GP accused me of stealing

[Justme1234567]

So today I went into my local walk in centre as I couldn’t get a gp appointment for being in the middle of a mental health crisis, so he was lovely at first, listened to me and gave me tissue. So I had stopped crying and didn’t want to put my dirty tissue on his table so I put it in my pocket as I was doing that he took off his glasses and his face looked very angry and he said to me “you just put my thermometer in your pocket” I said “what sorry?” and he repeated himself so where I’m very anxious I took everything out of my pocket and showed him I don’t have it and he said what else is in there and I got him to feel my pocket and he said, “sorry, I thought I had put it there but I’ve put it here!” Aibu to make a complaint?? I know it was a mistake but I left feeling even worse than when I went in, I was extremely embarrassed and burst out crying again when I left, I really felt like there was a different way to deal with this!

The problem is people steal stuff from gps and hospitals all the time. My friend used to work on a children’s ward and everything they got for the kids - xboxes, TVs but also medical stuff too - went. It sounds like a horrible mistake and very upsetting. But maybe give the guy a break - or rather than file a formal complaint write to him personally to say how it made you feel?

Sounds like he definitely could’ve handled that better but I caught someone stealing my blood pressure cuff before. And a colleague had their car keys taken by a patient and saw them drive off! Called them and they brought it back!

he could have said, "I think you may have picked up my thermometer with those tissues" not an accusation to someone in a distressed anxious state.

THIS

He could have asked without being accusing. AT best he was thoughtless. At worst he was a twat. He was aware that you are unwell and not thinking clearly. Even if he thought that you had deliberately pocketed it (!) he could have couched his comment more appropriately.

Whatever you do, you are going to feel uncomfortable the next time you see him, so this is pretty bad of him.

I wouldn't complain about this tbh. It sounds like an honest mistake. Doctors aren't super human just normal people who do occasionally make errors.

Patients do often steal stuff to be fair. Happens all the time actually. I've had people steal stuff out my bag on home visits

That's really bad. I do hope you feel better soon

Why did he say "what else is in there"

Complain. At my worst moments mental healthwise, that could have pushed me over the edge. I have ptsd, can't stand strangers touching me and would have found that to be a further example of how useless, worthless and shit I am.

He was completely in the wrong, could have approached it better in many ways (and I've spent much of my working life in a field with service users wandering off with everything that isn't nailed down) and could have made the Op's problems 100x worse.

Absoulutley complain. How difficult it must of been to walk into that appointment feeling so emotionally low and vulnerable. To be accused of stealing in that situation and then having to be 'patted down' is not okay. I work in similar situations and I am pretty sure if I could be bothered to worry about something going missing I would not just be allowed to physically search someone and at the very least involve a practice manager/another member of staff. At the very least this GP has acted without empathy or care for your wellbeing. However you are obviously vulnerable and no health professional would act this way without an escort.

Sorry chaperone, not escort. I work is social care now. A whole different language!

That’s outrageous, I would say yes, absolutely complain but... if you are feeling already a bit down, going through a complaint process is going to make you feel much worse, take notes, write down the name of the doctor who saw you or the day and aproxímate time of the visit. Then complain when you feel stronger to take the hassle.

I would make an informal complaint or write him a letter letting him know how he made you feel, but I wouldn't want scarce NHS resources used up taking it down a more formal route. Doctors in Walk In centres see some truly horrible, threatening people at times and are probably more stressed and hypervigilant than the average family GP.

I don't think complaining will make any difference to be fair, I'd try putting it behind you.

Being a doctor doesn't preclude you being an arsehole unfortunately

Just FYI, a walk in centre won’t have a practice manager (only GP surgeries do), but you certainly wouldn’t be unreasonable to make a complaint through the centre’s complaints route.

How bizarre. Poor you. He sounds judgemental and rather rude. What a strange accusation to make. Surely, you'd assume it was an accident and not that it was a calculated act of theft! Definitely complain and ask to see another, less paranoid GP next time!

Op, I’m sorry you were treated so horribly. That doctor sounds like a bully. Bullies depend on you not telling. Please tell the practise manager or the appropriate person.💐

It’s really awful and I don’t blame you for feeling crap. But maybe there’s been an issue with theft and he’s on his guard?

Bastard, I'd put a complaint into his professional body as well.

While upsetting for OP, do you really think the GMC will be interested in this?

His tone was wrong but stuff gets nicked all the time, especially if you’re behind the curtains with patient and the relative is snaffling through your desk. I’ve had all sorts stolen off my desk from my mobile to non-fancy pens. He handled it badly but also trying to protect tax payers cash

The Doctors tone was very wrong. He could have asked,rather than being accusatory, but please remember it is his word against yours. He may put a different slant on what happened.
I can understand why you are angry but let it go, you will not get anywhere with this, nothing will happen to him. He may even say you overreacted, and as there are no witnesses to what was saidwhy put yourself through it. You will only feel worse.

Complain op!

Thanks for replies everyone. I understand that mistakes do happen, so this is why I was conflicted with complaining, as well as me feeling anxious about it. However thinking about it the least you could have done was look on the desk, because it was on the other half of it, rather than making me feel like a thief over everything else I am feeling right now.

You should complain.A proper apology is in order.

Are you saying it was it an old style mercury thermometer that he had?

Or that he thought you had put the larger digital one in your pocket?

@NSA2103 I beg your pardon! I think you should take arelaxed approach. The NHS does not need to waste resources on a minor hiccup"

With all due respect if my gp, or anybody else, accused me of stealing and ordered me to empty my pockets I would not regard it as a minor hiccup. I would regard it as offensive and as a false and unfounded accusation that required investigation and a personal apology. I'd have reprimanded him on the spot.

Regrettably it will be your word against his and I bet he will deny it.

It seems like a genuine mistake. I'd have been really upset as well, but just forget it and move on. It's not worth the stress. Hope your feel better soon.