Rant rant rant My GP rant rant

[MrsMerryHenry]

I saw my GP today and told her that after 3 years of battling with one particular bout of eczema it keeps getting progressively worse, and that I thought it was time I saw a dermatologist (having never seen one in 34 years of eczema).

She then insisted that a dermatologist wouldn't be able to do anything that she can't do, and proceeded to talk about giving me steroids and how I should look after my skin (as I said I've had eczema all my life - I know how to blimmin' moisturise ).

After a few minutes she decided that maybe she ought to examine me and only then did she realise it was worse than she'd assumed. I still had to twist her arm before getting a referral, though.

Have I missed something here? Do GPs have x-ray vision all of a sudden so they don't need to go near their patients to make a diagnosis?

Sorry you had such a bad time, we aren't all like your GP though so dont lose heart. Hope the dermatologist can help,and just in case you wanted your question answered, no we dont have x-ray vision !!

She's actually the nicest out of all 4 GPs at my local practice!

Thanks for your encouragement, hurryup!

After being crashed into 2 weeks ago and 20 weeks preg. Was advised to go to the docs. When I got there my own doc said what do you want me to do? I said 'maybe take my blood pressure?'. He then went on about taking neurofen or ibuprofin for aches that may occur. I thought, hang on a min, does this guy remember I'm pregnant. So said 'what about the baby' and got 'how pregnant are you?' Do we have the same practice?

Good luck with the referral

Honestly, Salleroo, what are these people paid for? What a horrible attitude. I knew someone who was hit by a bus once. She went to her GP (a grumpy old b'stard who runs my practice - I'd rather die than spend a minute in his company) and he said 'Well you look okay to me'. Didn't even get off his fat ass.

Similarly when I went to see him about something and asked as an additional thing whether there was anything health-wise that I needed to be aware of before trying for a baby, he said 'Well, you just have sex and then you get pregnant'. Hmm...folic acid, anyone? No, apparently not.

As part of my degree in psychology we studied the importance of effective doctor-patient relationships (the trainee doctors at my uni also attended this course). In 34 years on this planet I'd say maybe 10% of the medics I've ever seen show any knowledge of how to relate effectively to their patients.

I was run over when I was 20 weeks pregnant. Couldn't walk so my company called an ambulance (I was run over outside the office). Sodding nurse at the Royal Free was REALLY shirty with me. Turned out I'd bust my ankle - nasty nurse said 'I don't know what you are complaining about, I did that once and was playing rugby by the afternoon'. Yeah, right Not at 20 weeks ruddy pregnant he wasn't!

I had a nasty labial graze with DS2 and after 2 days I was in agony every time I had a wee and was increasingly unable to wee at all. The emergency GP told me to put vaseline on the graze and drink as much as I could to water down my wee. I said I felt a bit ill and could I have an infection? He said no. He didn't examine me.

At 3.30am that night I was admitted to hospital with urine retention and an infection. I had to have a catheter fitted under gas and air (had no painkillers for the birth itself) and keep it in for 2 weeks as my bladder was massively overfull and had lost control.

So much for the psychic x-ray vision GP Glad you got your referral.

GP's are under tremendous pressure from the PCT's to reduce any referrals to the Hospitals, and budget cuts are imposed on those who don't comply!

Well the one that saw me ended up costing the NHS a whole lot more - 2 nights in hospital for me and DS, IV antibiotics, catheter, 2 follow up appointments with a uro-gynae specialist. I appreciate the pressure GPs are under but surely they have an obligation to examine properly refardless?

Just wanted to say there are some nice GPs out there. The one I had when I had my missed miscarriage was brilliant. He rang up at 8.30 one evening (from his home) and was on the phone to me for an hour explaining what would happen in hospital then next day and what the chances of a future succesful pregnancy was.
He was great - a very kind patient man. They are out there.

Yes my GP is fab too, very caring and up to date with information about BF etc. Most of them are good IME but then you need them to be. It makes a big impact when they get it wrong.

Goodness yes they are obliged to examine you AND make any necessary referrals.

I was just saying about the referrals as some GPs are feeling pressured by this (but that should NEVER stop them examining you!)

TPL - ! and ! again!

I think few people are unaware that GPs are under financial pressure, but that doesn't stop them from treating their patients with respect.

I did once have an amazing, fantastic and lovely GP when I lived in Battersea. She was utterly brilliant.

Interestingly whenever I've paid for healthcare (either through private insurance or alternative therapy out of my own pocket) the therapists/ medics have always been brilliant. Maybe GPs need to start seeing their patients as clients, instead?

MrsMerryHenry: Where I work they do! It's just the endless beaurocracy imposed on them form Government down means they have to waste far too much time proving that they have done what they have done, and jumping through endless hoops to meet the targets.

Hurrah! Can I join your surgery?

Honestly. Government bureaucracy? Who'd believe that? Next you'll be telling me politicians are corrupt.