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Original poster

Crappy Doctors

15 replies

spikeycat · 22/07/2003 13:35

I phoned my doctor over 2 hours ago as I wanted an appointment for ds, who has been very teary and generally not himself with a slight temp for about 3 days now. The only time he's okay is about 1/2 an hour after calpol, but I don't want to keep slamming that down his throat. He keeps pulling at his ears to so maybe ear infection?

Anyway, I phoned up and had to explain all this to the receptionist (that bugs me in itself sometimes!) and she said the nurse would phone me back to see whether an appointment was nec. Obviously as I am SAHM thats all I do, stay at bloody home! Shall I call back?

OP posts:
lisalisa · 22/07/2003 13:38

Message withdrawn

Original poster
spikeycat · 22/07/2003 13:41

he's 7 months, and he's been quite sicky too, which isn't like him. When he has calpol he's fine, so I bet if I take him and he's all smiles they will think I am taking the pee.

Still, I think I will phone them back.

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bundle · 22/07/2003 13:44

spikey, my surgery has an emergencies for under-5s only at 8.30am every morning. does your practice have a patients forum? maybe you could suggest something like this as it's very well used in my surgery. good luck.

Original poster
spikeycat · 22/07/2003 14:02

well, The nurse called me back, and has given me an appointment for 7pm, which is about as much use as an ash tray on a motorbike as he goes to bed then, and when ever I slip this routine he is horrible!

OP posts:
lisalisa · 22/07/2003 14:59

Message withdrawn

WideWebWitch · 22/07/2003 15:18

Spikeycat, I hope he's OK and the doctor is reassuring. FWIW, I rarely explain to the receptionist, since so many of them seem to be fire breathing old bags determined not to let any of us near a doctor, but usually invoke the emergency word instead as in "I have a small baby who is ill so please could I arrange an emergency appointment?" Don't explain, just be firm and say you NEED an appointment. I know we wouldn't usually use the word emergency but a friend suggested this to me since her theory is that they use the word slightly differently to mean 'needs seeing today'. Usually works for me anyway.

Original poster
spikeycat · 22/07/2003 16:31

well, the doc phoned up and said I could take him in at 4, which I have done. Looks like he had a little infection which has more or less cleared up so on antibiotics for him. Just have to keep giving him pain relief as when he seems to need it.

Not too sure about this but I guess they know best, and yes, he was an angel, all smiles and bubble blowing, making mummy look like a fibber

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Batters · 22/07/2003 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cos · 22/07/2003 18:11

so spikeycat u seem to have got a good service from your GP should u change the tone of your headline? BTW if you dont want to stay in for a callback from the surgery give tham a mobile number

wobblymum · 23/07/2003 07:56

WWW - my Gp's is the same, emergency doesn't mean absolutely critical as far as they're concerned. It just means that you're not going for a routine reason, ie - get your haemmoroids checked, go on the pill etc etc.

Strange, you'd think they'd use clearer terms seeing as it's obvious what most people would think emergency means.

Original poster
spikeycat · 23/07/2003 08:04

Cos - I didn't actualy mean the doctor was crappy, I meant the practice, as I am fed up aving to go in to personal details with a receptionist who is more medical trained than my cat.

OP posts:
cos · 23/07/2003 08:38

Sorry spikeycat, I know what u mean about the receptionists though, talk about power crazy! Our practice nurses are fab though, they discuss the need for emergency appts (ie on the same day) and are tuned into the needs of kids and understand the pressure of school runs etc when booking appts. For example, I had an eye infection, diagnosed over the phone with practice nurse, she prescribed some ointment, it was dispensed at the surgry and i pickedit up one hour after inital phone call to surgery.

Boe · 23/07/2003 11:27

I have realised that being nice to the receptionist is probably the best way to get what you want - I have also on occassions when all else has failed used the phrase - if you can tell me that you are a qualified physician then I will trust your judgement in relation to the seriousness of my childs condition - if not, I as a parent have to do so and I want to see a doctor today. I have also threatened to wait until surgery is closed and call out an emergency doctor.

Dahlia · 23/07/2003 11:54

I know this thread isn't about crappy doctors as such but just have to whinge that I saw a really crappy doctor yesterday (not my regular doc) about my swollen ankles - nearly 5 weeks since I gave birth and they haven't gone down - she said there's nothing I can do and I will have to live with it. And all the while she was looking at me like I was a freshly piped dog turd.
Needless to say I am not impressed and will go and see my own doc asap.

Original poster
spikeycat · 23/07/2003 12:13

Sorry to laugh dahlia but your phase at the end had me in fits, hope your ankles go down soon

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