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.

@Imissmoominmama not that I am aware of. I don't even think they would offer a double appointment. Getting 1 appointment is hard enough. You need to call at 8am on the dot and sometimes it gets to 8.06am and they tell you they have no appointments left. Your other option is to que outside the door starting around 7.15am (if you want to aim to be roughly at the front of the que) and even then by the time you make it through the door you get told there's no appointments. Their reviews on Google are really bad. One person describes it as - try and book an appointment weeks in advance (if possible) and hope your illness coincides with your appointment. Lol. It really is a terrible state of affairs.

Please do complain.

I see so many of yous saying to me to complain. I never considered a complaint until i put this post up. I am now going to complain about this doctor because I am still astounded at how I was spoken to and dismissed. He should not be practicing if he doesn't have time and I do recognise I should not be made to feel like an inconvenience. I also do not want anyone else to be spoken to like this or made to feel that way, especially people who may in turn be put off going back.

Report him to the local health board. Not just his own practice - it needs to be the health board. His attitude could put someone off from reporting important symptoms, and one day, that might cost someone their life.

This is what not to do. It's efficient for your time yes, you have to make one trip to the GP. The GP has to take seriously everything on your list. What if not investigating item 3 of 4 leads to cancer. It's subtly selfish towards the GP's time. 4 minutes for you. 3-5 minutes per problem, never mind writing up the notes on each problem, and the GP and all further appointments are running late. Make a double appointment.

OP's two problems could have been linked, so not in that category. Complain to the practice manager about the appalling appointment OP.

It is standard that you do not discuss more than one appointment in one slot. You are told to book two.

YANBU and I had the same service when I went recently with a list of things that I feel are connected (Lupus). He was so dismissive I forgot one of the potentially quite serious things I've been experiencing.

@BakersYeast but I wasn't told to book two.

This is why it takes an average of 7 years to get an endometriosis diagnosis. "Every woman has periods" dismissed.

A female GP might not even be better. I once had one patronise me so badly over "just period pain". 6 months later I nearly died from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy as i had a fibroid so big it was pressing on my fallopian tube.

Complain loud and clear. His behaviour and attitude are totally unacceptable.

@Brieandcamembert I agree with you that issues relating to periods are dismissed as being normal. And medication thrown at you. My go to.line now is .. i dont want to mask a potential problem with medication, I want to know what the problem is, investigated if need be, then discuss treatment.

That’s incredibly rude of him! I’d definitely report to anyone and everyone you can.

Hi op, I haven’t rtft but thought it was important I post. I have the exact same symptoms as you and so after waiting 3 weeks for a telephone appt, got a telephone call from a male doctor yesterday. Our symptoms are scarily similar, but in comparison, mine listened and asked about my family history and medical background before asking me to go for a blood test and an ultrasound so they can figure out what’s causing it. We spent about 15 mins on the phone and he seemed to want to get to the bottom of it and even said even if the blood test results come back fine he’ll still make an appointment with me to discuss the next options.

I’ve been fobbed off for years (have always had period issues) and was told by a female doctor it’s just something I have to put up with!

How you been treated is absolutely appalling - I would lodge a complaint and speak to another doctor (if you haven’t already) but please don’t put up with his rudeness. What a jerk!

After years of being dismissed- I went to a good gynie. Laparoscope done and endometriosis in my bowel. Surgeon told me I must have been in agony and yes I often have been. One 3 year and another on the way.

I was also fobbed off for years going to female GPS regarding gynae issues, lost count of the amount of times I was told to take evening primrose oil and I'd literally been on every contraceptive known to man!

In the end it was an amazing male GP who listened, took a history, tried other medications - when that didn't work he referred me to gynaecology - it took him a year to do what not one female GP had done!

It's not a male or female GP that's needed it's just one that listens and does their job!

Apologies @Picturesintheclouds08 I haven't read the whole thread but I would advise that you don't present this as 2 separate problems. Start off with the period issue & go on to say about the pain in the abdomen. They could be related & the GP will work out if they are.

One issue per appointment is standard practice in primary care. It’s to ensure that each issue can be fully addressed rather than skimming over several problems and never fully addressing any.
It is true that most male gps are less skilled in woman’s health than female gps, just as some gps have more experience with dermatology, respiratory, diabetes etc so it may have been that he was directing you to the most skilled dr in the practice to deal with your unsolved complaint.
however there is no need for him to be rude or dismissive and if you felt he was then you should write to the practice manager

Same here. Actually vomiting because the pain was so severe. Couldn't get taken seriously.

I'm absolutely with those who've told you to complain by sending exactly what you've written in your post - and to highlight the misogyny.,

It absolutely isn't acceptable behaviour, and if it's not drawn to the attention of the Health Board, then along the line he's going to cost some woman her life by ignoring her symptoms and cutting her down.

I'm currently suing because of medical negligence, not just for me but for the reason above .. letting them away with it is ultimately colluding with their crap practice.

practice as in professional behaviour sense, not in "doctor's surgery" sense

@Percypigfanatic that is really good that you got a good doctor yesterday and you now have the ball rolling. Hopefully you get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later. I have been back and forth a few times over the years about my periods but I am at a point now where they are excruciatingly painful and I genuinely cannot move at times. I would, at this stage, seriously consider myself having a hysterectomy because I cannot cope with this level of pain on a regular basis. The past few weeks it has been worse than ever and that GP today wouldn't even discuss it with me.

I'm pleased you're going to report this. I reported a male locum GP at my surgery who treated me appallingly during a face to face appointment. I've been there 20 years & never complained before. I emailed the practice manager, very politely, explaining what had happened & received a reply within a week from her & a phone call from the GP i'm registered with the next day. They were very helpful & took my feelings seriously.

@moaninggiraffe

It's not a male or female GP that's needed it's just one that listens and does their job!

Absolutely! ❤️

I usually think in these threads the OP is being slightly unreasonable. This is very much not ok.

Why TF did he become a doctor if he was going to clutch his pearls at the mention of periods? Idiot.

Solidarity OP, I saw a bizarrely distracted and dismissive doctor today too.

You must be joking. When my DH told the dr’s receptionist (very calmly, I was there) that she needn’t be rude after she’d been appalling rude and snappy, he ended up waiting an hour for the doctors appointment who then told him that the practice had a zero tolerance policy to abuse! You cannot say anything back or you’ll risk getting kicked out of the practice.