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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:
Cinateel · 27/10/2023 17:02

Write a letter to the practice manager. It seems to me that even if you were being unreasonable in your complaint, which you weren't, it should have been handled better. For instance, if the receptionist had said "I'm so sorry, how embarrassing for you. Would you like to speak to the practice manager? That shouldn't have happened even once, never mind twice. I'll try to find out what went wrong, and someone will ring you later", then you'd have felt heard.

I don't think they have locks on the treatment room doors at our surgery, possibly for safe guarding, but in your shoes I'd ask for a chair to be put against the door to alert if someone was trying to walk in.

JFDIYOLO · 27/10/2023 17:02

Yes, my GP practice website has a Complaints tab with emails, addresses, names. If yours doesn't, that in itself is bad practice. If there is no displayed email / named person with responsibility, I'd agree send a formal letter copied everywhere relevant (solicitor? MP? GMC? PALS?).

MushMonster · 27/10/2023 17:06

Your nurse is batshit crazy!
You do not want to make someone that is going through an embarrasing enough procedure any more nervous.
And you should not be able to hear anything about any other patients, that is a private matter.

Nanaof1 · 27/10/2023 17:14

DinoDaddy · 27/10/2023 12:36

So you were behind a curtain the whole time?

Fran Healy Reaction GIF by Travis

The point....is out there....somewhere.

avemariiiaa · 27/10/2023 17:23

That is diabolical.

Whenever I've been to the GP for a smear they put a curtain rail round the bed AND lock the door. They offer a chaperone service too and do everything to make you feel safe and at ease.

I would kick right off if any old bloke (or woman for that matter) could and did wander in.

FofB · 27/10/2023 17:24

Our doesn't lock the door but they do put a MASSIVE sign up saying 'Please Knock and Wait- Examination in Progress.'

If someone has knocked, nurse excuses herself, goes and opens the door a tiny bit.

avemariiiaa · 27/10/2023 17:26

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.

It is absolutely the surgery's fault for not having a robust procedure to stop this happening.

They should be locking doors with the patients permission, and displaying clear sighs on the doors that state you must knock and do not enter without permission.

FictionalCharacter · 27/10/2023 17:47

mondaytosunday · 27/10/2023 15:54

Why were patients randomly opening doors? Who does that?
If there isn't a lock a clear notice with 'please knock before entering' should be on the door. Most GPS I've had patients are not allowed to wander down the corridor where doctors offices are unless called in.

They weren’t, they were sent to the wrong room by reception- OP explained that in a later post.

So the surgery have done a whole load of things wrong:

Policy of not locking doors but no procedures to stop random people entering
Reception sending TWO people to the wrong room
Nurse shrugged it off the first time and said it wouldn’t happen again (how would she know?)
Nurse wasn’t bothered the second time either
Patient fobbed off when she complained to reception
Patient given no route to complain formally.

Really bad treatment. I wonder how much these nurses and receptionists would like it if they themselves, or their daughter, were naked from the waist down and in stirrups when a random man walked in. And some random men would be very pleased to find a practice where there is that opportunity.

BrightGreenMoonBuggy · 27/10/2023 17:59

Complain. It doesn’t matter that you were behind the curtain: it just happens to be lucky that you were. The man and woman who just opened the door and walked in without knocking certainly had no idea what was behind the door. Privacy is to be expected for a gynaecological consultation.

DrCoconut · 27/10/2023 19:13

Our GP has lights on the door. Red means appointment in progress knock and wait to be let in (even staff). Green means room is occupied by doctor/nurse only and you can go in. It's locked during appointments too.

Original poster
Over40Overdating · 27/10/2023 19:30

@MsCactus had I been on a gynae ward, surrounded by other women having gynae procedures, I’d have been prepared for that.
Being in a GP room with a random man coming in is a different scenario.

I’ve checked the practice website for the complaints procedure and it says write to the practice manager (no name) or speak to reception to file a complaint, so I’m guessing their method is to make it virtually impossible for anyone to make one!

