New to camp Drs - do I see the SMO with....

[Lumpyboobs]

a breast lump?

I didnt post this is health as I need some info on camp SMO's.

Recently moved into SFA (DH RAF) and registerd with the camp Drs which is a very small Med Ctr with only the SMO and one other Dr there - couple of nurses etc.

2 weeks ago I needed a routine ppointment to discuss my repeat prescription for something trivial and unrelated to this. The receptionist when I called said only the SMO was available and booked me in. Then she said "oh its not for a smear or anything like that is it?" I said no, so she said "thats OK then, you can see the SMO".

Now I have a history of breast lumps. But last week I found a new one. Its different to my usual lumps. Small and rock hard. Am worried. Thursday I go away for just under 3 weeks on holiday. I am hoping to get into see a Dr tomorrow but am worried if it is the SMO - if getting my boobs out is not the done thing? . I dont want to wait until after my holidays cos I am pretty sure I will be referred to a breast clinic so dont want to delay the referral any longer (although they are usuAlly only 2 week waits).
I cannot demand another Dr if I ask to be seen tomorrow. I will have to take who ever is on duty.

So really I am asking all you service wives if there are certain problems you just DONT see the SMO with - like my boobs?

Any advice please??

Oh btw the RMC leaflet I have says the SMO qualifications are MBBS, BSc, MRCGP and the other Dr has MBBCh, MRCGP, DRCOG, DCH - if that gobbledy gook means anything to anyone.

Hope someone can help.

Hi,

It's not clear if you are overseas or not?

If on camp overseas you can use the SMO as you would a normal GP. Conducting smear tests are slightly different as it is considered a slightly more specialist skill, which the Dr (or nurse) needs to do regularly to maintain their skills. So many military docs do not (seeing a largely male workforce) manage to do. If you ask at the reception there will be a facilty for providing smear tests but it may be a nurse or a visiting doctor.

The breast lump however should be no problem if you or the doctor feels he needs it he can always access a chaparone (nurse or receptionist..) but if you have a history I would say much more important to be seen and refered than worry. I'm sure the Doc has seen much much worse (!!!)

Good Luck

PS I'm not a forces wife but and ex (Navy) Nurse

The SMO is a Dr regardless of rank, so get out what you want.

One of the Drs where we are queried why she was doing my smear and not the nurse. I pointed out that the nurse was a personal friend of mine and there were certain things that one doesn't inflict on friends!

Thank you for your response.

We are in the UK but I registerd with the RMC on camp as it was closer than anywhere else and has a pharmacy handy for prescriptions - nearest chemist is miles away, so the RMC seemed a good idea at the time.

I will brave it tomorrow then and make an appointment with whoever is available to have me flash my boobs at them !

Gosh - that's good - don't think the army allow dependents to do that.
It'll be fine - you must get it checked.

"Gosh - that's good - don't think the army allow dependents to do that."

They do, depending on the posting. Four out of our eight postings had an MRS on camp and dependents could use that if they wished.

Really? I didn't know that. Only thought it was overseas. so is there a list somewhere jcscot that tells us where those are? Would have been so much easier!

I don't have a list, sorry, and I'm not aware of there being one. I know that currently at PJHQ dependents can register at the MRS, as they can at RMAS. The two other postings where they did allow it when we were there were Bulford and Chicksands. If you're in Edinburgh you can use the (huge) MRS at Redford barracks but for APC, Shriv and London we had to register with a civvy GP.

we've had to register with civvie GP's at all of our postings. Wish we could use the dentists again.

I'm at Chicksands, but it's obviously changed since your time here as deps have to register with the local civvie GP surgery now.

Not all practices see families but a lot do in all 3 services.

I would have thought the receptionists question was more to do with whether it was more appropriate to see a nurse than a Dr rather than the SMO in particular. SMO will see any patient dependant or serving.

Hope the SMO can sort it out.

As said some military practices in the UK will see dependents as well, this is if they have the capacity to do so, some eg PJHQ are classed as families practices.

dorisisapinkdraogn is correct in that it may be the Dr/SMO is not in date for doing smears however there should be no problem with going about other female related issues. If you go in and the SMO feels it more appropriate for you to see someone else they will just say so and organise it so don't worry.

Realised you have probably seen the Dr by now , hope things went ok and you got an early referral if you need it.

How did it go?