My doctor doesn't "do female problems"

[Polkadotbikinininii]

Phoned to book a Dr's appointment for my daughter about her periods. After going through triage with the receptionist (for literally 10mins) I was told that the Dr who is on this week "doesn't do female problems" and I need to phone back next week to make an appointment with a different doctor. I can't book that appointment today though.

Can you imagine a female dr deciding she doesn't want to deal with problems potentially affecting half the population?!

On the other hand, at least he won't be dismissive or try to mansplain

This,or it could be that a particular GP has a specialist interest and training on OPs daughter's issues. That is reasonable

As someone with a history of these problems. I would have been screwed, as bleeding after menopause. Thankfully my gp a guy ,saw me that day and referred me to hospital. Had ovarian cancer!

It's good that you know this now. Personally I'd now never see him for any problem, because any medical issue I have clearly interacts with the fact I have a female body which is not a male body. Everything is affected by hormones and differences in physiology. I'd take his name and avoid avoid avoid.

Sorry, I'd much rather have a GP surgery where I can see a GP who specialises in my condition! GPs do have specialisms as they will have practiced in a particular area of medicine before becoming a GP. I;'d much rather that be acknowledged and patients seen appropriately rather than a pretence that they all know exactly the same things!

Even my dentist brought in a colleague to see my son, as his colleague had more specialism in an issue my son had. Just as well, he needed an A&E referral, which his colleague was able to recognise, and my son ended up spending several days in hospital.

And then you're into the whole can of worms of "a female doctor" or someone who is male, but has self-declared themselves to be a woman.

There are so many private female health clinics for periods, menopause, endometriosis and hte rest of it because so many NHS GPs are so poorly informed and dismissive.

This is shocking but not surprising.

The NHS is an absolute cass pit.

I am going to hospital today in an attempt to get something sorted that I went to my GP with on the 3rd of March 2015 and that is not a typo.

If I could have paid 100,000 to get the problem sorted back then I would have but there is no-one going to touch this issue privately (unless I go to America) so I haven't worked for ten years and am now so deconditioned and ill, I might never get well. No-one in the NHS has given the smallest shit and yes, I am trying to get them into court.

I agree

To a point yes. But firstly GPs are generalists, not specialists, so even if they don't have the extra GP training in that clinical area they should be able to see most things even if that means deferring to their colleagues who have more expertise in whichever area for further advice.

Secondly, the receptionist should not have used those words, it's very inappropriate to say that this GP doesn't do female problems on many levels, firstly her DD is a patient, not a problem... the professional way to respond, yes I can book you into see this GP, but the one available next week has more expertise in the area/ is the lead for women's health etc so yes maybe some OTT responses but as an HCP in the NHS I get why this is not acceptable.

I had one Dr who didn't do contraception. I think it was to do with her religion.
There were plenty of other Dr's at the practice though so not a problem. This was years ago and getting an appointment wasn't as hard as it is these days.

WTF have I just read?

You need to take this complaint to the highest possible place. As usual we have a few posters who have shot on here, to make out anyone pissed off/angry about something like this is being OTT/unreasonable/hysterical. If you're going to cherry pick things you don't want to look at, and hilariously ignore and dismiss half the fucking population, DON'T be a doctor!

If you went to see a solicitor about, say a divorce and related issues, would you want to see a specialist in matrimonial law, or would you want to see a "family solicitor" who knew a little bit about divorce, crime, housing, consumer, employment law, business law etc etc who couldn't advise or help you immediately but could only refer you to someone much more specialist?

This is what I think too. I would see it as a positive thing rather than getting angry about it. They want you to see a GP who has specialist training gyne stuff. Obviously if it's an urgent matter then he would have to see you but otherwise isn't it preferable for you to see someone better suited.

I think pp made a good point that women often prefer to see female GPs for gynae issues, so male GPs will actually get less experience and practice of these issue, and that will inevitably deskill them.

Well if they do that, they need to be retrained and re-educated. 'Oh, I don't DO womens problems!' LOL fuxake!

Very odd way to out it! Our GPs generally have female GPs seeing women, at least for intimate issues, and male GPs for men/boys for intimate issues.
BUT they also have 3 nurses for women, dealing solely with periods, pregnancy, smears, menopause etc too…
we moved from a surgery that only had male doctors for that very reason.

Just tell them this week she identifies as male. Then they can't bloody refuse.

What idiots id be causing a stink about that.

I doubt it. If there was suspicion of misconduct, surely he wouldn't be allowed to treat anybody?

You need to complain: this is discrimination at the very minimum. Have at look at the GMC.

They change their tune very fast - when they apply to study med, they lie through their teeth - 'want to help people', 'nothing will stop me', 'i love challenges and solving problems', look at my CV - I volunteered at a hospice, etc. etc. And when they received their cushy 'hello' from the NHS, they show their true colours. Definitely make a complaint. This complaint won't do anything - they will find a million reasons why, but making a complaint is the only way to show displeasure. Also, why are triaging with a receptionist? Soon we shall be triaged by a security guard on the door! Telephone, make an appointment and to every question a non-medic asks - say very politely, sorry, this is too private, I can't talk to anyone but a doctor (repeat as many times as necessary).

There’s a surplus of kids trying to get into med school. This is an easy way to weed some of them out:

What percentage of the population’s health problems are you willing to treat?

Only 50%? I think we’ll give the place to someone else.

I had an appointment recently which was the same, I had recurrent BV and thrush and he told me "I don't do women's gynae issues you should have booked in with a nurse", I'd booked the appointment a month in advance and explained with the receptionist when booking!

If he can’t deal with health problems affecting half of the population then I’d suggest his fitness to practice is in question. It’s not like he’s a hospital consultant specialising in urology. He HAS to be able to treat this.

I wonder what GMC would say

But if you are not practising through seeing patients with these issues, you will inevitably not be as good at dealing with these issues as someone who deals with them regularly.

Be honest with yourself, as a patient, who would you actually rather see? A GP who once in a blue moon deals with a gynae issue, or a GP who deals with gynae issues multiple times a week?

All professionals upskill through actual practice, not just text book theory. That's just obvious.

Perhaps you can call back that your daughter now is presenting as a son, and has severe bleeding problems every month.

She will be seen that day I have no doubt

Whether or not it's a doctor's speciality, in a medical setting calling anything in the gynae field "female problems" is bizarrely unprofessional. Sounds like the title of that John waters film. I guess it will help set your daughter up with the idea that as women we are in for a lifetime of advocating for ourselves until we actually get to talk to specialists that believe what we're saying/give informed advice/treatment.