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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Requested a female GP, was given a male pharmacist

62 replies

ihavetogetthroughthis · 22/08/2019 23:41

Happened twice. First time for gynae issues and I'd been advised by 111 to see a GP within a week for referral to hospital. Second time for something that also may need a referral. Not gynae but I feel more comfortable with female gp because of some past experiences. I was given the appointment after doing an online consultation thing. I cancelled online when I saw it was a male pharmacist and explained why when cancelling. I've now been accused of wanting appointments on demand and cancelling for no reason. There's a load of other problems with the surgery. I know I need to change practices but wanted opinions on whether IABU to ask for (not demand) a female GP, especially for gynae problems. I didn't insist on being seen immediately if that's relevant.

OP posts:
Original poster
ihavetogetthroughthis · 23/08/2019 00:46

Sorry, I'm exhausted and a bit upset. pool black I complained later. I wasn't going to but there's been ongoing problems with them. The cancellation was online and you have to give a reason why. I'm too tired to make sense so I think I should try to get some sleep then decide what to do.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock · 23/08/2019 00:57

What had the pharmacist got to do with the GP visit. Can someone collect ypur prescription if your embarrassed.
I'm lost with the pharmacist involved, is it collecting your prescription?

SimonJT · 23/08/2019 00:58

@emeraldshamrock Not read OPs posts then?

EmeraldShamrock · 23/08/2019 01:11

I did read the thread I missed that sorry.
In Ireland the pharmacist only makes up a prescription in a chemist store.
I think my thoughts were there reading the thread.

PulyaSochsup · 23/08/2019 01:15

Haven’t read the full thread but I know from personal experience that if you need an appointment and politely state that you need one, they seem to accuse you of ‘demanding’ an appointment to put you in the ‘difficult’ category thereby justifying their (deliberate?) mistake or inaction. Unfortunately, the NHS don’t seem to engage well with complaints. I have personal experience of NHS managers refusing to countenance any issues with the NHS as they are so overworked and patients should be grateful that it’s free etc. I think we’re going to be made to be grateful for every single thing we get from the NHS which will be used to justify making us pay for lots of it,

I do believe we are very fortunate I do acknowledge that the NHS is overstretched and underfunded, but I also worry that the issues within the NHS are useful to some Machiavellian managers in obfuscation of malpractice and negligence.

It is negligent that the OP was given a male pharmacist rather than a female gp, particularly with the sensitive gynaecology issue, her past experience and previous medical advice from 111. What is the point of having 111 as a medical resource if the NHS don’t use the advice given?

Sorry for ranting, it just rattled my cage! I do hope you’re feeling better OP💐

Birdsfoottrefoil · 23/08/2019 01:30

EmeraldShamrock pharmacists are highly trained and have a better knowledge of drugs/medication than GPs. They can provide advice on simple issues and sell you medications that are not allowed to be on the shelf. In GP practices you might see one if you are on a range of medications as they also know more about interactions between medication and about developments in types of drugs available. GP practices also have them to reduce drug costs as the pharmacist will keep an eye out to eg ensure generic brands are used whenever possible,

Tojigornot · 23/08/2019 02:26

Well, you can request a female GP but primary care is under a lot of pressure and they may not have been able to provide it within a suitable time-frame. Their priority will be safety, ie for you to be assessed by a HCP in a timely fashion. A pharmacist may well be able to do that, and if they are in any doubt they will have easy access to a GP for advice (ie knock on their door).

Your OP is a bit confusing about what was gynae and what wasn’t. If the current issue was gynae I very much doubt the pharmacist would ever had any intention of examining you - if that was required they would have asked a GP or practice nurse to do it.

EileenAlanna · 23/08/2019 03:21

If having a female attend to you makes you comfortable then that's all your surgery needs to know. Forcing you into anything else is wrong. We're getting to the stage where we'll have to picket outside surgeries for this basic right but I'm ready to join you.

themouldneverbotheredmeanyway · 23/08/2019 04:49

I asked for a doctor, both times the issues required one.

Yanbu to want to see a female practitioner rather than male, although this may mean waiting longer (so you may not have been seen within one week if no female GP appointments available). Your GP practice is not bound to follow 111 advice about how quickly you should be seen.

However clinical pharmacists can be trained to see patients in GP for a wide range of things, not just medication issues, in response to the GP shortage. So the pharmacist may have been an appropriate professional to see, albeit you preferred to wait for a female practitioner instead.

Bowsy5 · 23/08/2019 05:24

That's ridiculous. It's like going to the GP only to find it's a priest, or a vet or something???

