My GP was literally angry and told me off..

[Sofi88]

I'm losing sleep over this, so hope someone has any advice. I went to my GP yesterday, I'm 27 weeks pregnant and have been feeling extremely run down and have had achy legs for over a week. It's become so bad that I even struggle to walk up stairs. One leg has also suddenly gone very purple, due to clear veins and spider veins, that have appeared out of nowhere. I thought I might be anaemic, as that happened to me when I was pregnant with DD.

Anyway, as I got in, it was clear that he was in a bad mood. DD was with me and she wanted him to say hello to her teddy and he didn't even look at her. I told him my symptoms and he said "why are you here? You should be seing a midwife". I said my next appointment with her is in two weeks. He then went on a rant about how I was now in the midwife's care, due to pregnancy, and that I shouldn't go to the GP for things anymore. The midwife should be the first stop. Then he went on for ages about the different types of funding given to midwives, compared to doctors, and basically, in so many words, said I was taking advantage of the wrong type of funding.

I told him my midwife is very far away, so it's hard to go see her apart from the set appointments. There is no midwife in my area, and the nearest one is quite far away. When I said this, he said "this is not about what is more convenient for you". He then said that for some people it might be very convenient to go to A&E with a cold, but that doesn't mean it's right.. I asked if I could get the blood test anyway, and he eventually said "yes, but I don't see the point".

I left feeling distraught and shocked. He was literally angry! No joke! DD needed the toilet, and whilst in there with her I burst into tears, and couldn't stop crying. I tried to speak to the lady in reception, but couldn't get a word out as I was crying so much. Luckily, a female doctor happened to be in the reception at that time as told me to come to her office. I still struggled to speak, but eventually told her what had happened and she said the other doctor was wrong and that I was perfectly entitled to see the GP that day. She even said that I can come there for anything, even stuff that's pregnancy related. She understood that the midwife is far away, and said that they actually do have a local midwife, but that she's on maternity leave and hasn't been replaced.

I'm now wondering whether to formally make a complaint against the angry GP. You'd think pregnant women should be entitled to more care, not less! Anyone can become anaemic, and they are supposed to see their GP for that, so why can't a pregnant woman? How am I supposed to know what I can see my GP for, and what I can't? If I break my leg am I supposed to call the midwife? If not then how am I supposed to know where to draw the line? And how the hell am I supposed to know about the different types of NHS funding?! Or is complaining a bit over the top?

Please do complain OP. I have seen my GP for a couple of pregnancy related issues at the request of my midwife. She can't prescribe or treat the way a GP can. Not only was he rude but in my experience he was wrong. Your midwife could have had blood tests done but the dr would still have had to prescribe any meds you then require so you'd have ended up there anyway!

Sounds like this Gp is a person on the edge. His 'bedside' manner leaves a lot to be desired!
OP, have you had a lot of recent appointments at your GP?
My DS is constantly at the doctors for totally random things that she's read about online. I mean weekly visits! She's had all sorts of tests and has never been diagnosed with anything serious. She smokes like a chimney though and denies that her constant chest infections have anything to do with this. However, her GP is always polite!

Please complain. I have been treated similarly in the past.

I once had a nasty skin infection and got a bollocking for wasting the GPs time before he had even seen it. Once shown he went quiet and just wrote me a prescription for antibiotics. I complained, got a nice had written apology both from the doctor and the practice manager and don't have to ever see that twat again.

Being pregnant doesn't mean you can't see your GP and have to go to your midwife - what utter nonsense!

I would complain. As an aside i would try see the midwife over a gp because they know so much more about pregnancy. I had advice from my gp that could have killed me. My midwife filed an official complaint about it which was upheld.
I just feel so sad that womens healthcare is being affected by the lack of midwives in your area.

Complain.

The time he took to rant at you, he could have examined, diagnosed and reassured you.

He may have something awful going on in his own life but that is no excuse - he leaves that outside the door when he enters the surgery.

Midwives are trained to deal with issues related to pregnancy and birth. What are they meant to do if you go to them with non pregnancy related issues? Just try to guess what's wrong? Your GP is wrong, and an arsehole. If he examines you and it's an issue that it would be appropriate for a midwife to handle, then sure, send you over to her, but he can't be just refusing to treat any pregnant women who walk through the door.

The OP was 'having a meltdown'? Nice little narrative you've made up there @prawnsword. Your post makes no sense and it should be ignored.

Of course you should complain. Your leg could have nothing to do with being pregnant and of course you are entitled to see the GP. Sorry this happened to you, I would have reacted the same way. Glad you spoke to a nicer GP on the way out.

