Experience today with GP practise ..

[Glitterzzz]

Hi everyone

I have come away feeling not happy with today’s visit to the GP/ nurse at my doctors surgery. I called last week as I have some symptoms with a history of abnormal smear test results and HPV positive.

My new symptoms are bleeding between periods / sometimes after sex / bloating and recurrent UTI infections 6 since last August.

I spoke to the gP who booked me in today for the nurse and told me they would do a smear test amongst swabs and a urine sample and a internal.

I arrived 10 mins early and checked in with the receptionist. Very quiet I’m guessing due to Covid. I waited 30 mins past my appointment time and then asked the receptionist if it would be longer ? Eventually at 40 mins past the time of my appointment the nurse calls me in and says oh sorry I didn’t know you was here .... 🤔

She tells me oh we won’t do a smear as you had one in December 2019. I was kinda shocked at that as the gP had said they would do one today given my new symptoms. I was meant to be coming in for one in December this year anyways due to my previous abnormalities but she refused point blank to do one and said they wouldn’t even screen my sample as the rules are one every 12
Months.

She then said something about needing to log into the system and it ‘ being a pain in the arse’ her words... I explained my frustration and my anxiety and she was polite but said nope won’t be doing it.

When she took the swAbs I felt a lot of pain and she said ‘ oh! Seems I went into your urethra! Without apologising for the obvious discomfort she had caused me and then went onto removing it from there and doing it in the correct area.

The gP did come in and do her internal as explained and did agree to send me for a ultrasound of my uterus but no mention of the smear.

She also said when examining me ‘ yes I can feel something ‘ when I sat up I asked her what she meant when she said that ( I’ll admit I’m anxious ) and she said oh I mean your cervix.

I’ve come away feeling just not happy with the whole situation. Should I complain? Should I go private for a smear test ?

I think you should complain, I cant imagine how they managed to swab your urethra instead of your cervix. Did she use a fresh swab?

Complain to the practice manager. Did you say anything to the GP about the nurse not carrying out the smear test?

Regarding the smear, the laboratories refuse to test any smear samples taken from a woman who is not due a smear. There’s nothing a GP surgery can do about this - it’s not their decision.

If the GP surgery sends off a smear even one month before it is due, when it gets to the lab it will be thrown away. Some GPs may not realise this, as it is nurses and receptionists who process smears and the results, hence the GP promising you a smear when it wasn’t actually possible.

Smears are for screening, not diagnoses. If you’re worried about cervical cancer, you need a scan, not a smear.

No she simply took it out and then went back in ... 🥴

GP practices cannot do smears early. The samples just get destroyed if they do. It's annoying but the way it is unfortunately.

As gypsy says, they simply destroy the sample of its not within policy. I have had the same issue with abnormal results. I had a letter saying every three months and the nurse just said "not at your age." She then told me I hadn't had a smear, it would have been an STI test. Presumably because I was young and having rampant sex with an abundance of strangers. Had to fight for it but only because I had the letter to back it up.

Could you investigate getting this done privately?

I would complain to the practice manager. Regardless of the smear result, she acted unprofessionally.

Sounds awful OP!
I would also complain! 😔

Smears are only for screening and not for symptoms. So there was absolutely no point you getting a smear. It sounds like they are taking you seriously by taking swabs and sending you for a scan.
The nurse sounds a bit of a poor communicator though. Swabbing the urethra was probably intentional rather than an accident!
I would suggest that you ask them to explain everything that was done and why, to help you understand.

I experienced similar and was told no smear test until due again. My gp took swabs and I was referred for a scan on my uterus. I was seen by a consultant in April this year. I think you received standard care. The nurse you saw communicated poorly and was unprofessional? If this is preying on your mind I would put in a complaint.