To wonder why the doctor seemed so angry with me?

[Welshey]

Hi,

Had a bit of a weird one at a health clinic today. I had an ECG which showed I had a fast heart rate. I was asked to wait to speak with the doctor.

When I went in she was really curt with me. No niceties, no “good morning” or “how are you?”, etc.

She immediately said “explain to me why your heart rate is so high.”. I was really taken aback. I said I wasn’t sure, it might be linked to a medication I am taking. She said she knows what medications I am on and that doesn’t explain it, what else could it be? I said I didn’t know but I do occasionally get alerts from my Apple Watch. She asked to look at my Apple health app. It was over in what felt like a couple of minutes and she’s will be writing a letter recommending I’m referred to a cardiologist. Chucked me out of her office without so much as a goodbye.

I am really quite shocked. She seemed so angry with me. And now that I write this, she had no consideration about how I might be feeling either. Never had an experience like that before.

I spoke to a friend and she suggested maybe the doctor thought I was taking drugs and perhaps lying about it? FYI I have never taken any drugs in my life.

I wouldn't take it personally. I think all NHS workers are absolutely drowning at the moment so most likely very tierd, stressed and busy and unfortunately led to this. No excuse. But don't overthink it. You need her to help you get better not be your friend so don't worry 😉

@Welshey It's disgraceful. :-(
I hope you'll be ok.

Not you. Her.
Don't give it another thought

Can you see your health records online and access her notes of the consultation?

OP I'd write a letter of complaint to the place. I really would. She could upset someone really vulnerable and the place that hires her needs to know. Sure being a doctor is stressful but there is no excuse to be angry, rude or nasty to a patient who is already having a hard time. Please don't let this go. Even if just to let the place know.

You had an increased HR which may (or may not) be perfectly normal. It didn't sound urgent. You apparently had an appt to have an ECG done, not a doctor's appt, and then demanded to see a probably overbooked doctor to discuss your resultswithout having an appt to do so. She was forced to see you, probably making her overbooked day worse, and likely making other patientswho actually had an appt, and may have had a serious problem--wait.
Did you thank her profusely for putting herself and everyone else out? For making them wait so you could be seen RIGHT NOW? For a questionable reason?
Doesn't sound like it from.your post. It's a "me-me-me" post.
The sad thing is not whether she was curt with you--obviously you didn't pick up on any message being sent or indulge in any self reflection. The sad thing would be if her grumpiness (that you caused) spilled over onto her next, innocent patient.

Huh?

She is just busy. Perhaps a bit abrupt. But a bit ridiculous expecking you to know why the rate is high.

You need to speak to a doctor about such a low heart rate.

You seem to have missed this in the OP:

I was asked to wait to speak with the doctor.

@KM123456 What the? Where did you get all of that from?!?? She was TOLD a doctor would speak to her. She didn't ASK for one.
You should apologise!

Sure not the nicest interaction but honestly people aren’t perfect and maybe she was just having a bad day. You got the care you needed so suck it up otherwise. There are far worse things in the world to be upset about including if she missed the issue altogether

"Explain to me why your heart rate is so high".
Erm, she's the doctor. I'd have had to say "I've no idea, that's why I'm here and I'm hoping that you, the doctor, might be able to tell me".

It’s standard to be seen by a doctor if you have an increased heart rate. NO where does is say OP demanded anything.

Can only hope that @KM123456 is not a medical professional themselves, as the lack of reading comprehension skills would be a great cause for concern. Apart from the rudeness, lack of empathy etc.

What a nasty post!
Patients deserve to be treated with kindness and understanding.
The doctor was being very unprofessional in showing her impatience and lack of empathy. The OP was certainly not to blame for the Doctor’s behaviour which imo warranted an official complaint.

Sunday appointments are quite common where I live. Also evening appointments,after 6pm. My DD had a Sunday appointment for an MRI scan a couple of years ago. When she queried whether it was correct,she was told that they were doing a lot of weekend and evening appointments in order to catch up with the backlog that occured due to the covid pandemic.

Why are you assuming the doctor isn’t English or British?