Is it all for the cameras?

So far in our current surgery we have been very fortunate despite changes in staff over the last forty years.
Our horror story was about fifty years ago when DD (8 months) had a childhood infectious illness, high temperature etc. and very poorly, Doctor paid home visit, slightly worse for wear. Tripped through the front door. Keep saying don’t let her break the thermometer and then broke it himself when he was reading it. Asked me how many children I had (two) and said if I had more I wouldn’t worry so much about them.

I'm very sorry that you had that experience .
We all want reassurance when we consult someone-not be dismissed as if we are nothing.
Don't expect politeness and courtesy -it's a bonus .
I have to admit that I've been fortunate with my contact with Doctors .
One of them was very rude about my father's treatment and I asked not to consult her again
She has left the surgery.

A particular Doctor from my surgery has since retired.
I'm so glad.
I found him vile.
I caught a virus about six years ago .
As I'm asthmatic it quickly became more serious and I developed a secondary bacterial infection.
When he gave me the second course of antibiotics he said ,
I'm sending you to the hospital for a blood test and chest X Ray.
Who knows what the hell is wrong with you.
It could be your heart or cancer or both.
I told no one.
I went to the hospital alone.
I shook and I was on the verge of tears.
It turned out to be neither.

I had cyclical vomiting syndrome -not diagnosed by him.
I've had one attack since and only met one lady with the same two years ago. She was tremendously pleased to meet me as no one else seemed to have heard of it .
Knowing what causes it and what to do is a tremendous relief to me.

What I’d take from the experience is a next day appointment, which is fantastic. Competent over cheery for me, any day.

Hope all is resolved soon.

Oh how I miss the original doctors who ran our surgery. They were a husband and wife team and both were extremely friendly and professional. They used to make home visits and would often pop in to see elderly patients in our village when they were passing. They knew all their patients and remembered their ailments. Sadly they retired and the practice is now part of a larger one covering three villages. You now never get to see the same doctor twice and most times they are locums . Often they give conflicting advice. Oh for the old days Sigh

I sent a message earlir this week about a bad knee and wanting a cortisone injection. There is onely one doctor who does them. I got a reply they needed a x-ray and to go to A&E. I messaged back to say I was agorophobic and could not hack it at A&E and could they refer me direct for an appointment. A doctor rang me yesterday and told me of a walk in center at the hospital where you can get an x ray. However Ive now been booked in for friday am with the doctor who does the injections saying he may not need an x ray. Lets hope he can go ahead and do the injection. I know its not a permanent cure but Ive always had a good reaction to cortisone.

There is only one doctor in my GP ractice I dont like. She is Polish and comes across as very abrupt. It may be simply her manner but I try to avoid seeing her. It is a large multi ethnic practice in keeping with the area.

Doctors, believe or not, have off days and are a mix of the very dedicated and the socially ambitious.
Some are rude, even offensive in the past, but the vast majority are decent and want to do a good job.

I must have been lucky, but have only ever had really nice dentists.

I swopped my doctor's practice because the receptionists were so rude. At my new practice, the lead seems to insist on good manners all around. I did go to one doctor who told me her life story and then the next one was very quick. I have now found a gentle lady doctor who is very serene and thorough. Fingers crossed it lasts.

Many years ago, I had an interesting time, when I used to go to be a "patient" for people nearing the end of their course. I have been in plays and opera, and the idea was, that the lecturer would tell me the "illness and symptoms" that I needed to go with, but there would also be added things. So for example I might be told to be hard of hearing and request many repetitions, or almost whisper, or on one occasion, I had to walk into the room with a slight limp, and say I was having problems with my shoulders etc. So the students were there to recognise the whole patient,not just look for the specific one symptom etc. These were also filmed so that they could all look and see how they had interacted and what they might have missed etc.

I was told by both the lecturer and some of the students, that it had been worthwhile for them, and had helped them tobe more aware and observant. Their courses were so full and busy that there was little attention put into their actual interactions. I moved away, but had enjoyed being a volunteer for this and you could actually also see the confidence building when they got things right too. No idea if such a scheme still exists today, but thought it was a good scheme. I dislike it when I hear in a hospital " the appendix in bed 5". I understand it is a shortcut, but it does turn you into a symptom and doesnt remind anyone that first of all you are a person.

My experience with dentists has always been excellent!
Just doctors😬😬😬😬

Some horrid stories here. I send my sympathy to Primrose and GG13 for such unpleasant experiences.

I'm amazed so many have managed to see doctors at all. I haven't physically seen one for about 10 years. You send a message online and then the receptionist phones you with a message from the doctor. They either prescribe some medication or tell you to go to A&E. You do not get examined or have a chat with the doctor.

The only exception was over Christmas (yes I had a horrid Christmas experience too). I had fallen over and hurt my knee, unable to walk or leave the house. I actually managed to get a home visit on 31 Dec but the doctor was so rude and unhelpful I was left feeling tearful. He clearly didn't want to be there, no time for housebound old women! I should have set up a hidden camera and recorded it.

One thing I often think I should do is to get out my phone and ask the medical person if they mind me recording our conversation because I won't remember everything they say and will need to listen again at home. Absolutely true! But it might make the unpleasant ones behave themselves.

Primrose - I had severe bleeding after a tooth extraction - lasted for a couple of hours. Constant use of ice etc, it finally stopped. I hate dental procedures.

Primrose53

Oldnproud

Down to the luck of the draw, I suppose.

I have found that the vast majority of GPs at my local practice are extremely pleasant, and thorough too.

Dentists are another matter though!

