Page 8 | Can we have a thread on ridiculous things GP's have said?

MushyPeasPrincess · 25/05/2022 15:54

YouSoundLovely · 25/05/2022 13:44

I've no personal stake in this - my GP is very good and switched on. But I do find it interestng how some PPs, who are clearly GPs or other medical professionals, have wanted the discussion shut down. First with claims of 'nastiness'. I'd like to know (genuine question) how it's 'nastiness' for people to report their experiences of dismissive, distressing or in some instances dangerous treatment by doctors. Is the implication that these people are lying? Or is it 'nasty' simply for them to talk about their experiences? I can't help feeling the PP who said there's a certain contingent that tries to deem it morally wrong to discuss bas experiences at the hands of medical professionals is spot on.

Then there's the emotional blackmail - suggesting that people speaking out about their experiences will lead to more GPs leaving. Again, I agree with PPs that someone who would genuinely leave the profession because of that is perhaps not emotionally robust enough for it.

I also found the suggestion that a positive thread would be 'more appropriate' quite troubling - with an undertone of exercise of power. 'Inappropriate' is an authoritative-sounding but imprecise catch-all for censured behaviour. I can't help feeling that statement reflects exactly the paternalistic type of putting patients in their place that many PPs here are reporting having experienced.

Yes I agree. The tone of some does come across as "how dare you be ungrateful when we deign to see you".

Most of my GP's have been pretty good but I'll never forget the doctor at the hospital who joked "at least you can get back in your bikini for summer" after I'd had a traumatic (post 12 week scan) miscarriage. Utter twat. Sadly I was too weak to do anything about it at the time.

ginslinger · 25/05/2022 16:00

Prestissimo · 25/05/2022 08:39

Honestly? I'm sorry if you've had a bad experience and clearly poor practice should be improved. But GPs are human, sometimes we say things and think it didn't come out quite the right way, sometimes things we say are misinterpreted by patients in often stressful situations. Sometimes we just get it wrong.

There is a massive recruitment and retention crisis of GPs in this country. Very soon we will be an even rarer resource than we are currently. I'm about to do an appraisal this morning on a very talented, very committed young doctor who is now planning to move abroad to practice, in part because of the pressure of the job and significantly because of the attitude of the great British public, of which threads like this are an example.

Pull us up if we get things wrong. But a spiteful, sneering thread just for the sake of it? Give us a break.

absolutely this. My GP practice is amazing and I'm sure, like most of us, each GP has got something wrong or misunderstood something but they're human. I remain in awe of another human being who never flinches at having to put their hand up my bum on a monday morning.

Somuchgoo · 25/05/2022 16:02

In taking my 2yo back to the drs (she'd been having headaches) after having a thunderclap headache that day (dropping the the floor, clutchjg her head and sobbing in pain)

Me: im a bit worried
Him: why are you worried
Me: its not normal for a 2yo to do that
Him: we've checked her out, shes fine. Just give her calpol.
Me: and if she falls to the floor in pain again?
Him: just give her calpol
Me: I'm worried because everyone seems to think its earache, but she says its her head
Him: even if it was her head, I wouldn't be doing anything about it at this stage.

Within 24hrs she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and blue lighted to a specialist hospital for emergency Neurosurgery.

Note: all the guidance for kids with headaches said she required an immediate scan

MushyPeasPrincess · 25/05/2022 16:06

@Ladywiddio you need to read @YouSoundLovely post. And have a think about what you're saying - we should put up and shut up about substandard care? No.
Ps I suspect they may find Australians more "direct" than Brits anyway.

Goldfishjones · 25/05/2022 16:12

All the GPs I've seen at my practice are bloody fantastic.

Sorry to those who've had experiences.

PeekAtYou · 25/05/2022 16:25

We regularly have threads about advice from other professions - HVs, teachers, midwives, GP receptionists, school office receptionists....

I don't have an anecdote for this thread but my GP has a mug on his desk saying that he knows better than Google because he went to medical school yet the receptionist often tried to give medical advice when you book an appointment over the phone. (I don't mean "try minor injuries for that problem" either)

cottagegardenflower · 25/05/2022 16:45

Can I include a dentist at the dental hospital?

DS was an IUGR baby and also had a traumatic birth. I bf him for 2 years because he had lots of difficulties and it comforted him.

Unfortunately his teeth developed enamel hypoplasia and began to crumble away. Not unknown in babies with IUGR. Dentist told me it was due to my breastfeeding and I needed to stop.

