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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People walking in during gynae appointment

195 replies

Over40Overdating · 27/10/2023 12:34

I know I’m not BU but my GP surgery beg to differ!

I had a routine gynae exam earlier this week and over the span of 10 minutes, 2 people walked into the room without knocking - one male, one female, both patients.
I was behind the curtain so they didn’t see anything but I was naked from the waist down & in stirrups!

Even after the second interruption the nurse refused to lock the door as it’s ‘not policy’ and when I complained to the front desk they shrugged and said it was an error, out of their control and nothing happened so what’s the problem.

Surely door locks exist for this reason & it’s not unreasonable to expect to have a gynae exam without worrying about who else might walk into the room unannounced?!

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 27/10/2023 13:00

I agree with the majority op - definitely complain. I used to work in a GP surgery and the door was always locked for examinations.

Really rude though the patients who turned up to a closed door and didn't knock! But the surgery should be taking this seriously.

Housechat · 27/10/2023 13:01

That’s shocking! Women’s healthcare has so far to go.

ManateeFair · 27/10/2023 13:03

That's appalling. I don't think I've ever had a gynae exam without the nurse or doctor locking the door. I also had a course of hospital treatment a while back that occasionally required me to do things like lift my top up a bit or take my jumper off one arm so the doctor could check things or administer an injection. The room couldn't have been accessed by patients, but there was a sign on the door of the treatment room to tell any other medical professionals to knock and wait instead of coming straight in.

MrsJPinkman · 27/10/2023 13:04

I had a physiotherapist appointment a few weeks ago for pelvic floor issue and she locked the door straight after I entered the room.

Floooooof · 27/10/2023 13:04

The curtain is irrelevant.

If reception were sending people to the wrong room then they were probably trying to down play it so they don't get I trouble. I'd definitely complain

cloudydays2 · 27/10/2023 13:05

I'm not normally one for complaining but this isn't something that should be let slide ! Any appointment is private and confidential, curtain or no curtain it still isn't right.

ManateeFair · 27/10/2023 13:07

TallulahBetty · 27/10/2023 12:54

I always end up saying this on these threads:

If men had periods/lady bits/pregnancies/childbirth/gynae issues, there would be none of the shite we have to put up with.

Edited

I would have agreed with this at one time, but my brother had a couple of grim experiences with people failing to ensure privacy/dignity when he had a couple of surgeries on a particularly personal area, and my mum was upset at the lack of privacy for my dad during a catheter procedure in hospital a couple of years ago.

CaroleSinger · 27/10/2023 13:08

I had this at hospital the other week. I was sat in consultation when the previous patient just barged straight in, started waving a form at the consultant and was told to go outside.

randomuser2019 · 27/10/2023 13:09

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Mulhollandmagoo · 27/10/2023 13:10

I think them not locking the door is a shit policy! whenever I go to my GP for anything like that, the door is locked straight away

Topsyturvy78 · 27/10/2023 13:12

YANBU but it's not the surgery's fault it's the people who bsrged in. My Dr's have a rule patients are not to knock on any doors or enter uninvited. When we are waiting outside even though the patient before has left we have to wait to be called into the room to avoid situations like this.

AbbeyGailsParty · 27/10/2023 13:12

Totally unacceptable. Complain to the practice manager in writing.

Z1hun · 27/10/2023 13:13

They locked the door in mine last week. Its a bull excuse

HorseySurprise · 27/10/2023 13:13

This is dreadful and you should certainly take it further.

I felt sorry for myself when something similar - but nowhere near as bad - happened to me. I was in a consultation room with the consultant and a nurse - I wasn't undressed or anything, it wasn't that kind of consultation - and three times another nurse (different one each time) just came in to consult the nurse in the room about something unconnected. Three times! I was being asked some very personal questions and it really threw me off my stride, but at least I wasn't undressed and in stirrups. Luckily for me the consultant was annoyed after the third interruption and insisted that the door was locked.

pinkred · 27/10/2023 13:14

That's unacceptable @Over40Overdating

Everytime I've had a gynae appt the doctor has locked the door, and has specifically said "I'm just locking the door now so no one can accidentally walk in", presumably to make me feel as comfortable as possible.

I would complain again.

DaftyInTheMiddle · 27/10/2023 13:16

And they wonder why women don’t take up their smear tests.

Dracarys1 · 27/10/2023 13:21

Yep same as previous pps at my recent smear I was behind a curtain and the nurse locked the door too. Seems like a formal complaint is in order, how awful for you OP. Must have made you feel very vulnerable x

Stroopwaffels · 27/10/2023 13:21

I had a gynae examination at the GP last week, she first asked me if I wanted a chaperone, then locked the door. Common courtesy, even if you are behind a curtain.

MassiveWordSalad · 27/10/2023 13:22

You should definitely complain officially to the practice manager. We all deserve dignity and privacy during intimate examinations, and everyone involved has behaved unprofessionally. You would think they would be super vigilant over this given the poor uptake in smears, as @DaftyInTheMiddle says.

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 27/10/2023 13:26

Wow I read your title and assumed ot was another medical practitioner and didn't see it as a big deal but it two randomers who have absolutely no business there whatsoever. That would piss me off no end.

I accept not locking the door but a warning sign on the door is the very least they should have. They need to escourt patients to where they need to go of that are piss poor at signage and directions.

So much of examinations are about private matters, breast examination, pimple on your bum, whatever- it's really poor form.

jacks11 · 27/10/2023 13:28

YANBU- your complaint should have been dealt with more professionally than that.

I suspect there may be a policy of not locking doors- one unit I worked in did have a policy stating no locking of doors after a member of staff was attacked in a consulting room with a door locked. We had to put “in use, please knock and await reply” type signs that were put on doors. However, the policy did have to be amended to “no locked doors with exceptions….” and one of those would be when a patient is having an intimate exam- they are hardly going to be able to jump up and attack the clinician if their feet are in stirrups after all.

Sounds like reception made a series of mistakes and are trying to fudge it. Make a formal written complaint to the practice manager- they will have to make enquiries and give you a proper response/apology. If you aren’t happy with their response you can take the complaint to the health services ombudsman.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/10/2023 13:29

Topsyturvy78 · 27/10/2023 13:12

YANBU but it's not the surgery's fault it's the people who bsrged in. My Dr's have a rule patients are not to knock on any doors or enter uninvited. When we are waiting outside even though the patient before has left we have to wait to be called into the room to avoid situations like this.

Sounds like this sort of rule, if it exists at the OPs surgery, isn't clearly communicated. If a patient is told to go to a specific room, and there isn't a waiting area or chair next to it, and if there's no clear sign on the door, then it's highly likely the patient will think they're supposed to go in.

AntonFeckoff · 27/10/2023 13:32

This has happened to me a couple of times, it’s really not on.

Also, as a patient, if a door is closed I always knock and wait to be invited in. It seems very rude to me to just barge in, or even to knock and barge in. Isn’t it just common courtesy?

FictionalCharacter · 27/10/2023 13:32

JFDIYOLO · 27/10/2023 12:51

Please complain. The utter lack of respect and care for dignity and personal safety in gynaecology never ceases to amaze me.

100%.
If the practice brushes your complaint off, take it higher.

bronkie · 27/10/2023 13:32

Stirrups in a GP's surgery? That sounds very OTT.