to expect my doctor to be able to speak and understand English to a reasonable level?

[feelingvfedup]

Have had quite a few health issues after giving birth, lots of infections, problems with c-section wound not healing to name but a few. Have always been very reluctant to go to the doctors and would rather suffer for a few weeks and hope things improve rather than pay a visit to GP.

However, since giving birth and being in quite a bit of pain have had no choice but to pluck up courage and go and see a GP. First GP I saw spoke very poor English and seemed to have no idea what I was talking about when I plucked up courage to mention urine infections after giving birth. Left doctor's feeling upset and worried that the prescription he gave me was actually the right drugs. A couple of weeks later, still with raging infection, plucked up courage to see a different GP. Again, their English was quite poor and they didn't seem to understand what I was saying. Ended up again, leaving the surgery in tears.

Well, yesterday I had to go again with another fanjo problem. I've been putting off going for a while precisely because I was worried about the language problems, but was optimistic that maybe I'd been unlucky and this time would get someone who could actually understand what I was saying. However, yet again it turned into a nightmare as soon as I walked into the doctors room. Explained to her in detail the problem, she looked confused. Eventually she said she'd have to examine me I said fine. She then said she'd need a chaperone for me while she examined me. I explained, that this wasn't necessary, I was happy for her to examine me and in the past I'd only even had a chaperone if being examined by a male doctor. She didn't seem to understand. What followed was a farce. She left the door to her office open so everyone sitting in reception could see me sitting there while she tried to find a nurse. When it turned out there was no nurse, she dragged a woman off reception to sit in... After examining me she said she would refer me but didn't know what sort of doctor to refer me to. I said maybe a gynae? She looked confused, consulted a book and said to go away and she would get in touch with me. I mentioned about the choose and book service which I'd heard was used in the surgery so that I could try and arrange an appointment while I was there as I'm really worried about fanjo etc. She didn't understand what I was saying, repeated this several times butby this time I'd lost the will to carry on. Left doctor's again feeling mortified. I am so sick of not being able to see a doctor who speaks good English. I don't care if I'm treated by a martian or an alien from outer space the only thing I do care about is being able to be understood when I'm talking about potentially embarrassing and delicate health issues. I think I will have to change doctor's surgerys because the stress of going to the doctors is becoming a nightmare. I'm debating whether to write to practice manager and complain about the lack of English all their doctors have. Surely, it should be a basic skill for all doctors, a good command of English?

I agree stitch - I've been treated by doctors and nurses when seriously ill in hospital where there were problems understanding each other but they did a fantaxtic job of diagnosing issues and looking after me.

However, with GPs isn't it different because you could go in with anything and if they can't understand what's wrong with you how can they treat you?

NHS Primary Care Trust will be the people to complain to. From NHS website:

Primary care is the care provided by people you normally see when you first have a health problem. It might be a visit to a doctor or a dentist, an optician for an eye test, or just a trip to a pharmacist to buy cough mixture. NHS walk-in centres and the NHS Direct phone line service are also part of primary care. All of these services are managed for you by your local primary care trust (PCT).

Your PCT will work with local authorities and other agencies that provide health and social care locally to make sure that your local community's needs are being met.

PCTs are now at the centre of the NHS and control 80% of the NHS budget. As they are local organisations, they are best positioned to understand the needs of their community, so they can make sure that the organisations providing health and social care services are working effectively.

For example, your PCT must make sure there are enough services for people within their area and that these services are accessible. It must also make sure that all other health services are provided, including hospitals, dentists, opticians, mental health services, NHS walk-in centres, NHS Direct, patient transport (including accident and emergency), population screening, and pharmacies. They are also responsible for getting health and social care systems working together for the benefit of patients.

www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/PrimaryCareTrustListing.aspx

The English language requirements don't apply to doctors from EU countries - point 1 on the link.

And the PCT can't refuse to employ people who don't speak good English or they'd be breaching European law. Madness.

I am a bit worried that I wont be accepted by other doctors surgerys. I had to fill in an application form to be accepted to current surgery and this was when I didn't have any health issues ie before I gave birth. One complicated pregnancy later with lots of health issues after giving birth I'm worried a new surgery will look at my list of health problems and reject me leaving me without any access to medical care. After seeing me in such a state DH has managed to get me an appointment with the nurse who practices where he works, apparently she will ber able to refer me on to appropriate doctors. I feel this is a bit extreme and I should be able to get the help I need from my own doctors . I worry more about my ds. Had to take him to doctors about 3 months ago and saw non english speaking doctor who advised just getting fluids into ds. The same afternoon I ended up taking him to A&E- ds was admitted immediately because he was dehydrated and stayed in overnight while they plugged him full of liquids via a drip. The doctor asked why I hadn't brought ds in sooner... I explained I had taken him to GP earlier that day but still felt like a rotten mother.

Have you tried PALS?

Also NHS Choices will list your other local surgeries - although they all have set boundaries which are NOT covered on this site, but it may be worth phoning. SOme take Pts from outside their boundary in certain circumstances.

I would phone & ask to speak to the Practice Manager. Explain your problem and ask if other GPs are available. I work at a surgery and we know that when Pts are ill they are more stressed, and no request would be seen as racist. (Our surgery has European GPs with English as a second language, but their English is excellant).

I feel for you OP. I once went to see my GP and instead saw a Dutch locum. We had an odd conversation, and then he wrote down on my notes, swelling in mouth. I said, no neck... that is where you were examining me, on my neck. He looked completely confused, and that's when I realised that I was dealing with a doctor who did not know the difference in English between the mouth and the neck. Obviously because of what pantomim points out.

It would have been funny if it was happening to someone else. At the time it was a bit scarey. I didn't complain. I try to avoid doctors TBH. I would be jolly impressed with you if you complained- you would be doing it for everyone else at your surgery.

"unfortunately the EU it its wisdom decided EU doctors could practise anywhere, even if they can't speak the language."

I don't see how this is a problem. There is probably even a market for private practise to expats of one sort or another. The problem the OP has, is that the NHS has seen fit to employ doctors, to work in general practise, who cannot communicate well in English. That is unacceptable. It would be unacceptable in hospitals too.

Your PCT has to find you a surgery. So don't worry!

practice

I suspect this is a narrow interpretation of European law that the UK has again chosen to goldplate

no, the EU caused the problem. The NHS cannot refuse to employ someone who can't speak English because they would be breaching EU law. Madness. Honestly, it's the EU that's at fault, not the NHS!

Medicine used to be one of the professions that was exempt from the general rule that says people can work anywhere in the EU. But the mandarins ended the exemption about five years ago, IIRC.

Totally feel for you this is really hard. I too after bad experiences with doctors feel quite unable to go to them for reliable help

I changed surgeries but after their poor care of my after miscarriage feel no happier with the new one.

Sorry I don't have any answers.

The General Medical Council and the Royal Colleges did protest at the time, btw, but were over-ruled by Brussels.

Insane.

I wonder how they deal with this in other EU countries?

In some EU countries you HAVE to have an interpreter with you when you see the doctor even if you can speak a bit of their language (and have to pay for the priviledge ence the need for decent health insurance if you move abroad)

BTW, regarding chaperone issues. There are quite strict "recommendations" about it.
About the need for them "regardless" of patiewnt not wanting one, and about who can be chaperones. Yes, they may be receptionists but they would have/should have done a "chaperone course"