Disappointed with GP

[PinkStarAtNight]

I am in need of a bit of advice around how to handle this situation with GP before I go to the face to face appointment. Any knowledge or help would be appreciated! :)

So there's two things actually. First, I called my GP surgery a few weeks ago to tell them I had a form which needed to be completed by a GP. Its to allow me to access help and support from my university (postgraduate course). In order for me to access these services they need my GP to complete to form and confirm that I do indeed have the three disorders I have told them about.

The first GP receptionist I spoke to said I wouldn't need an appointment as it was standard for doctors to fill in these forms based on the information in my medical records, so they told me to just bring the form in and they would have a doctor complete it and send it back to me.

A week after taking in the form I received a text message saying that X doctor had said they could not fill out the form without seeing me and I would need to book a routine appointment with any GP. I called reception again and second receptionist again said you really shouldn't need an appointment for this sort of thing. She said the first available appointment was a good few weeks away, as its classed as 'routine' rather than urgent so she literally isn't allowed to book a same day or next day etc...I pointed out that it had already been a week at this point since I requested the form to be completed and now they were telling me I'd have to wait a further few weeks to see GP and all the while I can't access help and support services without it.

The receptionist said she completely understood this and said she would send message to doctor asking for clarification. I have been told today that doctor has come back and said that yes I will need a face to face before he can even think about signing the form to confirm the disorders I have listed, as my medical records do not have enough info on them.

I can't believe this. Over the years I have had countless appointments in which I've had discussions with the various doctors about my long list of physical difficulties, I've had multiple tests done (blood tests, ECGs, scans, MRIs) and have been prescribed anxiety medication as well as medication for aura migraines. In my most recent appointment with a GP a few months ago he said his opinion was that I have chronic fatigue.

So the three things I am needing the GP to confirm on the form are 'anxiety/OCD, Aura migraine and chronic fatigue.' All of which have been diagnosed at some point by a GP at that practice. I am now thinking...if those things have not been recorded on my medical records, what have those GPs written down instead??

Surely each GP has to write notes after each appointment detailing what has been discussed? If so then OCD, aura migraine and chronic fatigue should be there in my records. In my last appointment, I had a particularly long and detailed conversation with that GP in which I listed my physical symptoms at length, going back to my adolescence (there should be appointment notes from my adolescence as well, detailing issues with severe aura migraines, chest pains, fatigue and GAD.) It was after listening to all this that the GP said it was his opinion that I have chronic fatigue as well as OCD. So why is that not in his notes?

The other thing that I'm upset about is that I've had my letter asking me to book cervical screening appointment. I've only ever had one screening before and I'm incredibly anxious about it. I've heard countless stories from friends, family and online about how absolutely horrific they can be, depending on who is doing it. The nurse who did my first one was actually lovely and really put me at ease and said she makes a special effort to ensure each screening she does is pain free as she wants people to come back. It was indeed pain free - but I've heard this is not the norm. Therefore when I called to book i asked if I could be booked in again with this same nurse - and that I was willing to wait/be flexible in order for it to be her. The receptionist said that because the screening I had was actually booked through the out of hours clinic, even though the nurse's name is on the appointment records its impossible to book me in with her because she is part of out of hours team and they have no way of knowing when they work.

These two things have just left me feeling really annoyed and upset, tbh I feel let down by the system and can't believe everything is so hard.

I suppose there is nothing I can do about the cervical screening appointment- I will just have to make a decision about whether I still want to go through with it not knowing who it will be. For the other issue with the form, I don't know what to expect from this face to face appointment next week...I have a feeling they are going to say they can't fill out the form because the doctors I have seen in the past haven't added in their notes what they have diagnosed me with. I have no idea what to say or how to handle this??

Any advice would be great, thank you :)

It would be helpful if the GP needs to see you to discuss the form for someone to mark it in your records, e.g. "Form handed in for completion - consultation with GP needed to discuss" Then whoever accesses your records can advise the correct procedure. I know from experience how frustrating it is when this isn't done.

Most GP Receptionists are part time, job share or work shifts so don't find out different information needed, subsequently it is frustrating for patients as well.

I work part time as a job share and a patient could ring me and start telling me about something that happened earlier in the week. I have to ask them to start from the beginning because their original query was dealt with by my job share colleague and information is either not to hand or doesn't make sense and I have to unravel it and start from scratch.

Wouldn't this information be on the NHS app? Your uni might accept information from there while you're waiting

have you talked to the uni about that? You won't be the only person having trouble getting a GP to do the form.

For my OCD, I self referred (although this was back in 2019) and saw a therapist for 12 weeks. I was given the official diagnosis that way. The waiting list was around 4/5 months though (could be even worse now).

I suffer with a condition called cluster headaches. Again, I have only been given an official diagnosis through a neurologist at a hospital, I also have to have regular check ins with her to make sure the medication I am on as a preventive is still working and that the medication I have to attempt to abort attacks is still working.

My point being - the GP probably doesn't in fact have a lot of information on file, especially if they have never referred you to any specialists. So it's best they have a proper check in with you, as frustrating as it is. As, really, anyone could call up otherwise and say I have XYZ.

Many women find cervical screening painful, and there are strategies to help deal with this. I found it excruciatingly painful to have a smear done, and I work in screening!
Telling OP not to be so wet is frankly rude and unhelpful.

I've heard countless stories from friends, family and online about how absolutely horrific they can be, depending on who is doing it. The nurse who did my first one was actually lovely and really put me at ease and said she makes a special effort to ensure each screening she does is pain free as she wants people to come back. It was indeed pain free - but I've heard this is not the norm.