I was a long term bfeeder as was DD and DS2. We all have perfect teeth.

Arse. Just to add to my guilt and sense of failure.

WhatALump · 25/05/2022 16:47

When visiting my gp for my annual diabetic check up she enquired about mine and my dh’s sex life. I said we dtd once a week or so.
She double checked my age on the computer and looked me up and down then said ‘we’ll dear you’re reaching that age where if you don’t take care of your husbands needs he’ll look elsewhere for his satisfaction so if you’re not comfortable with how your body looks maybe you could consider a provocative nightie to cover yourself in certain places while still being able to look after him’

I nearly fell off my chair and left very quickly

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 25/05/2022 16:50

I’m a bit surprised at the protestations about adverse comments on GP’s. If you look at the thread, I think the number of people relating overall satisfaction or good experiences probably outweighs the bad.

Don’t most people accept that we are talking about individuals here? Some are brilliant, most are average( well, of course) a minority are…..not so good. The fact that they are a minority should not mean that no one should mention the shortfalls.

the profession I would feel sorriest for are social workers, eternally damned to have made the ‘wrong’ decision, to have acted too soon or too harshly, to have acted too late or not strictly enough. A profession with less training and less power than the medical profession, but often equally responsible for life and death decisions.

BTW, I am not and never have been a Social worker, not have I ever been a ‘client’.

CaptaNoctem · 25/05/2022 16:54

Same GP was monitoring DDs weight, she was never interested in food and by 4 was seriously underweight. All the other mums I knew with similar issues were saying their doctors were saying don't pander to them if they are fussy, they will eat when they are hungry. My doctor said, "Just give her what she wants, she will be in hospital in the next couple of weeks if she loses anymore so if she will eat chocolate, cake, chips just give it to her and we can worry about her teeth when she's a healthy weight." Again I thought it was sensible.

I had the same from DDs paediatrician when I mentioned that she would only eat fruity yoghurts and chocolate pudding. Being a good MC NCT mum I was horrified by this. He said that it was much more important that she ate, rather than what she ate and she'd almost certainly grow out of it.

She did.

Lellochip · 25/05/2022 16:54

My contribution isn’t a GP but an orthopaedic surgeon who told me that they would operate on my knees ‘next week’ and I’d be using crutches for a while. It took the nurse to make him listen to that fact that I’d got 2 broken arms in slings for him to look up beyond my knees and admit that crutches wouldn’t be possible.

My mum's ortho seemed super pleased with himself about how well the surgery on her broken arm had gone, and it would recover almost completely. I had to point out that that was all well and good, but she was completely delirous and starving herself to death. Guess that wasn't his problem though, his bit was great.

BattenbergdowntheHatches · 25/05/2022 16:57

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ThisMammaCat · 25/05/2022 16:59

Not said by a GP, but a pharmacist, when I asked about the side effects of the antihistamine tablets he was recommending: "No side effects at all!"

Massive list of side effects on the enclosed leaflet. Even nightmares were listed! I had to laugh, didn't take the tablets.

Had mostly good encounters with GPs, tho when DP went with palpitations he was told "you are just getting old" and he's used that as an excuse not to go to the GP since, even though I've told him of three who are excellent. 🙄

Didjesuspoop · 25/05/2022 17:01

Can I do the opposite and say how amazing my GP is?! Never had a dr quite like her before. She leaves no stone unturned and always has all the time in the world for you. She clearly works over her hours as she often rings me back at 8/9pm. Sorry you’ve had a rubbish experience OP. There are some wonderful dr’s out there I promise! 💗

TurquoiseDreamCatcher · 25/05/2022 17:02

Over the top of my head to DH, would your wife like the medicine that I'm prescribing?

DH, "Ask my wife, she is your patient!"

Original poster

Butmummysnotanearlybird · 25/05/2022 17:16

Sorry but absolutely no sympathy here for GPs and not sorry I started this thread. As a teacher the amount of teacher bashing posts in here are worse. Get over yourselves.

OP posts:

TullyApplebottom · 25/05/2022 17:18

those GPS complaining should try being a lawyer for a bit. Then you’ll know what it’s like to be hated!

