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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be absolutely fuming at my GPs?

234 replies

metsa · 26/03/2019 17:16

My baby will turn 6 weeks old on 3rd April. The GP surgery called me when I was first home to give me details on how to register her and told me that someone will be in touch to arrange her 6 week check. So I waited until today, with no contact from them, and finally decided I can't wait any longer so I decided to arrange this appointment myself.

Well apparently the soonest appointment they have is 16th April! I am fuming. I had a cesarean and I cannot drive. I live in a village. My partner works long hours 50 miles from where we live and is a contractor so doesn't get paid for days he doesn't go into work. I am totally stranded. I have missed one blood test for me and one for the baby already simply because there is no way for me to get to them. I will have missed the due date on another 2 blood tests by the time of this appointment.

And to make it worse my in laws are coming for the week of 8th April. I will no have no choice but to sit at home with them all week since I can't drive them anywhere. We can walk around the village but nowhere else.

I am fuming because this is not a surprise need for an appointment or a whim I have. This is essential and has been known about for weeks. If I hadn't contacted the GP today I have no idea when or if they would have contacted me. I feel utterly isolated and let down. AIBU?

OP posts:
cherrryontop · 26/03/2019 17:48

Calm down it's really not a big deal.

If your baby is well, and you are concerned about nothing, the check can happen any time around 6-8'weeks and sometimes a little later depending on GP availability.

You really really don't need a GP's say so to drive again. You need to feel comfortable in a driving position and be able to perform an emergency stop. Everyone just starts driving again when they feel well enough.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 26/03/2019 17:49

If your child is 6 weeks on 3rd April then surely you can drive on 8th April?

Dippypippy1980 · 26/03/2019 17:50

It sounds like you a feeling a bit overwhelmed. Could you have a chat to your community midwife, explain that you are having a rough time and ask for her advice.

A quick appointment with your gp should sort out the driving. Ask for a cancellations, they might be able to fit you in.

It’s not the surgery’s fault, and from exoeri now you need to keep on top of these appointments, s not get worked up when they are a few weeks late. If there are an specific concerns about your baby they should see you pretty quick.

justmyview · 26/03/2019 17:51

Post - section, my GP said I could drive if I felt confident I could do an emergency stop

ILoveMaxiBondi · 26/03/2019 17:51

Why can’t your in-laws drive your car?
Why can’t you get a taxi or a bus?

EarlyWarning · 26/03/2019 17:52

Sounds like you are feeling a bit under pressure OP. Congratulations on your new baby Flowers

Is there someone who could drive you to your appointment? Hopefully you will be signed off to drive there and then. Maybe you could delay your visitors for a couple of weeks so you will be more mobile when they arrive.

Deep breaths OP. I'm sure there's a way round this.

bert3400 · 26/03/2019 17:55

Can you go private , just to given the all clear to drive . Then go to the GPs appointment for your baby on the date they have given you .

endofthelinefinally · 26/03/2019 17:55

OP has stated clearly that her insurers insist upon a GP clearance is compulsory before they will cover her to drive.

Obviously not the GP's fault, but upsetting for the OP.

To be fair, I was still struggling to get out of the house with my clothes on the right way round at 6 weeks. I too had a husband who was never at home and no other support. I would quite possibly have forgotten to chase up the GP appointment.

DC3dilemma · 26/03/2019 17:55

Basically the answer to AIBU is yes YABU...

...but getting the rage over small things, seeing problems where there aren’t any, feeling things as insurmountable, worrying about health etc can all be signs of stress or depression.

How’s your mood OP?

Morgan12 · 26/03/2019 17:55

Chill out it's not a big deal. My 8 month old hasn't had his 6 week check yet. He's fine.

CandyCreeper · 26/03/2019 17:55

Taxi or bus then?

Zebra31 · 26/03/2019 17:56

Not sure what the problem is? Worst case you wait to drive when your DC is 6 weeks which is next Wednesday. Your insurer will be fine for you to drive now. What they may have asked for is confirmation you are comfortable completing an emergency stop. You don’t need a letter from a GP to sign you off. I had a section and I was driving after a few weeks. No GP letter required.