Another one saying that your friends' experience seems very skewed. To balance it, I've had many pain-free ones and at worst it's been a very brief bit of discomfort. Try to dial down from words like absolutely horrific as having that in your head just amps up the anxiety. You've already had one pain-free experience and there's no good reason to assume you won't have another. Go off what you've experienced not what you've heard - I appreciate the irony of that when I'm giving you my experience here, but you know you have a tendency to be anxious so don't feed that, do the work on combatting it instead.

I get your point, but telling OP it was excruciatingly painful isn't going to help either. You must also know many women don't find it painful too, so balancing the picture would be much more helpful, or directing her to the strategies you mention.

certified OCD specialist

What on earth is one of these?

It's very possible that no one wrote chronic fatigue down as a diagnosis. It sounds like a symptom not a cause. It seems reasonable the doctor will want to see you anyway.

The cervical smear will be fine. Who has told you they are horrific? That's not true. Yes it's uncomfortable like any pelvic exam it would be wierd if it were comfortable! It's over quickly and doesn't hurt. You just need to relax.

Cervical cancer is awful. Think of Jade Goody. Book that appointment!

Agree with all this. GP surgeries can be frustrating and slow (don’t we all know it) but they are dealing with seriously ill patients and you sound like hard work

There very much can be support but my experience with CFS ( having had it for a long while but never pursued an official diagnosis until I couldn’t work) was that I had to specifically ask to be referred on ( even though I couldn’t work !) There is a real postcode lottery with services however the CFS service in my city is extremely good, I have had a lot of help which has improved things. I would write a list of what you feel you need and book separate appointments as a GP isn’t going to have the time to discuss all three issues in 1 go ( the challenge being, that your anxiety is going to have a bearing on all 3 conditions and GP’s sometimes see anxiety and stop there!) and don’t discount anti depressants, sometimes you need them to allow you to tackle other issues. GP’s are gatekeepers at the end of the day and sometimes you have to have the energy to push things through yourself, if you aren’t “that bad” enough that the GP can see you need help.

GP isn’t being unreasonable by asking you to come in. If you don’t want to wait the few weeks for the appointment ask the receptionist to call you if there’s a cancellation.

Smears are unpleasant. They’re also necessary. No one looks forward to them. Unfortunately you’re just going to need to grit your teeth and get it over and done with, anxiety or otherwise.

Yes - was this a counselling psychologist, a clinical psychologist or other type of therapist - remember psychologists don't really diagnose you need a psychiatrist for that

@PinkStarAtNight p.s. one thing I’m a little confused about , you seem to be focussed on getting the diagnosis aspect rather than the getting treatment part? Most people with serious long term conditions that affect their life are wanting to get better…..you don’t seem to have been working with your GP to access treatments? When you went to the talking therapies, why didn’t you take part in the talking therapy, sometimes you have to demonstrate that you have tried something and then go back to your GP to say you need more specialist help. It’s an utter farce sometimes but that’s the NHS !

PPS. @PinkStarAtNight i would suggest you start with the GP with your anxiety/OCD…chronic anxiety is inherently fatiguing and if you improve the OCD you might find that your fatigue lessens as a result. Especially if you have a history of chest pains as it suggests you are a somatiser.

OP I think you're getting a hard time here. I also used to think that if I needed to be referred for a condition, my GP would say so and start the referral. It used to work like that. Nowadays you have to push for it, because the NHS is so cash strapped.
My daughter had lots of investigation for her fatigue which was eventually diagnosed by an endocrinologist as CFS.
Keep on asking questions, stay polite and friendly but don't come away without answers.

It will take more than £30 worth of GP time to complete the form.

This appointment might really help you out. I had a time where I was asking for confirmation of diagnosis to use for a private prescription. The GP insisted she speak with me first. It felt like a waste of time in my mind (I just needed the evidence of diagnosis) BUT the actual appointment was very helpful. I ended up getting a referral to pain management alongside the private prescription and it truly made a difference for me at the time. I was diagnosed with ME/CFS by neuro. They also deal with neuro divergency & migraines so you might find one referral could support all your conditions 🙂

OCD- can only be diagnosed by a specialist mental health clinician ....not a GP.
CF... is a diagnosis of exclusion so if the GP filling in the form has any doubt- they wont/cant do it.
I certainly wouldn't be putting my name to anything with a dubious diagnosis.

There are numerous threads in the health section discussing the strategies if anyone does a search.
My point was that people telling women who find it painful to ‘grin and bear it’, ‘stop being wet’, ‘toughen up’ probably don’t have the experience of how painful it can be and aren’t going make women in that position suddenly say, oh you know what I’ve just been silly.

Just because you’ve had those problems in the past, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you still suffer from them all now. A doctor can’t certify that you need help now without ascertaining whether those past diagnoses are still relevant.

This is an interesting thread - everyone giving medical advice and assumes that the OP can access the services and treatment. It is clear the op wants medical evidence to access support at university, which is a separate matter from accessing treatment in the NHS.

IMHO nothing in your post warrants being disappointed in the GP. They have done nothing wrong at all. They are just doing their job.

Are you on disability benefits? PIP maybe? They may just be checking that your circumstances have not changed in relation to this too.

“I've heard countless stories from friends, family and online about how absolutely horrific they can be”

I’m confused why so many people are apparently telling you this. A smear should be at most uncomfortable and any other woman I’ve spoken to about it agrees with this. Don’t let it scare you, you had one and it was fine and the next one will be fine too