Unhelpful GP

GlasweJen

My GP isn't bad they're just not particulary great.

I recently wrote to them explaining that I had a relapse of my iatrophobia and that I'm not mentally stable enough to attend after reading a medical report from SALUS (DWP PIP "medical") implying that I'm exaggerating and its triggered mental health problems that go back to adolescence and being falsely diagnosed as a proxy for munchausens.

I then (5 or 6 weeks later) requested my medical records through the local health board, they collate all records from GP and hospital so must have contacted my GP asking for the records.

The GP has put 2 and 2 together and came up with 9 as they then wrote to me stating:
- we do not have input with the DWP
- we can't refer without an appointment
- you need to make a face to face appointment before we can treat or assess you.

Well there was no way I was going there and they'd taken so long to deal with me anyway that I've already gone down the private route and I'm paying for counselling.

My counsellor emailed me this morning with the local mental health policy and lo and behold it's self referral! Why didn't the GP just write "oh sorry you're suffering, you can by pass the doctor and see a mental health nurse by calling this number, if you need any help call or email us"? I mean really, I've been a mess for weeks barely functioning at work and breaking down crying every night paying hundreds for counselling and support when all I needed was for someone to give me a phone number?

I really want to write and complain but I don't know how good other practices are in the area. I like one doctor in the surgery in particular but my named doctor I've met once and he wrote the letter.

Alice_Walker

You could ask to be transferred to your preferred doctor's list? Although that won't guarantee you won't come across this doc again, correspondence may be dealt with by whoever is allocated to it when it comes in.

What do you want to achieve from a complaint? At best you'll get an apology, and an acknowledgement that you could/ should have been given more information by post. At worst you'll alienate the surgery and feel pushed to move elsewhere. The NHS generally get very defensive regarding complaints, and whilst you have every right to do so, it may not get out the outcome you want.

Thinking further, could you write specifically to the GP you have a better relationship with? Would you be open to seeing them at home, or over the phone? Your phobia is understandable but you might need to push yourself outside your comfort zone in order to get the help you need.

teddysmum

With GP practices being under strain, due to high demand, low recruitment and some closing down, leaving or upsetting a GP (causing them to ask you to leave) could leave you with only being able to find an alternative which is a long way from your home.

faerielight

I empathise.. I have a terrible GP who dies not understand MH probs. I'm finally going to get the courage to change surgeries this week.. I'm going to go to a surgery with the largest amount of drs, so I can try and find a good one.. It is awful having a bad GP, and unfortunately, if they don't have to empathy/patience or understanding of MH, they never will.. Do you have another practice you could change to in your catchment area? I think it is so important to have a dr you have a raport with, especially as you have a phobia of a physical trip to the drs.. I recently discovered that there are online ratings for NHs practices. Unsurprisingly, my surgery had so many bad reviews, especially around MH!

GlasweJen

I'm not from here and don't really know anyone so can't get recommendations. The doctor rating thing doesn't seem live in Scotland but in the last health board inspection the practice scored quite low.

I've seen some pretty terrible doctors in my time so I have let a lot slide, like my cardiologist writing "prescribe 5mg tid" and my prescription ended up 2.5mg morning, 7.5mg afternoon and nothing for the 3rd dose. I just took it how I knew the cardiologist advised. The cardiologist is the only doctor I'm willing to see at the moment because he believes me.

teddysmum

faerielight wrote: »

I'm finally going to get the courage to change surgeries this week.. I'm going to go to a surgery with the largest amount of drs, so I can try and find a good one..

The problem is that many surgeries have too many patients to deal with already, so I would call the practice you fancy,without giving your name or reasons, just to see if they are taking on. Otherwise the new practice may have connections with your present one ,so let them know your intentions, with the result of being asked to leave (they don't have to give a reason),but with nowhere better to go.


My GPs have been excellent up to now, but have lost two nurses and two doctors and only been able to replace the nurses and one doctor, resulting in the excellent 7.30 to 9.30 walk-in surgeries being axed soon.

Confuseddot

Could you maybe speak to the practise manager about it ?

Ask people at work about their doctors?

You may have been able to self refer for counselling but it would have taken a lot longer for you to seen if you weren't paying for it. Round here its at least 6 month wait to see someone for initial appointment. Could you put yourself on the list for free counselling ?

I by mistake chose the wrongly recommended one, centre instead of practise, and been so lucky they have a few good doctors and the one i see is amazing.

GlasweJen

I've done the self referral and had a call back from a community mental health nurse who did some sort of test over the phone and said my anxiety levels are through the roof and that I should be looking at psychological intervention alongside drug therapy. They can't give me counselling as I am already having counselling but have offered me 6 CBT sessions and have posted out resources and sending someone to visit and talk me through them when they arrive - all that since Monday!

I could ask to speak to the practice manager but she and I had a run in in the past when my transplant consultant put me on a drug that she decided was too expensive so didn't put it on the system for the GP to add to my repeat.

Confuseddot

GlasweJen wrote: »

I've done the self referral and had a call back from a community mental health nurse who did some sort of test over the phone and said my anxiety levels are through the roof and that I should be looking at psychological intervention alongside drug therapy. They can't give me counselling as I am already having counselling but have offered me 6 CBT sessions and have posted out resources and sending someone to visit and talk me through them when they arrive - all that since Monday!

I could ask to speak to the practice manager but she and I had a run in in the past when my transplant consultant put me on a drug that she decided was too expensive so didn't put it on the system for the GP to add to my repeat.

Thats brillant, wish the system where my friend is in Edinburgh was as quick at assessing you and helping.

Well if you had past unsatisfactory dealings with the practise manager then maybe a no go. Is there anyone from your tennis who lives local enough you could ask about their doctors ?

NHS24 should be able to give you details on other doctors you could try if nothing else.
http://www.nhs24.com/findlocal/

GlasweJen

No, the tennis lot mostly live on the south side so way out of the catchment area. The girl I volunteer with for Guides said her surgery is good but I'm not in the catchment by 10 house lengths. The only other surgery here doesn't have a ramp so I wonder if I can join the guide leaders surgery if I apply to the health board? When I lived in Edinburgh (Bruntsfield) the NHS allocated me to a surgery that was out of area but the local surgeries were all full and not taking anyone on.

Confuseddot

GlasweJen wrote: »

No, the tennis lot mostly live on the south side so way out of the catchment area. The girl I volunteer with for Guides said her surgery is good but I'm not in the catchment by 10 house lengths. The only other surgery here doesn't have a ramp so I wonder if I can join the guide leaders surgery if I apply to the health board? When I lived in Edinburgh (Bruntsfield) the NHS allocated me to a surgery that was out of area but the local surgeries were all full and not taking anyone on.

Am sure if you explained you should be able to join the other surgery, its not like you on the opposite side of town and 10 house lengths is nothing. I think they don't want you too far out of catchment for house visits but as they are about as rare as hens teeth these days not sure it counts much.

Fingers crossed you get somewhere, last think you need is unhelpful doctors when you have so much other stuff going on.