Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to request a medical appt NOT with 'dave the paramedic?

87 replies

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 14/09/2021 14:09

Our local GP practice has a pretty efficient triage system... either a phone appts, refer onwards or see you face to face...

Rang in this morning as I've found a boob lump, I asked who was triaging... When I found 'Dave the paramedic' was also triaging said I'd be happy anyone other than him... (several m/f GPs and nurses), because the last time I spoke to him by phone he insisted thrush that I had, coudlbt possibly be thrush and was probably an STDGrin, I did a swab and of course it was thrush (which I knew I did have as its exactly the same as the other dozen times I have had it over the last decade....)

OP posts:
Ozanj · 14/09/2021 14:11

Be grateful you can see someone. My GP surgery advised me to go through our Bupa cover for my boob lump as it would be quicker.

Wingedharpy · 14/09/2021 14:15

I had to send photo of mine OP.
I just had to trust that I wasn't being coerced, unwittingly, into sexting!
Mind, I'm very old so they would have been very disappointed with the offeringWink
Good luck with getting it sorted.

debka · 14/09/2021 14:16

YANBU. I'm sure Dave would rather not assess you either! I'm an HCP and tend to ask my male colleagues to do intimate male exams, and the men ask me to do the female ones sometimes.

AlbertBridge · 14/09/2021 14:19

of course it was thrush (which I knew I did have as its exactly the same as the other dozen times I have had it over the last decade....)

If you already knew it was thrush, why did you go to the doctor? Why didn't you just get some Canestan from Boots?

AlbertBridge · 14/09/2021 14:20

Good luck with your boob lump. I hope you're fine. 💕

TaraR2020 · 14/09/2021 14:21

@AlbertBridge some people experience persistent or chronic thrush which needs prescribed treatment overseen by a medical professional

Mum233 · 14/09/2021 14:22

I have requested this before. Mainly as usually when I deal with the paramedic he doesn’t know about MS or the complicated stuff that taking the medicine I do entails and then gets me to cal to make a gp call anyway!

pigsDOfly · 14/09/2021 14:22

Yes, agree with pp.

My DD has been trying for weeks to get an appointment with a nurse for something and also an appointment with anyone regarding a mole that has been growing and looks a bit odd.

Not happening.

They're only making appointments for people with emergencies apparently.

pigsDOfly · 14/09/2021 14:23

That should be, agree with pp, you're lucky to get an appointment at all.

marioduck · 14/09/2021 14:27

I disagree that people should be grateful for receiving so-called care from someone ineffectual and patronising who fails to listen to or respect their patient.

If we want a decent NHS then that begins by holding it to the standard everybody deserves, not telling people to shut up and be grateful for shit care.

marioduck · 14/09/2021 14:28

@pigsDOfly

That should be, agree with pp, you're lucky to get an appointment at all.
Seriously, in what way is it lucky to receive an appointment with someone who refused to listen to their patient, disrespected them, and is incapable of accurate diagnosis?
Lolojojonesi · 14/09/2021 14:31

I also have a boob lump, was seen the same day by the practice nurse who was reassuring but anyway referred for a mammogram which took about 3 weeks to come up. Photo wouldn't have done the trick, you can only feel it.

These threads are always full of 'NHS falling apart' doom but that's not been my experience, though I suppose it depends on area (I am in Scotland). Totally get why you don't want to see Dave, but I suppose it depends how urgently you want to get seen? No harm in requesting another person and seeing who's available.

RoundRainbow · 14/09/2021 14:31

I don’t blame you! I’ve had a nightmare, I want my implant out the clinic I normally go to we’re rude on the phone and said my GP should do it, call my GP ask for a removal to end up with a phone call appointment over 2 weeks away…I don’t need a phone call I just want my implant out what a waste of time for all involved!

TooWicked · 14/09/2021 14:35

Ah the old “be grateful, you’re lucky to even be getting an appointment at all”. For a breast lump. Shock

No wonder the NHS is so shite, if these are the standards we are told to hold it to.

MissyB1 · 14/09/2021 14:37

@marioduck

I disagree that people should be grateful for receiving so-called care from someone ineffectual and patronising who fails to listen to or respect their patient.

If we want a decent NHS then that begins by holding it to the standard everybody deserves, not telling people to shut up and be grateful for shit care.