WishIwasElsa · 25/05/2022 17:21

Nurse when I tried to get help for the issues I have with periods. Well you've been having babies and you sure you haven't just forgotten what it's like 😕

Original poster

Butmummysnotanearlybird · 25/05/2022 17:24

Maybe I should have clarified I have had wonderful GPS and currently do. And this should have had light hearted in the title but glad I've rocked the boat and made some flat bums shuffle awkwardly all day and maybe just maybe if some of them learn they're not unnoticed they might change.

OP posts:

winepleasenotwhine · 25/05/2022 17:34

Butmummysnotanearlybird · 25/05/2022 08:16

My contribution was "Oh well baby needs to know what sick tastes like" when they actually had CMPA and reflux. I'm sure there's worse out there 🙃

My baby didn't have cmpa (and multiple other sever allergies).... I was 'just an anxious mother'. She never mentioned her error just said he had allergies later (after the first episode of anaphylaxis)

ancientgran · 25/05/2022 17:42

CaptaNoctem · 25/05/2022 16:54

Same GP was monitoring DDs weight, she was never interested in food and by 4 was seriously underweight. All the other mums I knew with similar issues were saying their doctors were saying don't pander to them if they are fussy, they will eat when they are hungry. My doctor said, "Just give her what she wants, she will be in hospital in the next couple of weeks if she loses anymore so if she will eat chocolate, cake, chips just give it to her and we can worry about her teeth when she's a healthy weight." Again I thought it was sensible.

I had the same from DDs paediatrician when I mentioned that she would only eat fruity yoghurts and chocolate pudding. Being a good MC NCT mum I was horrified by this. He said that it was much more important that she ate, rather than what she ate and she'd almost certainly grow out of it.

She did.

Yes mine grew out of it too. It did seem unusual advice but it worked.

Daftasabroom · 25/05/2022 17:47

My grandmother was a nurse when the NHS was setup almost overnight. She said the attitude changed from appreciation to deprecation and "you work for me now" entitlement overnight. It's not new but getting worse.

TooManyPJs · 25/05/2022 17:53

Ladywiddio · 25/05/2022 15:19

This entire thread needs deleting.I notice the OP hasn’t returned,clearly just wanted a Doctor bashing thread.

No wonder we are losing so many to practice abroad,my niece and husband both GP’s have gone to Australia for good,after all the money spent on their training,I don’t blame them,the general public here are so rude and entitled now.

I was a Nurse,would somebody like to start a thread on how what awful things we say!

Why are you saying awful things to patients? It's completely unacceptable and unprofessional. If you do say awful things you should expect to be picked up and challenged on it. You are working with sick and vulnerable people. I work with vulnerable people and if said even half the things that doctors had said to me in the past to my clients I'd have been sacked a long time ago.

Tbf I find nurses are generally a lot more respectful and helpful than doctors.

Imnotahippo · 25/05/2022 17:58

I rushed my baby into the doctors when I just knew something wasn’t right
The doctor barely glanced at her and I was told she had a heavy cold-I told her I knew it wasn’t and to please check her over-she refused and told me I was being ‘awkward’-rushed into hospital less than an hour later with meningitis
we nearly lost her-went back a few months later for something else and was told that I was lucky she hadn’t kicked us off her books-we would have had to find another doctor with ‘abusive’ on my records-we would have been lucky to get another doctor with that on my record

Another doctor patted me on the hand and told me that ‘pnd isn’t a thing dear,go home,have a cup of tea and enjoy your baby’
i was very very ill and it took a long one to get back to anything like normal-I don’t remember anything of my sons first 18 months
i was a danger to both my baby and myself
had another baby-had another round of pnd,refused to see any doctor and got worse
finally went back to see another doctor and got the help I so badly needed

all 3 doctors where women and mothers themselves-if it hadn’t been for the brilliant doctor,I wouldn’t be here

TooManyPJs · 25/05/2022 18:07

Daftasabroom · 25/05/2022 17:47

My grandmother was a nurse when the NHS was setup almost overnight. She said the attitude changed from appreciation to deprecation and "you work for me now" entitlement overnight. It's not new but getting worse.

Well that's awful and if true it shouldn't happen. It's not something I've seen I have to say when in medical settings or from talking to other sufferers of chronic illness. I am sure that some people do the whole "I pay your wages" thing but would be surprised if it's the norm.

Are you sure it's not a sea change from deference to patients starting to not accept everything they are told and/or advocating for themselves. I've found from experience that some medical professionals are not too keen on patients who have a voice and an opinion about their own healthcare, especially if they are old school and are used to deference to medical professionals, doctors in particular.