To think my doctor is ignorant?

[pippayyyt]

Went to GP today,as I started explaining my issues (what I'm worried sick about ) she's typing what I'm saying in the computer.
Didn't even look at me once,no eye contact.
She asked me to stop at one point so she could catch up typing.
Then printed a prescription and sent me on my way.
Aibu to think she should look at me whilst I'm talking to her or it's just bloody so ignorant?

Not only ignorant but really poor practice, in my opinion. How you present yourself, how you look, may be relevant information that th doctor needs, to make the best diagnosis.

Agreed. You should put a complaint in to the practice manager.

I had been really depressed for a while.
I was explaining how I've been crying all the time,not wanting to get up,feeling empty.
I wanted some sort of conversation but she just typed and typed then said there's some anti depressants and off you go.

Not great. Can you switch GPs?

It's not good but, equally, she has to listen to you, make decisions, prescribe and accurately record all that in under 10 minutes. Patients often don't realise how much information they are pouring out in such a short time and how much importance the NHS attaches to recording it all.

Doesn't excuse it but I can see how it happens

Ignorant means lacking knowledge. If she accurately assessed and dealt with your issue then she was not ignorant.

Her bedside manner was lacking and she may have come across as rude.

She must have spoken to you. I don't believe she listened and typed through the whole consultation and handed you a prescription at the end.

I have seen a Dr like this. She was bang on her money for the diagnosis but her bedside manner is severely lacking, unfortunatley I've seen similar a few times. It happens but it doesn't make them ignorant.

Sorry missed your post it was about depression. It's her job to listen in that case. But she must have said something to you before she handed you a prescription.

I don't know that I'd call her ignorant. Hey bedside manner doesn't sound amazing though.

Was she a young inexperienced doctor?

Sounds like she was focused on making sure she was recording your symptoms accurately rather than giving you a consultation.

If she wasn't young and inexperienced I would complain, as yes, it's poor practice and she needs some retraining on communication skills with patients.

Mr Dr is like this which is why I'm switching!

Mental health is a very difficult thing to manage in 10 minutes. I know GPS who are afraid to be too sympathetic in case it opens the flood gates and the patient really wants to talk and over runs. It's terrible practice but I can see where they're coming from. Unfortunately the system just doesn't really allow time for empathy any more

Ignorant is used to mean rude and bad mannered - not just ignoring someone - in some areas of the UK.

They have to input all sorts on the screen, I guess like a decision tree..my gp was very apologetic about it once and promised he was listening

Ignorant is used to mean rude and bad mannered - not just ignoring someone - in some areas of the UK.

Ignorant doesn't mean either of those things

Typing doesn’t mean they weren’t no listening. It wasn’t a counselling session and you came out with treatment. Give the GP a break. They have a ten minute slot, if they are lucky.

Yanbu. It is awful to actually build up the courage to speak up and the DR treated your visit as unimportant.
Make another appointment to see another GP if possible.
I hope you start to feel better soon.

Please do consider the vast range of medical complaints your GP sees every single day. It can be a lot to keep up with and a good history is the foundation of a good diagnosis (and, if required, subsequent treatment). This is doubly so for cases where a referral is required, something that's very likely for mental health.

She's definitely not ignorant, perhaps somewhat detached but wouldn't you be far more pissed off if, in an attempt to express sympathy, she missed something important and got your prescription or referral wrong?

The word ignorant has been discussed on mn before.
Many people do use it to mean discourteous and rude and a quick glance at a dictionary also has this as a secondary informal meaning.
And yes op yanbu.

I saw a doctor a bit like this a few weeks back. He typed whilst listening and not really looking at me. I then asked him to check the results of some blood tests I'd had done (ordered by another doctor) he checked, went very quiet then said under his breath "and they only give us ten minutes!" He explained the resultd were slightly raised for cancer. I felt a bit sorry for him he was doing his best under difficult circumstances.

Typing doesn’t mean they weren’t no listening.
Yes maybe in a court room.
At the GP some eye contact and personal attention is needed at least within your 10 minute slot.
My GP usually types after you leave.

She must have spoken to you. I don't believe she listened and typed through the whole consultation and handed you a prescription at the end.

I can!! I think GP's are snowed under and probably listen to several people pouring their hearts out in a similar way to you. It doesn't excuse it though, ask to see a different doctor next time.

Potatoscone. The Oxford Dictionary on Historical Principles is, as ever, your friend. Secondary informal definition; Discourteous or Rude. Definition 3; West Indian, Angry or quick tempered. Ergo, you are comprehensively wrong. Leave aside that you are being peremptory in not accepting that colloquial vernacular could also be perfectly understood and accepted.

I'm a GP, and have also taught communication skills to clinicians.

What your GP did is not considered best practice (understatement), but at the same time, the sheer pressure of 10 minute appointments one after the other, other calls and queries waiting, some of them urgent, people waiting outside, and the need to document everything can be overwhelming. GPs are human, point prevalence of burnout in GPs is currently running at about 80%, and this sort of mechanical approach can be symptomatic of burnout in a previously empathic GP.

I'm the sort of GP who would have listened, been empathic, typed up my notes afterwards, run late. I'm currently off sick with burnout, and am seriously considering retraining as a psychotherapist so that I can give people the time they need.

I'm very sorry that you didn't get the response you needed from your GP, and if you're struggling with depression yourself then it's completely understandable if you don't want to, but I would suggest that you contact the practice manager and have a chat about it. If this GP has generally got a poor bedside manner, then you won't be the only one to complain, and this will flag up to the practice that there's a problem. You should get an apology and an opportunity to see a different GP. If this GP hasn't previously been like this, then a gentle chat with the practice manager might well identify an incipient burnout, and allow the GP to get some help too.
I hope you feel start to feel better soon.