This!!!
growinggreyer · 14/09/2021 14:38

@pigsDOfly

That should be, agree with pp, you're lucky to get an appointment at all.
Not really, the OP is clearly concerned about breast cancer and should be seen by either a Dr or a nurse who can refer directly to oncology. Why is it "lucky" to be given access to medical care?
TheOrigRights · 14/09/2021 14:40

When I had a breast lump a few months ago, I completed an e-consult, GP called me the following day, and referred me straight to the breast clinic and they are best placed to check any lumps. I was seen within 2 weeks (and it was nothing sinister).

I don't think Dave the paramedic or indeed any paramedic will be qualified enough to know whether a lump needs to be referred to the breast clinic so best to refer straight away.

pigsDOfly · 14/09/2021 14:48

@growinggreyer

Clearly you missed the point that I was being ironic.

If you'd read my post above that comment you would understand the point I was making.

My DD has a condition that she needs to talk to a nurse about and, as I said, she has been refused an appointment to talk, not to see, a nurse for a prescription.

She now has a mole that could also be potentially cancerous, but again has been told she can't see anyone because it's not an emergency.

Of course the OP shouldn't be fobbed off. Of course she should get the care she needs.

The whole bloody situation is horrendous.

Patients are being ignored and left untreated.

Trust me, I don't actually, think the OP should think herself lucky to get an appointment.

MrsAvocet · 14/09/2021 14:49

I don't blame you. There is one member of staff at our surgery that I refuse to see given that they've made 2 serious errors on members of my family in the past. Don't suppose they want to see us either mind you, given the history!
I also try to avoid seeing any of the practice nurses with my son who has a rare condition. They are nice enough, and I'm sure they are very knowledgeable on run of the mill stuff but they can't do anything to help with DS's condition and always end up saying that he needs another appointment to see a doctor. All it does is waste everyone's time and take up an appointment that would be useful for someone else.
Not all HCPs are equally skilled at everything and patients often do know who they are best seeing. An appointment with the wrong person can be as bad as no appointment at all.

DearFatties · 14/09/2021 14:50

@marioduck

I disagree that people should be grateful for receiving so-called care from someone ineffectual and patronising who fails to listen to or respect their patient.

If we want a decent NHS then that begins by holding it to the standard everybody deserves, not telling people to shut up and be grateful for shit care.

Absolutely this!!!
pigsDOfly · 14/09/2021 14:50

I see several people have reacted to what I posted, as I said I was being ironic.

Of course I don't really think the OP is lucky, or should be grateful to get an appointment.

PermanentTemporary · 14/09/2021 14:52

GP surgeries have been told to employ non-medics as much as possible in order to hide the national lack of doctors. Of course in a lot of areas they can't get paramedics or physios either. Their finding is st risk if they don't do this kind of stuff.

They should supervise the non medical staff or not allow them to triage though.

KingsleyShacklebolt · 14/09/2021 14:53

@Ozanj

Be grateful you can see someone. My GP surgery advised me to go through our Bupa cover for my boob lump as it would be quicker.
No. That's not acceptable.

The OP has the right to ask to see who she wants, within reason. This putting up with shit service because it's the NHS and shall not ever ne criticised has to stop.

Hope you see someone of your choosing soon, OP.

enragedhedgehog · 14/09/2021 14:53

After reading the responses to the woman trying to speak to a GP about an underlying condition and possible menopause be told it's not urgent, to do a,b,c and d even after she said a million times her surgery does not offer a, b ,c and d I'll not be surprised if the replies here don't go the same way and you're told how lucky you're are that Dave is available for you and to ignore any concerns,uncomfortableness or even trauma you might have around Dave telling you the wrong thing again and to stop moaning and just be greatful.

Dave is probably a lovely bloke and will hopefully not tell you you've probably just hit your tit on a door frame and it's just swelling and to wait a few weeks to see if it goes down and instead triages you to a GP appoint for referral. But YANBU to request someone else, esp for something this serious, when he's already made a mistake with you.

maddening · 14/09/2021 14:53

"pigsDOfly

That should be, agree with pp, you're lucky to get an appointment at all."

Talk about a race to the bottom.

Swipe left for the next trending thread