HappyMama01 · 26/03/2019 17:57

My baby had the supposed '6 week checkup' and 8 week vaccines at 10 weeks old! It's not the end of the world.

Yorkshirepudding1987 · 26/03/2019 17:57

My GP doesn't do a 6 week check. I drove 3 weeks post c section after checking with my insurance.

Murphypoint · 26/03/2019 17:58

ok

  1. It’s only 10 days to wait
  1. Get a bus.
  1. Get a taxi

You are making this way more complicated than it needs to be.

ivykaty44 · 26/03/2019 17:59

I’m sure it can all be sorted amicably by asking the surgery to get a telephone appointment so the gp can clear op to drive

Failing that there are many solutions to the issues that will help op get out and about when in-laws visit

Whereareyouspot · 26/03/2019 17:59

And this sense of outraged entitlement is why GPS are quitting

Absolute nonsense

For one the six week baby check is not a postnatal check anyway- you may well need that to be separately booked

You aren’t the only patient- why on earth wouldn’t you call them to check when you don’t hear

Get a cab or the bus.

Your insurance is talking crap. All GPS ask is if you can extend you leg without pain so you can safely do an emergency check. There is no specific form for them to send and you would need to pay to have a form signed as it isn’t NHs work.

So sick of the attitude of the public.

killpop · 26/03/2019 18:00

Are you hoping they will come and collect you?

MancaroniCheese · 26/03/2019 18:00

The six week guideline after a CS is to ensure that you can safely perform an emergency braking manoeuvre. I'm disabled so walking wasn't an option, I needed to be able to drive, I spoke to my GP who said so long as it is ok with the insurance company so I rang the insurance company who said so long as it is ok with the GP [puzzled] - there is no certification or anything, so if you feel ok to drive then drive.

bobbypinseverywhere · 26/03/2019 18:04

GP here... I'm sorry you're feeling overwhelmed but this really isn't your GPs fault. At all.

They are 6-8 week checks actually, so no problems with the dates there, and it is usually the patients responsibility to make the appointment altho most surgeries do a courtesy call for vaccinations etc.

Your insurance company is incorrect. Standard advice is that you can drive when you feel ready/safe to do so and do an emergency stop. Your GP may examine you to check your scar if they feel they need to , but there isn't anything else i would do re driving, and I've never had to fill in an insurance form for driving post c section.

Im not sure why you missed some blood tests? Is it because you couldn't get into the surgery? Im not having a go at you, but I'm replying as there are always SO many posts bashing GPs when there really is no reason ...

SrSteveOskowski · 26/03/2019 18:05

But you knew you were going to have to get to the GP anyway, so how did you plan to go?
It's not their fault you can't drive. YABU to be 'fuming' at them.

londonrach · 26/03/2019 18:05

Yabu. You have a responsibility too to phone gp. Have you heard of a taxi or bus op. Its not your gp fault you not driving. As only 6 weeksthinking you might be tried and feeling low hence why a small thng becomes big. Can you phone your insurers and asking about driving again

Madratlady · 26/03/2019 18:06

You don’t get ‘signed off’ to drive. I’d double check with your insurance company as to exactly what they require as generally it’s when you can do an emergency stop safely and you won’t get anything in writing from your GP. They’ll do some checks on baby, I’ve not had any physical checks from the GP after having my dc (both c sections), the appointment was very much focused on the baby. Waiting 10 days or so isn’t going to make any difference to your baby.

itbemay1 · 26/03/2019 18:07

YABVU

PoliticalBiscuit · 26/03/2019 18:08

What we expect of our new mums is just shit.

She's had a MASSIVE life event, huge hormonal changes, physical changes. She's following doctors advice, midwives advice, insurance company's advice. She has been told she needs a check up, her baby needs one, and that she legally cant drive till she's had the all clear.

It's not ok to belittle her, badger her, tell her she's wrong, that she should just cop on with it. If she'd posted that she was unable to get to work until her doctor had seen her and they couldn't see her sooner than 3 weeks time, she might be getting more practical advice other than to stop being so precious.

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