Extremely rude doctor

[Picturesintheclouds08]

This is more of a vent than anything else.

In my GP practice you don't get a face to face, you get a phone call then a face to face if deemed necessary. That's fine, no issue with that.

You have to state what you are calling for to the receptionist so I stated stomach issues and period problems.

The doctor calls and asks how he can help.

I begin saying - I'm calling for Two things that may or may not be related.. one is a pain in my stomach, one is period pains.. he cuts me off right there and says .. I don't have time for a list of issues.

What's your stomach pain he asks - dull ache, coming and going, few centimeters to the right and below belly button, been going on few weeks. He says - it's just your bowels, it is very normal. I question that - I'm 36, never had this pain before.

Then I say - about my period - he goes - I don't have time to be talking about periods and all that, quickly give me the highlights. I could not believe the rudeness of him. Highlights - 12 days between a period, sometimes 7 weeks, extremely painful through to my back and bum - cannot physically move, blood clots, very heavy, would consider a hysterectomy it is that bad. (Took me about 30 seconds to give him that run down) Ok he says, i dont have time to deal with this today and you need to call back another day for a new appointment and request a female doctor.

I was gobsmacked at his rudeness. The phone call lasted under 5 mins. I understand they are under alot of pressure but his rudeness was terrible. I didn't realise you couldn't talk about 2 issues (that may be related) at the same appointment.

GMC it! Terrible behaviour!

But this was one issue - pains around the abdomen. The SYMPTOMS were multiple but the issue wasn't.

One issue is like going in about pains in the abdomen then saying 'oh, I also think I have an ingrown toenail'.

Those symptoms could be related and certainly need some sort of investigation whether it's an internal, blood tests or referral. But they are, potentially, related, in the same area of the body so are one issue.

I must admit I had a lovely male GP who took my vaginal discomfort very seriously, did an internal examination, diagnosed vaginal atrophy and got me on a low dose HRT pessary which sorted out the problem for me. After a female GP said it was one of the issues with growing older...might have been for her, maybe she should have spoken to her colleague eh?

Definitely put in a complaint. A woman who may be shy or find doctors intimidating may well give up if he's talking to her and who knows what that could lead to.

@frozenorangejuice I'm so sorry this happened to you.

What an asshole. You need to complain about this misogyny and rudeness.

Fair point

@jeaux90 you are not allowed to request a specific GP at this practice. If you dare to, you getting a talking down to about how they are all trained and all capable of dealing with every issue.

@Picturesintheclouds08 its sarcasm, as a pupil they don't check your genitals in medical school.

He was an arsehole.

I would bypass the Practice Manager if I were you, OP, though by all means copy them in. But your complaint needs to go higher up. When I had a serious c omplaint about a GP over a blatant breach of confidence, I was advised to write to the practice manager but found out afterwards that her job (in her eyes anyway) was to protect the doctor. The complaint went nowhere, which was really shocking. I don't know who else you could complain to, others on here may well know. Just copy the practice in (or don't bother with them) rather than expect them to deal with it. Good luck. Arrogant sod that he was.

@SollaSollew thank you for this.

Never mind rude - he was medically negligent. Who knows what you have or whether they are connected? - there is no way he can know from the conversation you had.

But if it's two potentially related issues, then it would be crazy not to raise them together.

I think that's an awful response, some people really struggle with using phone & talking to gp's & the way this doctor handled the call was completely unnecessary.

They can't use COVID as an excuse anymore, there's literally no excuse for not treating you like a human being & having some manners.
I'd call back speak to another gp, ask for another one & state that this GP requested this due to not being able to deal with period issues (!) & If you get the Same response speak to practice manager to feed back.

Don't put upon with that.

Sounds like you spoke to my GP.

Only allowed to talk about one issue per appointment and this is always via phone for a maximum of 5 minutes if your lucky.

I have found one GP at the surgery who actually sounds like he cares so always try to book with him but even then I am sometimes called back by someone else. Wish you all the best.

Misogyny at its absolute finest right there. Fucksake.

Exactly. I can understand that they might not want to deal with your ingrowing toe nail and your ear infection at the same time, but some illnesses do have symptoms that relate to different parts of the body, surely? I wouldn't have thought you could completely rule out period issues and stomach pains as having a common cause.

Please complain and report him. I work at a medical centre and we had one doctor with us for only 6 months as he spoke to staff and patients appallingly. I reported him everytime he spoke to someone like shit as did other people and he was removed from post. He was supposed to be there for 3 years but was moved on.

I'm a practice nurse. This GP sounds unhinged. All phone calls should be recorded but regardless of whether it was or not you need to report him and hopefully they'll be able to listen back to the call

Wow I've never done this before but I would 100% report this. That's completely unacceptable and vile behaviour.

Calls In my surgery are recorded…

Report. If he doesn’t have time to deal with your health issues, maybe he shouldn’t be a doctor and should not be paid his wages. I do understand they are stretched, so are many many other professionals. It doesn’t mean however that he can be pathetically rude and dismissive. GP’s are not untouchable, they have to deliver good practice and treat patients with dignity.

Wow that attitude is disgusting. Definitely report.

Why was he “moved on” and not report to the BMC?

That’s really bad in so many ways. You have to wait ages for an appointment and then they “don’t have time” to listen to you. How can he possibly know your pain is “just bowels” and should bowels be painful? And as for telling you to request a female doctor for anything to do with periods…surely it’s their job to be able to deal with all complaints.

Report and complain as loudly as you can and tell them you need another appointment with someone sensible ASAP.

I hope you are ok and feeling better soon.

Are the calls recorded? My surgery records all calls for training purposes. I would complain. Some doctors really should not be doctors, I don't understand why he became a GP if he didn't want to deal with "female issues" I don't get the 1 appointment for one thing argument. He might be right about it being your bowels, but it also could be endometriosis that can appear on your bowel and cause symptoms. He hasn't examined you, or actively listened to any of your symptoms