I'm really angry. Should I complain?

silly_moo

GlasweJen wrote: »

And I think it would have just resulted in the OP writing a complaint because it would have added more gravity to the situation in a sort of "oh god he needs stitches but the doctor wouldn't do them" sort of way.

Actually, I only wrote one letter of complaint in my life and it was to a taxi company. On this occasion I honestly thought I was mistreated by the doctor and hence my question whether I should complain. Since everyone seems to think I was in the wrong I will not be complaining. You don't know me so please don't make assumptions and make me sound like a moaning cow who just looks for occasions to complain.

And yes, I would have felt better if the doctor took a minute to say that I've come to the wrong place because they don't have the necessary equipment to deal with the cut. Or have a look at the dressing I put on to see if it's going to last until we get to A&E. I can understand a logical explanation but have always had trouble with the "no, because I say so" replies.

Soubrette

silly_moo wrote: »

And yes, I would have felt better if the doctor took a minute to say that I've come to the wrong place because they don't have the necessary equipment to deal with the cut. Or have a look at the dressing I put on to see if it's going to last until we get to A&E. I can understand a logical explanation but have always had trouble with the "no, because I say so" replies.

I don't think that's unreasonable but it seems to be a rare GPs surgery where this happens. At my surgery (a medium sized practice) there are usually no GPs around at lunchtime (they've gone home for lunch), you'll be lucky to find a nurse. There is a GP on call and sometimes there's a GP doing some paperwork who will not technically be supposed to be there, they are never happy to be interrupted by a drop in patient.

I always felt that alot of problems would be resolved and customer service to patients would be vastly improved if every GP took a turn being on the premises at lunchtimes AS WELL as having an on call GP. Unfortunately this suggestion never went down well

mrsgreenwood_2

my nearest a&e is 40 mins drive away, so i also would have hoped someone at my local docs less than 10 mins away would be able to help!

Person_one

mrsgreenwood wrote: »

my nearest a&e is 40 mins drive away, so i also would have hoped someone at my local docs less than 10 mins away would be able to help!

May I recommend this website as a good way of judging which service is most appropriate for your needs:

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/CheckSymptoms/Topics/GeneralHealth

GP surgeries can't start acting as mini A&Es just to save people travel time!

aridjis

There is a recorded message on my GP surgery answerphone saying they've got a minor injuries clinic, to save you having to wait up to 4 hours at A&E, so there must be some overlap.

Person_one

panagia wrote: »

There is a recorded message on my GP surgery answerphone saying they've got a minor injuries clinic, to save you having to wait up to 4 hours at A&E, so there must be some overlap.

Well, there is if they offer that service!

janninew

I do wonder what would happen at some Doctors if a patient turned up and was in a critical state? No help until an ambulance arrived, sent packing on a bus? I spend a lot of time at my Doctors with my Daughter and a few months ago a man came in in a very bad way, not sure of the details but I saw them rushing past with oxygen cylinders and my appointment was delayed by 40 minutes until the man was taken to hospital in an ambulance, my GP had stayed with him and taken care of him.

There are lots of 'procedures' in my workplace and some people stick rigidly to them, if I had a distressed parent (I work in a school) I always go above and beyond and don't tell them to go away and make an appointment (even though I'm entitled to). Sometimes a little bit of common sense and compassion is needed. Though I don't think you should complain and the first aid course is a great idea. I did one recently as I have a baby with medical problems and I feel so much more comfortable when we have any incidents.

Hope the foot is better today.

z.n

I had an inkling I was very lucky-but this just confirms it. My GP surgery from Doctor down to cleaner are friendly and approachable. I have no doubt whatsoever that the GP or practice nurse (whoever was first free) would have taken a look at the OP baby to assess the level of emergency,reassure the Mum and calm everything down. TBH if it was only paper stitches they probably would have dealt with it there and then. I am shocked at the suggestion that an ambulance be called for the situation, or that a gp could not deal with a minor injury. Clearly there are very different expectations in different parts of the country.

Person_one

janninew wrote: »

I do wonder what would happen at some Doctors if a patient turned up and was in a critical state? No help until an ambulance arrived, sent packing on a bus?

They do what they can until the ambulance gets there, of course. I've seen that happen a fair few times.

dizziblonde

panagia wrote: »

There is a recorded message on my GP surgery answerphone saying they've got a minor injuries clinic, to save you having to wait up to 4 hours at A&E, so there must be some overlap.

Ours does similar - but I think it's partially as we lost an NHS walk-in clinic that had been sited in the same building and so the two surgeries in there have tried to take up little bits of the shortfall as best they can.

Granted the walk-in clinic only ever told you to take two paracetamol for anything and everything... head removed from a zombie apocalypse = two paracetamol... but that's another story.