OP posts:
LucyLoopyLu · 27/10/2023 19:47

I'd definitely expect the door to be locked for any intimate examination / procedure, for women or for men. The fact that it wasn't locked after the first interruption and they've said it's not policy is absolutely baffling to me.
Stick to your guns!

MassiveWordSalad · 27/10/2023 21:12

As others have said, send a written letter - recorded delivery, plus a copy to the local ICB. Make sure you mention that you've sent a copy to the ICB too (in a CC line for example) as hopefully this will force them to take it seriously. You can address to 'The Practice Manager' if there's no name. (I'd say it's bad form for them not to have a named practice manager, unless they just happen to be between managers, but someone has to deal with it.)

Mention too that you tried to complain to reception and were fobbed off, and that their complaints procedure seems designed to discourage complaints. Someone earlier in the thread gave a good list of points you could follow. I do hope you get a resolution for this, sorry you had to go through it. I'd be very angry if it happened to me.

Isitautumnyet23 · 27/10/2023 21:48

Over40Overdating · 27/10/2023 19:30

@MsCactus had I been on a gynae ward, surrounded by other women having gynae procedures, I’d have been prepared for that.
Being in a GP room with a random man coming in is a different scenario.

I’ve checked the practice website for the complaints procedure and it says write to the practice manager (no name) or speak to reception to file a complaint, so I’m guessing their method is to make it virtually impossible for anyone to make one!

You need to go above the practice manager and outside of the Surgery (I dont know where to go for GP complaints but others on here do). I would push this as they have a duty to protect your dignity, privacy and to make you as comfortable as possible. No woman would feel comfortable in your situation. Please make sure you complain as nothing will change for others if people dont speak up.

jamimmi · 27/10/2023 22:04

Not on OP and you are definitely not being unseasoable. I say that as an HCP who often locks a door! I'd go in or email surgery and ask for a copy of their official complaints procedure. They need to have a clear one. It they can't provide one to try to stall you the words.your looking for are " if you cant help me lodge a complaint I will take this to the CQC " they are ofstead for healthcare care quality commission. It will make them move!

Cherrysoup · 27/10/2023 22:06

Another patient walked in right beamy smear this week. The rooms are numbered and the screen in the waiting room tells you which room to go to, organised by the nurse/doctor once their current patient has left. I expressed surprise and the nurse said she always locks the door for smears but was going to give me the injection I needed first.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 27/10/2023 22:12

DinoDaddy · 27/10/2023 12:36

So you were behind a curtain the whole time?

Naked from the waist down with feet in stirrups. Or does it not suit whatever agenda you have to quote that too?

It doesn’t get much more vulnerable for a woman

NeunundneunzigHorseBallonz · 27/10/2023 23:19

Given their refusal to accept complaints I think you need to report the practice to PALS. I’m a SA survivor. I wouldn’t have coped at all with the situation you found yourself in at all.

Dunnoburt · 27/10/2023 23:34

Yanbu and I can't actually believe others would think differently.......

SqueakyRadish · 28/10/2023 17:49

My GP and the practice nurse ALWAYS lock the door during anything gynae related.
The nurse even locked the door to give me my zoladex jab, which is just an injection into my tummy.

I would write a paper letter to the practice manager, but also can you complain through PALS or your local NHS Trust?

Toomuchfun · 28/10/2023 18:27

Put in a complaint, this is unacceptable

DahliasEverywhere · 28/10/2023 19:00

Years ago, after having fertility treatment, I was left alone in a hospital room, naked from the waist down and legs in stirrups. After ten minutes or so a male doctor came in and was horrified that I’d been left alone in such a vulnerable position. It was gratifying to hear him bollock the nurses.

littlejlr · 28/10/2023 19:00

You are definately not being unreasonable, it's a very personal appointment. Whenever I get called to see the gp for my appointment, I still knock before entering the room out of politeness.

Milliemoo6 · 28/10/2023 19:38

GP surgery's are the absolute worst for receiving complaints, they almost never accept they've done anything wrong
I've never had any kind of personal exam without the door being locked the whole time.

Kellymariet · 28/10/2023 19:53

That’s the bit I find so bizzare? In what sort of surgery would you have the balls to just wonder in to see your doctor? Very strange behaviour from those patients!