I had a grumpy GP once but when the previous patient came out it was a mother with a small baby, I'd heard his raised voice when talking in the phone to the local hospital, insisting a pedi atrician be available. My complaint was pretty minor compared to that. And he was v offhand with me bit im sure he was concerned for the baby.
Just saying because if he isn't normally like this something could have happened to distress him. Taking it further with a complaint can extend the upset of it all for you. But you would be entitled to complain.

Hi OP, sorry I know it's not relevant to your question but do varicose veins run in your family? They do in mine, and the females in my family have all suffered the 'achy leg' thing in pregnancy (particularly for second or third dcs) and if it helps, regular walking is supposed to encourage blood circulation. Also apparently there is a chemical in raspberries that strengthens the vein walls. Best of luck.

I would complain. GP is a very stressful job but the fact you are pregnant is not hugely relevant in this instance, it wasn't a general pregnancy checkup. You were feeling unwell and needed blood tests/ review of the leg to see why. If he won't get paid for your visit, I could see why he was annoyed. The lady Dr won't get paid either for the time to calm you down. The teddy thing and the becoming hysterical in the reception is over the top. GP is v stressful.

I’m a midwife and firstly it’s impossible to get seen in most areas by your community midwife apart from routine appts. Though most hospitals have a self referral antenatal centre you can attend if you’re concerned.

But midwives deal with normality and refer when something isn’t normal. So while yes I would take your blood to check iron levels I’d be concerned about a purple leg and refer you to see a doctor.

He sounds like a total twat. Not everything in pregnancy is pregnancy related. As your GP he still gets funding for you being on his books every year. And most CCGs give the Gp surgery an extra £200 per pregnant patient.....maybe that extra funding has been stopped and he’s cross about that? But not your issue!

OP in my area some antenatal care for first pregnancies and high risk births is done by GPs, so how are you suppose to know that it is different in your area?

In addition GPs are the ones who deal with anaemia and other conditions regardless of whether you are pregnant or not as the midwives don't have the training and expertise to deal with it.

I should add I was giving completely incorrect information about a condition I have treated long term from a midwife. Both the GP I saw and my consultant completely disagreed with her and the GP was horrified. So much so when the midwife said I needed to take aspirin the GP double-checked with a consultant.

Op you need to get your leg seen asap. Is it hot and swollen? Are you breathless?
I'd be very concerned about a DVT and i actually think you should go to A&E if you have any of those symptoms (I'm a nurse)

Even if he is right there are ways and means of telling you this.
Not sure about complaint doubt it would come to anything,
I can honeslty say I have been dealt with some of the rudest people I have ever come across in the NHS
J

But considering you have been so unwell & pregnant am not sure what you were expecting them do do if it was serious. It sounds like GP is frustrated because you were clearly too serious a case to be so relaxed & blasé about your health issues & inconsiderate of taking up the appointment of someone else who genuinely needed that appointment because they can’t just go to a hospital or specialist

@prawnsword, this is completely bizarre and I'm seriously wondering if you know what a GP is and how they are trained. Potential anaemia/DVT is absolutely something that patients should go to GPs about - they can't "just go to hospital or a specialist" simply because they are pregnant, they still need to be referred. GPs are constantly dealing with serious problems, it's what they're there for and what they have gone through 5 years of medical training for.

As for what OP expected the GP to do, surely she can expect the GP to examine her properly and test for any illnesses indicated by her symptoms, and either treat them or refer her on as necessary.

As for the teddy bear, I am a waitress & wouldn’t say hello to a kid’s bear because that isn’t how adults function in society.

Actually, it is. Mature adults don't view it as beneath them to take two seconds to make a small child happy. If you as a waitress are too snooty to do that, I suspect you may not last long in your job.

@Soontobe60 No, it's not like I'm there all the time. Last time I went was when I had a water infection about 8 weeks ago. He was in a better mood then, but still went on about how the midwife should have been my first stop then too. It didn't really upset me then as he didn't go on a rant and wasn't angry. Nor did he go on about funding and stuff like that then.

@Sotiredbutcannotsleep My sister had a similar looking leg in her second pregnancy, and everyone suspected blood clot with her (even her GP). Since she didn't actually have a bool clot in the end I haven't been too worried, although I suppose it should still have been ruled out by GP.. Thanks, I will definitely try raspberries :)

my Ex was told off for calling an out of hours GP, accused of wasting their time for a panic attack, symptoms were breathless and in pain following knee surgery, they flatly refused to come out to him, turned out he had a Pulmonary Embolism and another GP said, why didn't you call someone out earlier! Its pot luck, with GPs, sounds like your GP isn't cut out for a role in healthcare working with the public.

