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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:
Fluffypastelslippers · 14/09/2021 14:54

@maddening

"pigsDOfly

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

Talk about a race to the bottom.

Yep. What an awful attitude.

girlmom21 · 14/09/2021 14:54

@AlbertBridge

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?

If you have recurring thrush you're supposed to see a GP.
StoneofDestiny · 14/09/2021 14:57

Paramedics are very highly trained - you are lucky to get one

CheshireChat · 14/09/2021 15:02

An incompetent HCP can be worse than not seeing anyone at all so I'd avoid him as well. And I used to avoid one of the GPs at my former practice as she was a menace and my common sense was safer than her rather dubious medical knowledge.

At my current practice I prefer one of the GPs, mostly for her attitude really, but will see the other one as well who is still perfectly competent and professional.

pigsDOfly · 14/09/2021 15:15

@maddening

@Fluffypastelslippers

If you'd both read the thread you would see that I pointed out that I was being ironic and my DD is in a similar position with a potentially cancerous mole.

Always helps to read the thread properly.

LondonJax · 14/09/2021 15:18

@StoneofDestiny

Paramedics are very highly trained - you are lucky to get one
Well they're obviously not if they can't recognise thrush...
FlowersinJune · 14/09/2021 15:23

YABU to assume just because someone is a paramedic they are not appropriately trained to triage appointments at a GP.

There is a paramedic at our surgery. Has a degree in paramedic science. Spent several years being the first person on scene. I would say as qualified as say a practice nurse to triage. He's moved to the GP as he had a back injury and so can't work in ambulances any more.

SherryPalmer · 14/09/2021 15:29

Has a degree in paramedic science. Spent several years being the first person on scene.

Not likely to have experienced much thrush or breast lumps doing that though is he.

Lunde · 14/09/2021 15:33

Well to be fair my GP was convinced that my thrush was an STD as well but the swab came back as ... thrush

YouMeandtheSpew · 14/09/2021 15:33

I don’t think that the OP objects to Dave the Paramedic because he’s a paramedic. I think she objects to him because he gave her patronising and inaccurate advice the last time she spoke to him.

FlowersinJune · 14/09/2021 15:39

@SherryPalmer on that logic you shouldn't have junior GP/nurses triaging because they don't have experience either.

Paramedics are trained in basic healthcare in a range of settings. Most do primary care rotations in their degree. They then have additional training in emergency settings.

Triaging is about assessing and get someone the right help: self-help, appointment with nurse/paramedic, GP or onto A and E. A qualified paramedic can do that.

I know the OP has had a bad experience with this person, but their background does not automatically make them inappropriate for the role they are doing.

mumwon · 14/09/2021 15:43

or sepsis after colonoscopy
said with deep feeling
(we have a dave & he OK with somethings but NOT that)
Thankfully this occurred before covid so the patient who landed up in hospital for 6 weeks on 4 hourly double drugs IV didn't have the additional worry that many have at the moment. We are both grateful that this was the case.
Trouble is -there is simply not enough GP's & they are trying to cover this lack of GP's by using Nurse Practitioners & Paramedics who are both very skilled but whose training will have gaps

mumwon · 14/09/2021 15:44

Oh & pharmacists too

bloodywhitecat · 14/09/2021 15:53

I think it is reasonable to make that request if you don't feel confident with Dave. There is a GP I avoid at our surgery after he gave me the wrong advice for dealing with croup then, more seriously, handled DH's sudden onset, painless jaundice as a non-issue.

B1rthis · 14/09/2021 15:55

Has Dave the triage got experience in breast lumps including what the difference between cysts, possible cancer mastitis etc is? I would happier go through breast cancer org for advice than Dave the para.

maddening · 14/09/2021 16:01

"PigsDOfly

@maddening

@Fluffypastelslippers

If you'd both read the thread you would see that I pointed out that I was being ironic and my DD is in a similar position with a potentially cancerous mole.

Always helps to read the thread properly."

Sorry about your dd but:

A-whilst reading posts I doubt many people are sitting there taking notes as to which posts you have previously made. Eg I only go back looking at names of posters when someone else has quoted them. Your posts are not colour coded and they are not spoken with your voice, when you post don't assume that readers are particularly noting all your previous posts. You need to link them or make reference I'd your post is not in isolation - eg you might write "as per my previous post" or quote it.

B-if your post is meant to be sarcastic that does not come across

C - we are clearly on the same side, no need for the snippy tone thanks.

Hope you dds condition is sorted out soon x

EmpathyBypass · 14/09/2021 16:08

@pigsDOfly

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

Really?

That's how we support posters who find breast lumps?

SpindleWhorl · 14/09/2021 16:08

Oh here we go, another thread full of Health Misogyny in AIBU.

EmpathyBypass · 14/09/2021 16:09

[quote pigsDOfly]**@maddening

@Fluffypastelslippers

If you'd both read the thread you would see that I pointed out that I was being ironic and my DD is in a similar position with a potentially cancerous mole.

Always helps to read the thread properly.[/quote]

If you have to explain your sarcasm to posters then it probably hasn't worked...

SpeakingFranglais · 14/09/2021 16:10

I wouldn’t want to see Dave the paramedic either, unless I’d. It myself badly then I would be very happy to see him.

lenaperkins · 14/09/2021 16:12

Can I just say that we should not have to feel grateful for getting an appointment to see a nurse/ doctor? I appreciate that working at a surgery is not the easiest of jobs, but they are not doing us a favour. In France you don't have to go through receptionists (with no medical qualifications)? You phone up, ask for an appointment, don't have to give details about your vaginal boil (or whatever it is) to the receptionist, they give you appointment. And yes, you pay a small fee to see your doctor, but this is not US style healthcare. They pay more for their health service than we do. There is a real issue in the UK with gatekeeping. I am sure it has caused deaths. Am so narked off after reading Zoe Williams in the Guardian today where she snootily mocked 'the raging anecdotalist' moaning about not being able to get healthcare. Only to produce her own anecdotes about been able to get an appointment. www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/14/gps-are-full-of-kindness-and-wisdom-so-why-do-they-face-constant-criticism-

SpindleWhorl · 14/09/2021 16:13

All very best wishes, @IamtheDevilsAvocado, and please ignore the arseholes who always come out to skew the replies in threads like this. It's about time @MNHQ had a good look at the Health Misogyny on here.

You are at 86% 'ahead' in your poll, btw.

SpindleWhorl · 14/09/2021 16:16

@lenaperkins, thank you for taking one for the team and reading that Zoe Williams piece. I got about a paragraph in before I gave up.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 14/09/2021 16:20

YANBU OP. We have a paramedic at our doctors surgery. To her credit, she was fabulous when I suffered gallstones and immediately knew what it was and what to do. But when I went in there with a nasty ear infection that I was seriously worried about, she was very dismissive and recommended an over the counter product. She eventually took a swab and the GP called me a few days later to apologise and tell me I basically had two different types of ear infection at once and needed some serious prescription stuff. I am guessing he goes over her notes from appointments but still, that was a couple of extra days of agony I could have done without.

Standrewsschool · 14/09/2021 16:22

If you feel unhappy with a clinician, whether a doctor, paramedic or nurse, you can request not to see them.

As it’s a boob lump, would the simplest course of action to request a female gp?

Hope it’s nothing sinister.