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AIBU?

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Original poster

Physician associate… should I report? Yes or no?

355 replies

Elsie256 · 11/08/2023 23:04

phoned my GP to book an appointment, was told by reception I’d be seen by the emergency doctor covering.

i’ve really been struggling with really back pain and weight loss and was so grateful to have gotten an appointment. Arrived at the surgery and was called into the room and the guy introduces himself as ‘one of the medics’ , I go onto tell him my symptoms and he was very dismissive, told me I was probably overreacting and that I need not worry.

I felt something wasn’t right in how dismissive they were so I asked if I could see someone else at reception before I left the surgery.

the receptionist said ‘well if you’re still worried I can book you in with a doctor in a few days’. Turns out I’d seen a physician associate but they’d just introduced themselves as ‘one of the medics’ so I thought that meant doctor

finally got to see a doctor a few days later who looked very worried and referred me onwards straight away and very sadly been diagnosed with kidney cancer

I’m really upset about this initial visit to the GP and felt I was really misled especially as they didn’t properly introduce themselves and clearly didn’t have the appropriate clinical experience to recognise my symptoms were something more serious. should I be complaining?

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 11/08/2023 23:06

Totally complain, that is outrageous. Unexplained weight loss should be investigated urgent. I’m sorry this was the diagnosis.

FloNightingale · 11/08/2023 23:10

Report them. Definitely. Although they don’t yet have a governing body, they will soon be governed by the GMC so I’d report them there as well.

Original poster
Elsie256 · 11/08/2023 23:13

would you have also assumed doctor if someone introduced themselves as ‘one of the medics’?

OP posts:
Symphony830 · 11/08/2023 23:13

I’m sorry about your diagnosis. Sounds like you knew this was something not to be dismissed - and you were right.

I think the responsible thing to do is to complain. You knew not to be fobbed off, but there are many out there who would have just gone with what this medic said - and that could lead to disastrous consequences. It will be a valuable lesson to this medic.

Orangesandlemons82 · 11/08/2023 23:14

Yes, absolutely. He deliberately gave you the impression he was a doctor and missed red flags.

Coronado2 · 11/08/2023 23:18

Sorry op, this must be a shock. I hope everything works out OK for you.

I would probably assume doctor if someone said medic, but I think part of me would be slightly suspicious, why did they say medic not Doctor? I wouldn't question it though. I might not even register it until after.

HippyDays · 11/08/2023 23:18

I’m sorry you have received that diagnosis.

Yes, I would think that someone saying “one of the medics” was a Dr.

Did the GP pick up that you had been previously dismissed by the PA?

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 11/08/2023 23:23

Directly complain and also consider contacting CQC

Daphnis156 · 11/08/2023 23:23

So sorry to hear of your illness.
People who complain to the NHS rarely get anywhere. The medical staff close ranks, don't take complaints seriously and fob you off.
It's hard, but I'd say concentrate on the treatments you need now- and hope this time there will be no need for complaints.
Very best wishes.

Fedupdoc · 11/08/2023 23:25

Medic means doctor. So he lied. I’m so sorry about your experience. This makes me so so incredibly cross. It seems to be becoming more common for some allied health professionals to be deliberately vague when introducing themselves. It is not professional or right, and leads to confusion for patients. Yes I would complain

Shortkiwi · 11/08/2023 23:34

My F2 doctor daughter works with PAs - one told her on a ward round that he was basically the same as her. They don’t prescribe or order x rays, work social hours and haven’t got the extensive medical knowledge/training that doctors have. I just don’t get why they get paid a lot more than F 1/2 doctors who have far more responsibility, it’s just not fair. If they ask my DD to prescribe or order x rays she has to examine a patient from scratch as it’s her job on the line and she won’t do it without seeing the patient.

continentallentil · 11/08/2023 23:40

I think the key thing is unexplained weight loss should always be investigated.

This guy clearly was out of his depth and instead of saying he needed to refer up he dismissed you.

I wouldn’t take medic to mean doctor, but it’s his incompetence not his grade that’s the issue.

