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

Yes, but none of your examples correlate with OP's. Her post is about a GP refusing to deal with "female problems" - that is not the same as the receptionist saying they have a GP who specialises in Gynae problems and it would be good to book in with them (OP has stated she has no idea if the other GP in her practice specialises in anything).
We have a large GP practice and I know the senior partner is a skin specialist, (as is one of the newer GPs) so my experience when I had a skin lesion was similar to yours - I saw a non-specialist GP in the first instance who then booked me in for an appt at the senior partner's next skin clinic. The receptionist didn't tell me that I couldn't book in with the first GP I saw because "she doesn't do skin problems". OP's male GP is actively refusing to deal with "female problems" which is outrageous - he's a GENERAL practitioner and should deal with all problems, in the first instance, before referring to someone else if appropriate.

Firstly a GP should be able to at least know issues of various groups, they don't need a specialism.

Secondly they can refer on so that's not really a reason.

I'm assuming the GP was a man.

I'm wondering if there could be a few things at play here...

False allegations in the past may have happened and make doctors may be very nervous re gynaecology if they've had that occur.

Current investigation may mean that GP can't do certain examinations etc. This isn't common but can happen.

Religious beliefs. We had a doctor who wouldn't even shake the hand of a female colleague, let alone do a physical on a woman's abdomen/pubic area even w a chaperone etc.

I suspect the receptionist was VERY clumsy in how they worded it.

I'd have asked why that was the case and pushed the point.

This. It wasn't well put but I doubt that is what the GP would say. I have arthritis. If I am "just ill" then I might see whoever is available. If it is connected to the arthritis I need to see one particular GP who specialises in the area. Medicine has become much more complex and even at the first line, it is impossible for GP's to now know enough about everything they have to deal with.

Mine just googles 😄

Definitely complain. That’s outrageous.

The worry with this is that the receptionist was possibly looking out for OP and other women by not sending them to see someone who would dismiss them and put them on antidepressants (very common for women by male GP's). Complaining gets the person in trouble who is actively signposting patients to the best doctors in a flawed system.

Is it? In the grand scheme of things?
Yes it's a bit irritating and not cool but OUTRAGEOUS? Wait til you hear about kids in gaza!

That's not the receptionists job. If that's a problem then it's a performance management issue. Not the receptionists business.

Could this be badly put by the receptionist & what she meant was our dedicated Doctor who has an expertise in period problems wasn't available that week.Many GPs can & do have different specialities where they have completed further training in areas they are more interested in but obviously still see patients & include all other areas with their expertise. An example is my father
went with an unusual complaint. He saw a GP who referred him to his colleague in the practice who had more experience in that particular area. It turned out he didn't need a referral after all so this saved time etc for all concerned.

Report him to the General Medical Council.

'JACK OF ALL CONDITIONS' You should be ashamed of yourself uttering such nonsense.

Can you see any GP and ask for a referral to a gynie specialist?

That really takes the biscuit. I wonder if they do men's problems.

File a complaint with the local NHS board (you can also get an advocate to file the complaint for you) and report the GP to the GMC
This is not acceptable behaviour

It’s misogynistic, deeply sexist and discriminatory. Legally and morally.

I wouldn’t want this kind of doctor seeing my child in the first place, they should be struck off.

How can they possibly even work as a GP if they can attend to the majority of their patients, and statistically women ARE the majority in surgeries and hospitals due to childbirth, reproductive systems that require more supervision and attention, longevity and being more proactive when it comes to health issues.

You really need to raise this at the highest level, no woman or female child should be subjected to such blatant incompetence and misogyny. Please can you update the thread and tell us what happened op.

He won't be seeing patients and not helping because he will not be allowed to practice if he is so clearly misogynistic

The GMC will investigate this fully.

All GPs should be able to see women/girls about their periods, if it needs a referral than so be it. GPs are generalists and some have more specialist training, but they should all have some level of dealing with female issues. Absolutely rididculous.

They totally will not.

This kind of complaint would be sent straight back for local resolution.

It's not even clear the doctor has done anything wrong.

The GMC would say that doctors do not have to perform any procedure or perform any treatment that is against their personal religious or cultural beliefs or that they have a conscientious objection to doing eg abortions, prescribing the contraceptive pill, signing cremation forms. However, they should make sure that the patient is seen by someone who will. It is a matter for their employer, not the GMC, whether a conscientious objection means that a doctor cannot fulfill their role.

The issue is that the receptionist has used the euphemism “he doesn’t do female problems” because it implies sex discrimination, which isn’t permitted.

But there’s no indication that OP needs a specialist. And if she did, it wouldn’t be the specialist GP - it would be off to Gynaecology or wherever was appropriate.

but that is what the GP is for. I sometimes get exasperated about the situation here because you can often go directly to a specialist - and people do that who don't need to.

The key point is that the GPs are there to triage, and i would say that a GP must look deep within themself if they work at a practice where only one (or two) is available at a time and they "don't do" something that potentially 40% of their patients may present with.

OP, I had a very similar issue at my practice.

I presented with irregular periods (a new change for me and not peri menopause). My male GP told me I should have made an apt with a female GP but “if it made me feel better he could Google it for me”. This was 10 years ago and I was literally shocked.

I contacted the practice manager and put in a complaint. I received an apology and details of the relevant CPD the GP would be attending to up skill his knowledge gaps.

At the time I was a fairly confident 24 year old and it turned out my condition did require further investigation/treatmenr. Imagine I had been a younger and less confident version of myself, plucking up courage to see a professional only to be turned away. It’s absolutely not acceptable and you should complain.

I can't really comment OP, as to be honest, although it's shitty, I'd rather avoid the GP that's not going to be any help. If it's about the heaviness and pain of her period but you don't want to put her on the pill, ask for Mefenamic acid tablets for her. My GP has just prescribed these for my thirteen year old.

Absolutely complain and I would write to the CCG for you GP to report this. It needs to be dealt with. He needs to be spoken to and given further training to prevent this.

Different gps have different skills. You need to go to one with the specialism if it's not urgent.