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

It would be interesting to know if this particular GP sees any females at all. I wonder what is classed as a specific 'female problem'. If you had phoned and said that your daughter was experiencing, for argument's sake, a sore throat or a headache (that a boy or man could also have), would the doctor have seen her then? I do think the receptionist should have explained her reasoning in a less vague, more professional way. She should have explained that there is an alternative doctor who is better versed in knowledge of menstruation. If that was indeed her meaning, which is in doubt! All she has done is cast doubt on the professionalism of the doctor who she states 'doesn't do female problems'. I'd be left wondering 1) can he just not be bothered to? 2) is he dismissive of all females? 3) is he fit to practise 4) what other problems doesn't he 'do'?

Of course I know that the G stands for general, you patronising numpty.

I also know that GPs will have specialised in areas of medicine before becoming GPs.

I was very glad, for example, when my GP told me to make appts with his colleague who specialised in eye care when I had problems with my eyes. It would have been pretty shit of him to not do this just because, 'the ' G' means general.'

I think in most areas of work we realise that there will be some colleagues who have more knowledge of some areas than others, despite them all having the same job title.

This. Unless there is missing info in the op - it’s likely period issues has been triaged as non urgent. So if it is urgent just ring drs back and say it’s urgent and she needs to be seen sooner

This requires a letter delivered by hand with a CC to your local MP. WTAF? It's bad enough that so few GPS opt not to train for menopause training despite the fact that over half the country will suffer from it, but now they don't do "female problems".... fuming on your behalf! FYI most calls are recorded, so note the time on your phone.

I think this is a much more realistic approach that pretending all GPs will know all things equally.

By the by, I have a friend who recently has had knee surgery from a surgery team that has been set up to only do knee surgeries, so that they build up real high quality skill in this area.

So if there is a doctor who has had specialist training in a particular area you think that should be wasted and you just see anyone? Personally I've been very glad of the GPs with specialist knowledge. The NHS is under pressure, if a GP with specialist knowledge can correctly diagnose, treat and where necessary refer to hospital that is an efficient use of resources.

This is just whataboutery. The receptionist didn't say to the OP 'we have a specialist doctor who would be the best person to help and you can see them next week'. She ultimately said 'we have a GENERAL practitioner who will not help you on a basic health issue'. Of course I wouldn't want to see this guy but the point is that this is unacceptable practice and should be highlighted.

Well the issue might be the receptionist and nothing to do with doctors having specialisms. I can't imagine this outrage for other issues like me seeing the doctor with lots of experience with skin cancer.

I think in most areas of work we realise that there will be some colleagues who have more knowledge of some areas than others, despite them all having the same job title.

we don't fob them off with "oh i don't do your issue" and tell them to wait a week and hope they can get someone to do it, though, do we?

Nobody has issues with GPs who are better at one thing than another. Most people would have issues with the way this was handled. I would hope.

Total and utter incompetence! Firnsl complaint today - escalate as far as you can. Ask for the surgery manager.

Well the OP could ask the doctor she eventually sees, like the GP who dealt with my skin issues the doctor will probably be quite happy to explain they have had a lot of gynae experience before they were a GP or it is their special interest. None of us can know but lots of us seem to value seeing a GP with specialist knowledge even if the receptionist isn't quite as on the ball.

My doctors have a lady doctor who specialise in HRT and she is fabulous really good and knows her stuff
I’m happy to wait to see her but I can generally get an appointment within 3 days

The GP didn't say that though did they.

I've had some pretty rubbish interactions with GPs over the years (hello, man at 6week check who said my baby was pre-term because he was born at 38+5, and even after I pointed out that term is actually 37 weeks he replied "yes but he wasn't the full 40...)
I hadn't realised what I've been doing wrong all along is turning wup without a man to make it more serious and (presumably) explain my silly concerns in a more masculine and legitimate way.

I think Drs in general have increaiaeful professional culture but GPs in particular are just the worst

Could it be possible the refusing doctor has had complaints made against them before?

I can’t imagine a GP - designed to deal with all first response general medical issues across the board - ever getting away with saying “actually I don’t take any bowel related problems, if you have issues of that nature you must wait and speak to the other GP.”

I would put in the highest complaint about this. He shouldn’t be a GP if he can’t offer standard GP appointments any other would because it involves one specific organ.

bloody hell. It is like pulling teeth. A person in a healthcare came out with that tripe.

It is not acceptable.

But was this just handled badly by the receptionist or did the doctor tell OP himself?

Exactly. GP’s aren’t designed to be specialists in anything. They are there to decide if a specialist is needed though. Oh I see your daughter is suffering significant issue, I shall refer her immediately to a gynaecologist or for an ultrasound to rule out anything serious. Here’s some pain killers, has she thought about contraception for irregularity?

They’re meant to be a catch-all, not a pick and choose.

Absolutely agree with you. I have no issues with specialist GPs, but I do have an issue with the general sense one gets from many GP practices that you are an inconvenience and should be grateful for anything they offer you rather than expecting some basic level of service let alone adequate care.

If the issue is the receptionist, still warrants a complaint and change of procedure. Women cannot just be fobbed off with a sexist try again next week.

I would phone back and demand an appointment asap. Say that you understand that some GPs are completely useless, but hopefully the uselessness of this doctor does not extend to being unable to give your DD a referral to the appropriate gynecology service, which is essentially a secretarial task.

But lots of people are saying they do very much value having GPs who specialise in particular medical areas..

You may not want that, but many other patients see the value in it and like it.

Tell you what, if your receptionist ever says to you, ' Oh you have a GI issue, I'll book you with Dr Martin, he specialises in that', you feel free to turn down an appt with Dr Martin, on principle. And leave the rest of us happy to see GPs with specialisms in our condition, where they are available.

Yeah, all of this! ^ And I was a bit at the receptionist triaging a patient too. WTAF?!!!

I'd report this to the CQC

it seems it was the receptionist. Which means a complaint about how this was handled would hopefully result in a bit of training for the person taking the calls, instead of acting like a complete arse in a professional setting.

If the receptionist is clumsily passing on what the doctor actually says - see above for receptionist, plus the practice putting something in place that people don't have to wait, unnecessarily, for a week to see a GP.

There are threads moaning about doctors on a weekly basis. Some are probably reasonable. Many are just ridiculous, in my opinion. Misunderstood, misheard, or occasionally plain selfish.