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

She's had one period and then nothing since and it's possibly outside the normal expected irregular periods. I just want you get her checked. A different dr told me it was fine when I saw them about something for me but I got called an unfit mother etc when I posted on here about it.

Thank you for the suggestion though. I hope your daughter is feeling better.

Oh FFS. Some people have nothing better to do than put others down. My daughter went two months in between her first period and the next one and sometimes she misses a month in between but they've started to become more regular now that she's coming up to the one year mark of having them. Hopefully you'll get answers soon but try not to worry. X

Yes baffling 🙄

😂 you should be ashamed of yourself for being a twat but I won’t hold it against you.

I remember years ago I was needing a review/prescription for the pill. I made an appointment, all ok so far. When I turned up I waited for about 45 mins, they were running late - when I got into see the GP he said that due to his religious beliefs that he couldn’t prescribe contraception ( more like wouldn’t) I was only young and was completely dumbfounded. A complete waste of my time!

They should ensure that there is a doctor on every week who can serve the 51% of the population outrageous enough to have female body parts.

This is a receptionist issue. A Doctor would never utter the words 'I don't do female problems' This thread is utter nonsense.

Should be struck off for incompetence.

Fucking twat

Agree. I wonder also if the receptionist is protecting your daughter and other women by diverting them away from someone they know is a problem. Perhaps the doctor has never actually declared that he doesn't deal with female problems, the practice has just realized patients are served better that way...? Or even worse, he's been disciplined in some ways and has had limits put on who he can see for what....

Atrocious either way....

That’s discrimination of gender and against the equality act 2010. Formal complaint in writing asap to the practice manager.

It’s not just the Dr who is discriminating but the GP surgery if they don’t have someone available to support your female health needs when this GP is working.

I cannot fathom this happening and me getting on mumsnet before making a formal complaint.

Sex not gender. It is sex that is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

The problem is, even with the best will in the world, most women actively seek out female doctors for female specific problems which means male doctors do become de skilled to an extent. They should still be able to deal with the more straightforward presentations though and then refer on to a colleague if required. I would hope in this scenario the message from reception would be “I have an appointment available with Dr Y this week but from what you’ve said you might be better to see Dr X who doesn’t have an appointments available.” I would, however, still expect you to have the choice to see Dr Y if you felt waiting wasn’t the best plan, in the knowledge that they may want you to see Dr X for follow up.

This is a non-problem I would say 99% of females would prefer to discuss period problems with another female.

What on earth is the point of training as a medical doctor if you're not prepared to work with half the population? It's ridiculous.

He may have restrictions placed on him due to previous disciplinary action. You would be surprised what doctors can do & not be struck off but 'need supervision' with

There's one at our surgery with a whole list of what he's not allowed to deal with - women & girls mainly but also needs prescriptions checked due to misuse.

I would keep myself & DD away from him full stop.

But if it was something that couldn't wait a week and needed to be seen by someone today, not next week? Or if the patient didn't care and just wanted to be seen?

I'm quite comfortable arguing the point and making sure I get an appointment. If it was urgent, I would have kicked up a fuss and got seen. My 15year daughter would not and would be fobbed off even if it was urgent.

She doesn't care whether she sees a female or male dr BTW. Not that we were asked. We had no say in the matter (unless I wanted to protest as I said).

You are also assuming the dr next week is female. I have no idea if they are.

We wanted an appointment today because she was off school (due to a hospital appintment for a different matter) so it seemed sensible to do everything on the same day. As it is, she'll need to take more time off next week for this appointment.

Everyone is assuming the dr next week is female.

I have no idea if they are, the receptionist did not tell me that.

Agree. 💯

Disgusting. Complain 100%. You can’t choose who you help.

Of course it’s a problem. This doctor, trained and paid using public money (from taxes 50% of which will be from women) is saying he doesn’t deal with half the population. This is very serious in terms of discrimination.

Depends what you think is most important.
The patient or a principle

Call back and ask to book said same doctor for a male about erectile disfunction. If she books you in for that say you don't need the appointment but we're just checking that mens problems are acceptable to said doctor. Now that you know they are you would like to raise a complaint about sequel discrimination. Alternatively say they are not women's issues they are body issues, for all your GP knows your daughter could identify as a male. We are after all in 2025.

were and sexual