Teacher22 · 23/08/2019 05:49

Be careful about complaints as you might be unofficially blacklisted. If you are between practices it might result in leaving one and not getting onto the list of another.

I think, OP, that YANBU but public bodies are becoming more authoritarian and are getting away with abuses of their power.

flumpybear · 23/08/2019 06:15

Do you need to see a doctor? Is it something you could talk through with a pharmacist (obviously you don't have a physical exam with him!) but if it's just thrush or something that just needs a conversation to get medication than I can't see an issue. I wouldn't be wanting to see a pharmacist if it requires internal exam ... and yes I'd probably insist on a female doctor too so under those circumstances YANBU IMO

SimplySteveRedux · 23/08/2019 07:53

Is it something you could talk through with a pharmacist (obviously you don't have a physical exam with him!) but if it's just thrush or something that just needs a conversation to get medication than I can't see an issue.

The OP detailed that due to past experiences she wishes to see a female. This is the only justification she needs. It's ridiculous such a basic request is being overlooked.

RockinHippy · 23/08/2019 08:32

You are absolutely not being unreasonable. They have to accommodate this. Surgery is bang out of order.

Ring & Speak to your local PALs, usually attached to your local hospital, but there should be leaflets on display in your GP surgery with contact details. Complain to them.

Original poster
ihavetogetthroughthis · 23/08/2019 14:32

Sorry if tmi. First time was bleeding between periods, period pain when not in period (and more painful than usual). I have a history of abnormal smears and HPV.

Tbh didn't need GP examination, needed a referral. Maybe some pharmacists can refer but not this one.

Second occasion, not gynae but I have reasons for preferring female GP. It's 90/10 female/male GP at this surgery so probably a longer wait for the male one.

Unfortunately, teacher22 is right. They seem to be trying to bully me out of the surgery - with the added bonus of a warning letter on my notes. Great way to start with a new surgery!

I still haven't been seen for my current issue. I've decided to see a private gp. Can't really afford it but the walk-in told me I need a GP referral for tests.

OP posts:
Original poster
ihavetogetthroughthis · 23/08/2019 14:40

No PALs for GP surgeries in my area. CCG has a gp patient liaison person but they've told me to just change surgery.

I would advise anyone to be very careful before making a complaint. They really do close ranks. At this stage I'm considering complaining to NHS England. Now I'm down as a difficult patient I haven't much to lose.

I didn't even properly complain at first. Just asked to speak to practice manager. I'm more upset and annoyed now, after that letter. I don't think women should be accused of being demanding for preferring female GPs.

OP posts:
Sagradafamiliar · 23/08/2019 14:57

It really is outrageous, OP. I really feel for you.

BoomBoomsCousin · 23/08/2019 17:02

That’s horrible treatment, ihave.

If you have the time, as well as NHS England, talking to your MP might be good. Not that it will solve your immediate problem, but it could help highlight such poor practice.

Throckmorton · 23/08/2019 17:11

Move surgery and then complain. Bloody crap treatment of you!

stucknoue · 23/08/2019 17:13

Depends why you required an appointment, if it required an intimate exam fair enough, but if it was something that could be dealt with by a pharmacist, demanding female gp is a waste of nhs resources. You could make an appointment in the normal way, you were requesting an urgent appointment so they gave you the next available appointment with a practitioner qualified to see you

Heatherjayne1972 · 23/08/2019 17:15

I feel for you op
But what will you do if they refer you to a male gynaecologist?

YouJustDoYou · 23/08/2019 17:16

Ynbu. After a horrific experience with a male doctor plus his 5 male medical students (whom he didn't ask or tell me about coming in to view everything), coupled with horrible experiences with men in general, I have a reaction to men I can't control. I would've cancelled too.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 23/08/2019 17:21

I have some great hospital based pharmacists. I'd definitely see one at the GP's surgery if they had one as they have so much training on drug interaction.

The point is though that you asked for a woman and despite there being loads available, they couldn't arrange that. I can't see how this translates into you being a demanding patient at all.

Teacakeandalatte · 23/08/2019 17:21

Take it all the way to the MP if you need to. Blacklisting and closing ranks against patients! That needs stamping out and I am sure most GPS would agree.

AmIThough · 23/08/2019 17:30

If 111 say to see a GP within a week its not urgent.
Other than self management, it's their lowest priority suggestion.
111 NEVER say 'see your doctor for a hospital referral' because if they knew you needed the hospital they'd send you to the hospital.

You need to phone up and speak to the surgery.
With my GP, when booking online you choose which appt you want, including which doctor you see.