Shortkiwi · 11/08/2023 23:40

Yes, I would complain @Elsie256 and I am so sorry for what you have experienced and are going through.

continentallentil · 11/08/2023 23:41

continentallentil · 11/08/2023 23:40

I think the key thing is unexplained weight loss should always be investigated.

This guy clearly was out of his depth and instead of saying he needed to refer up he dismissed you.

I wouldn’t take medic to mean doctor, but it’s his incompetence not his grade that’s the issue.

So yes, do complain.

we have v good physician associates at our GPS, but they don’t pretend they know more than they do.

CarPour · 11/08/2023 23:42

Yes absolutely complain

You were misled. You were told by reception that you were going to see a doctor and then they told you they were a medic, a teem deliberately used to make you think they were a doctor and hide their actual title

On top of that they dismissed you

I had a similar experience with a PA. Was completely dismissed and I felt like lots of language was used to make me think I was seeing a doctor without actually announcing the title of the person I was seeing. And again they missed a diagnosis

PAs are being used by the government to try and fill GP gaps. But they are not GPS and do not have an ounce of the training or experience that a Gp has.

I am sorry about your diagnosis OP. Wishing you all the best Flowers

alexdgr8 · 11/08/2023 23:45

the vast majority of uk population have never heard of a PA; so of course they would naturally assume that someone saying, i'm one of the medics, would mean a doctor.
it sounds deliberately misleading to me.
not he avoided any title.
as for missing a glaringly important symptom, that makes it even worse.
and many people esp older would accept what he said.
hope you are now getting some good treatment OP.
if when you feel up to it, report to the practice manager, as a cause of concern.
all the best, OP.

CarPour · 11/08/2023 23:45

Medic is a term used to make you think they are a doctor, but when it comes to it they haven't said they are a doctor.

It's a deliberately misleading term.

They could easily just say they were a PA. If I see the practice nurse they introduce themselves as a nurse. I expect to be told what clinician I am seeing, and if told a doctor I expect a doctor. Not someone trying to pretend to me they are

alexdgr8 · 11/08/2023 23:46

note he avoided any title.

Massexodus · 11/08/2023 23:50

Definitely report it
I would feedback to the practice manager and ensure appropriate actions were taken.
If this is not enough then you can also complain to NHSE, CQC and GMC.
I'm sorry you have been through this :((

Stripyunicorn · 11/08/2023 23:53

GlitteringUnicorn · 11/08/2023 23:48

I saw that on the news, it's so awful.

OP I would definitely report. They were misleading in how they introduced themselves, dismissed you, and were clearly out of their depth.

Longdarkcloud · 11/08/2023 23:53

You need to make a complaint in writing OP not only for your satisfaction but on behalf of your fellow patients at this practice.
It is really scary how care has deteriorated over such a short time. Hopefully, your complaint will mean that the doctors will be at pains to see you receive good appropriate treatment for your condition. All the best for a good recovery.

ActDottie · 11/08/2023 23:54

Elsie256 · 11/08/2023 23:13

would you have also assumed doctor if someone introduced themselves as ‘one of the medics’?

I wouldn’t have, but was their name Dr Smith? Surely that’s the biggest giveaway. They would’ve not been called doctor? Not sure how your surgery works but each Doctor has a name card on their door.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Clymene · 11/08/2023 23:55

Yes report.

They are supposed to be under the supervision of a GP.

@GlitteringUnicorn I'm not surprised there's been a death. I suspect there'll be many more because untrained arrogant people with god complexes are being hired to fill the gaps in GPs. I'm sure there'll be more.

It's very scary.

RebeccaCloud9 · 11/08/2023 23:58

Through watching Our Girl, I know that an army medic is NOT a doctor, so for this reason (and this reason only!) I would assume if they said medic, they are not a doctor. We booked a GP appointment recently and it ended up being with a PA. He was good but we were curious as to why he was Mr not Dr. It was only when we looked him up on the gp's website that we discovered he wasn't a doctor; they hadn't told us before or during our appointment.

In your case, I would be complaining, whether it was a PA or a Dr that you saw, as they dismissed concerns that should be a no-brainer for referral/further investigation. That he was a 'medic' just adds an extra layer to your complaint.