me anything.
Dh is running a clinic in outpatients this morning, I cannot imagine him shutting the door in a patient’s face.

Talk to your midwife/health visitor. They can give you the support to raise the embarrassing issue and will know which of the doctors are more empathetic (and/or can stick it in your notes that you need a bit of a hand hold in appointment right now)

Did you go in after him?

GPs who don’t look at you are the worst

I rarely go but I distinctly remember a double appointment where the GP flicked his eyes at me maybe twice. Rude rude rude

Sounds like my doctors. The last one I saw did the same to me. Also didn't even say hello he just sat down and stared at me. I was like, "oh hello, well I'm here because...." It felt very awkward .

My old doctors closed, so I had to register at this one. My old doctor was lovely. I've seen 3 different ones at this practice all not very welcoming, supportive or nice at all.

I think I would take it that the doctor was just pre-occupied with something and didn't realise/think. I wouldn't take it personally though.

If it will make you feel better, I would write an email to the surgery if it left you feeling like crying. It is not right at all and if it was unintentional it might make him pay more attention to the actual people he is seeing.

His actual medical knowledge is a heck of a lot more important, surely?

Can you make an appointment with a different GP? It’s important that you feel able to speak openly with a GP and he doesn’t seem to have done that.

It wasn't malicious or deliberate, OP. Just let it go. Healthcare providers are only human and I'm sure it wasn't personal.
Don't complain, just talk to a health visitor.

The doctor misjudged how close you were to the door and you're annoyed enough to be posting on the Internet about it hours later?

I'm glad you've been to the GP because this sort of reaction isn't normal.

Sorry OP, the doctor patient relationship is so important and it's the little things that count. I will always hold the door open and then close it behind the patient (but I don't have a fire door and often patients will just leave it open if I don't close it!). Hopefully he was just having a bad day, I'm sure it won't have been personal.

I should say I do not work in the NHS at the minute, and don't have the same pressures, so I do get more time for my patients.

Unfortunately there seem to be some GP’s who have a lack of empathy - I am sure there medical knowledge is superb (as it should be...) but surely expressing genuine concern and kindness comes with the territory. I remember seeing a new GP once about hormonal issues - he did not look up once the whole time I was talking and when I had finished he asked if I needed a repeat prescription which was completely irrelevant, ignored everything I had said and waited for me to leave!? You’re not alone OP and hope you and your baby are okay.

@RCohle any need for your scathing reply? The op is currently struggling and the dr wasn’t particularly welcoming or supportive from the sounds of things and you feel the need to come on and kick the op while she’s so clearly down

You'll always get one that is rude. Recently a nurse was rude to me and basically called me a time waster. She has had an attitude with me since I started attending her clinic. Normally I would complain about this, however she phoned me later that day to apologise so I'll see how things go next time. But if she is rude again I will complain. It's important doctors and nurses have curtesy with everyone no matter how difficult their own day has been. I would see another one next time.

Dear OP,
Whether it was accidental, thoughtless or (hopefully not) deliberate it had a detrimental impact on you. It left you with the impression that the Dr didn't care or respect you and that meant you didn't share the real reason you went to see the GP. Being a clinician, doctor, nurse or any other health care professional is about more than your clinical knowledge. It is expected that any health care professional takes into account how their behaviour and communication skills impacts on their interaction with a patient. This isn't just something that is expected on a good day, when you have enough staff and are not absolutely knackered; it is expected at all times and is even more important when you are having a bad day. You have an absolutely legitimate reason to be upset.

I hope that this was an accident or just a bit of thoughtlessness but any good clinician needs to reflect on the care they deliver and on feedback from patients. When you are feeling a bit more settled it may be really valuable for you to explain to the practice (the practice manager or one of the nursing staff if you don't feel able address one of the GPs) how this seemingly (but not really) small thing had a real impact on you. Any good clinician should be able to learn from this and improve their practice. In the mean time it would be a good idea to reach out to your HV for support to address what ever the health concern is that you are worrying about.

OP - have you tried asking about your embarassing problem on MN? You might get some useful advice to help you until you feel able to go back to the doctors