How I agree about dentists! I saw a very young, nervous Pakistani dentist who had very bad breath and was breathing so heavily his mask was inflating. It was horrible. Pretty sure he had just qualified. I told him I was very nervous especially after a 25 minute wait and asked him to numb my mouth before the injections which he did.

He struggled and struggled to get the tooth out which was very uncomfortable. The nurse tried to reassure me and asked him whether she should call in the female dentist. He said he would have another go and then call her. I then ended up with two dentists and 3 nurses all around me and she got it out but it broke twice. She then said I needed stitches in it but he asked her to do it. I also got antibiotics and strong painkillers.

It was a horrible experience and I think he messed up but what can I do? I have to go back in 10 days to see if it has healed. I find this odd because my husband had two teeth out last month at same practice with another dentist and did not have to go back or take antibiotics. I am dosed up with painkillers today as it was very painful when I woke up.

At our local dental practice they seem to take a newly qualified dentist for a year then they move on and somebody else arrives, perhaps it is part of their training. My DH wanted a new denture and the young lady who saw him really messed up and the final denture just wasn’t right. He went back to complain and they said the young lady was no longer at the practice and they offered him a refund or ‘somebody else would try’. The words didn’t fill him with confidence so he took the refund and went to a private practice with a very experienced dentist who took much more time and trouble, of course it was more expensive because at the time he was an NHS patient at our local practice.

I saw an extremely nice friendly GP yesterday. I've always found doctors to be pleasant. They seem chattier these days.

On the whole have found GPs pleasant and helpful, although an occasional one has been unhelpful, gruff and one was just plain rude when I took my baby to see him, but the next time was more concerned and referred us to a Consultant.

I had a GP appointment Christmas week, he didn’t make eye contact, prescribed drugs at a dose and length of time that I knew would lead to me being hospitalised.

I asked him to please read my notes, regarding this and was told in no uncertain terms I do not need to read your notes, I am a doctor He then went on to say if I felt ill to take myself to A & E.

I made an immediate complaint to the Practice Manager, who was kind and listened, waiting to hear of the outcome.

After a chat with the local pharmacist I ignored his advice, cracked open my rescue pack and struggled through Christmas, changing many plans.

Roll on the first Monday after the Christmas close down, got an appointment with the most kind, empathetic GP, who had read my notes beforehand and listened to me.

I told him of my self prescribing he said I had done the right thing and was horrified by his colleagues behaviour.

I like to think that there are far more good GP’s than bad.

My dentist has been a saint over the last 20+ years, I am a nervous wreck, with a phobia of everything dental. He has been understanding, kind and gentle.

That was a very unpleasant experience Primrose. You obviously presented a real challenge to a newly qualified dentist . I had the opposite experience. Having made a routine thirty minute appointment for an extraction, it was all over in about five. When I expressed surprise the dentist said “ Well I am very experienced you know”. Thank goodness!

I've only ever encountered one unpleasant doctor in my 70+ years and that was a GP in the surgery we attended when we first came to the NE. Appointments with him were avoided by many locals if they possibly could be..

Never had a problem with dentists, either.

I think you've been unlucky Sago

Oldnproud

Down to the luck of the draw, I suppose.

I have found that the vast majority of GPs at my local practice are extremely pleasant, and thorough too.

Dentists are another matter though!

How I agree about dentists! I saw a very young, nervous Pakistani dentist who had very bad breath and was breathing so heavily his mask was inflating. It was horrible. Pretty sure he had just qualified. I told him I was very nervous especially after a 25 minute wait and asked him to numb my mouth before the injections which he did.

He struggled and struggled to get the tooth out which was very uncomfortable. The nurse tried to reassure me and asked him whether she should call in the female dentist. He said he would have another go and then call her. I then ended up with two dentists and 3 nurses all around me and she got it out but it broke twice. She then said I needed stitches in it but he asked her to do it. I also got antibiotics and strong painkillers.

It was a horrible experience and I think he messed up but what can I do? I have to go back in 10 days to see if it has healed. I find this odd because my husband had two teeth out last month at same practice with another dentist and did not have to go back or take antibiotics. I am dosed up with painkillers today as it was very painful when I woke up.

I have never once encountered an unfriendly doctor.

About 50 years ago the senior doctor in a practice of two was losing his memory and concentration. He asked a question then silence followed for ages before a reply or the next question. It was painful and embarrassing. He should have retired.

I’m NOT sure which I prefer!!

sago. We watch GPs Behind Closed Doors. I said to DH, I want a doctor like that. He said 'its for the cameras.'. Some even hug and kiss patients.

Call the Midwife makes me laugh. Our daughter was born in 1970. Almost every midwife and nurse I encountered was horrible. As for the nuns, I was taught by them at school. No kindness there.

The GPs at my surgery vary, but none of them are what I would think of as hostile. One is very brisk and business like but he’s pleasant. Another is at the other end of the scale is very empathetic and “reaches out” to you. I’m sure which I prefer!

No, I don’t think it is for the cameras. The Gp’s at our group practice are lovely. It is a teaching practice and there’s often medical students in too and patients are given the option to refuse.

All our Gp’s mostly communicate extremely well and speak in layman’s terms if a patient doesn’t comprehend the medical definition of a condition/result/treatment. I make a point of asking anyone to explain, after all it is my body and ultimately my responsibility to create for it.

OP, if you felt that GP was particularly you could have either said so to their face or taken the matter up with the practice manager.

I would rather have cross doctors that knew their stuff than the lovely cheery charming one who messed my life up with 2 misdiagnoses