A leg suddenly going purple means a visit to the GP ASAP. It could be a DVT or something else. You did the right thing.
It's not a "normal" pregnancy complaint.
You might have tried to book with the midwife (and having to wait longer as she is covering a large area and will have a lot on) and she takes one look at it and sends you to the GP!

Can you book with a different GP in the same practice in future? I wouldn't be happy about being spoken to like that and I don't think he took the leg seriously enough.

Another one saying complain op. I wish I had complained when a GP once said something inappropriate to me. I don't mean to derail your thread but what happened was I had recently registered at the surgery due to a house move and had gone to see one of the Gps for the first time about something routine ( I can't even remember what) the fact that I was newly registered came up at the start of the conversation and the GP said " I see from your notes that you have multiple sclerosis. Well just so you know, we can't deal with that here so any issues you have around that will have to be directed to your MS nurse" I explained that I don't have and never have had an MS nurse as my previous practice were perfectly able to deal with the fact that I have MS. GP said "well there are no MS nurses here as all the funding has been cut so you'll have to take anything to do with that to your neurologist" I said that I only see my neurologist once every 2 years and the GP said nothing. I did manage to say "What do you want me to do about the fact that I have MS when I have an appointment here? Do you have a basket I can leave my MS in in the waiting room then I can collect it on the way out?!" I wish I had complained at the time.

I wouldn't complain. There was some truth in what he said although he was also out of line. But he sounds like someone who is burnt out. I think we've turned into a massive complaints culture. The way he reacted was off but I think you can show a little human empathy and give him a pass this time. Getting someone who is clearly burnt out hauled in for disciplinary isnt something I personally would want to be responsible for, especially since ultimately you got checked as you would expect.

I think if this was a recurring thing then sure, but if it's a one off; recognise that doctors are also humans. Complaining for this one event doesn't gain you anything.

Oh and the teddy comment was ridiculous.

I’m a GP practice nurse and midwife . You were absolutely correct to go to your GP with those symptoms which may or may not be pregnancy related . Your GP sounds completely burnt out and worn down by the system and unfortunately you just happened to be there when he went on a rant . . That’s a reason but not an excuse for his rude behaviour though.
Many people use the health services inappropriately but this does not apply in your case . If you had attended your midwife , they would have referred you to see a doctor anyway .

@prawnsword , well aren’t you a little ray of sunshine !! Your post does not make any sense whatsoever . You are a waitress , not a health care professional and are therefore not in a position to have decide the most appropriate health care providers for a pregnant woman with medical symptoms .
Also , people with colds and flus should not be wasting valuable surgery time . They are the people that the GP would be more justified in educating and not people like the op who had every right to be there .

I wouldn’t judge the GP for not saying hello to your daughters teddy however . Everyday , health care staff are expected to indulge children who are present when their parents or siblings are being been in clinics / hospitals etc . I recently met a man who’s baby was in for vaccinations . I asked him to confirm the baby’s name , address and DOB. The baby’s 3 year old brother was there and the dad insisted on letting him give all the details . However he didn’t know these details so it took an eternity to deal with it . After several incidents like that , I’ve had to become more firm with parents who want their children to be entertained .
I know that you weren’t expecting the GP to spend ages talking to your dds teddy but I can see why a doctor would not want to get involved doing it

Absolutely make a formal complaint. That's disgusting treatment.

In a previous pregnancy towards the end my midwife went in holiday and as I had slightly raised blood pressure she told me to see the GP if I had any issues. I developed excruciating headaches so went to see him. He was so dismissive and just told me it was part of pregnancy, get on with it. Two days later I was admitted and being induced for pre-eclampsia.

It seems like a lot of GPs just want to pass you on when pregnant. But that doesn't mean that's right or you have to accept it. He shouldn't be allowed to speak to people like that!

Key phrase of your post is 'I am a waitress', Prawnsword.

And yeah - 'pregnant person'

OP. As someone who was told off by their GP for 'wasting time using up an emergency appointment that was meant for emergencies' and then ended up early loosing their leg (or worse) - GO TO A&E. The triage nurse at the hospital saved my life. I had the same symptoms with my leg and it WAS a DVT. This is not the time to be writing complaint letters. GO!!!!

Christ. You can’t win. If you didn’t go in and the situation became serious the first thing they would say is ‘why did you leave it?’

You’re not only a pregnant person you’re a person. You are entitled to see a GP. Funding is NOT your issue.

Complain and refuse to see that doctor in the future.