Frustrated with GP's - bit long getting it off my chest!

Tubby

Had a really nasty infection from an implant put in at the end of June. Doctor rushed the insertion so I was unhappy/ in pain from Day 1. Was just about to go back to complain when the infection kicked in. The first GP I saw about the infection did give me antibiotics but seemed scared of me because I was complicated. Had to immediately come off methotrexate and Sulphasalazine (after phoning Rheumy Nurses because GP wasn't sure!!) and had instructionsbgo and see original incompetent GP. This GP threatened me with intravenous antibiotics but was too scared to deal with the infected arm. In fairness to her, she got me an emergency appointment with a specialist so had it removed and dealt with yesterday but with comments from the specialist going along the lines of "I haven't seen one as inflamed as this in a long while, in fact I don't see many problems with this implant" and "we could put this in the journals it is so rare and inflamed". He did a great job but asked me to get the wound checked and redressed by my GP practice tomorrow. Tomorrow is today which is a Saturday - a massive problem if you are ill apparently. I phoned my GP Practice twice yesterday trying to get someone to look at the wound but got told twice nothing we can do you will have to call 111 tomorrow morning. For some reason, I was really upset that no one cared whether I got worse. I was due to be at work today, it is scorching hot, I am off my normal meds, it was one of their GP's that caused the problem in the first place and no one (despite the GP's having appointments on a Saturday morning) was prepared to just check I was OK. They didn't give a.....! I could have sat and cried, pathetic I know, but I had a full day of stressful meetings ahead of me and any 'spare' time was to be spent in our temporary office which is a very, very hot portacabin.
I couldn't face 111, I don't trust it. I was contemplating going to the nearest A & E. I am not an accident or emergency but I was an urgent and didn't know where else to turn. However, I did another search on the t'internet for urgent care locally and the NHS redirected me to my own surgery! Not to be deterred, I searched further and discovered 3 local hospitals with Walk in Services. As I was driving past one this morning on my way to my first work appointment, I called in. HOW REFRESHING. I was seen immediately, I was no problem, they redressed my wound with a dressing I could shower with and told me to come back if I had any problems - they are open 24 hours. It took 10 mins, at most, for my treatment. There are 3 of these types of centres in my local area of which the FURTHEST was 10 miles away. WHY didn't my GP Practice tell me about them??? Any time soon, the Government will tell us these minor injuries units are not viable and a waste of money and then give the GP's more money to do less. I could scream with frustration but want to shout from the roof tops how good our local cottage hospitals are - we must fight to keep them!

numptynora

PATHETIC??.....Not at all Tubby, I think we all know how it feels to be (in effect) ignored. I'm so glad you managed to find some where that could help AND was willing to do so. I do wish that some of these so called professionals could have a taste of what it's like to be on the receiving end of their dismissive attitude, It just is not good enough.

I remember when I was waiting for my hip to be done, I asked my GP if perhaps he could hurry it along, the answer to that was really glib, along the lines of pigs might fly and I'd have a better chance of becoming Queen, he knew how much pain I was in and had been on crutches for four months. Before I left his surgery I told him exactly what I thought of his professional attitude. Needless to say he has been exceptionally nice to me since even though I refuse to see him but go to another one in the same practice.

Do what you have to do, but I for one wouldn't let it rest there

Honestly, I'm not always belligerent but I don't like being dismissed out of hand.

maria09

Tubby poor you what a dreadful experience you have had
I really do think you need to put in a complaint about the treatment you received by your GP practice
You said your GP offered IV antibiotics that would have had to be done at the hospital unless they were going to just give you one dose as they don't like leaving a cannula in when you are out and about in the community as they saint seems they just wanted to get you out of the surgery how awful for you
If you rang the helpline number on here I'm sure they will be able to offer you advice

numptynora wrote:

I remember when I was waiting for my hip to be done, I asked my GP if perhaps he could hurry it along, the answer to that was really glib, along the lines of pigs might fly and I'd have a better chance of becoming Queen, he knew how much pain I was in and had been on crutches for four months.
He was right about hurrying it along as its not up to GP but the hospital who decides when you get treated as well I know even working on my consultants ward and him knowing how painful my foot was he could not bump me up the waiting list so ended up off sick whilst waiting to get my op done! It's all about the politics and their waiting list targets

Maria

stickywicket

That must have been a scary experience, Tubby. If you think the implant was put in badly owing to time constraints, maybe you should complain about it though my - very uneducated - guess would be that the infection would have set in earlier if that were the cause. What do I know though? :roll:

GPs are, indeed, scared of us complicated ones as well they might be. They are General Practitioners, not specialists. They have no remit to stop, or even alter, our DMARDS and would probably be b*ll*ck*d if they tried. (My own once was for prescribing steroids when I was unable to get out of bed.)

I've never used the 111 service but I do know of the frustration and worry of trying to find a Minor Injuries/emergency/A&E place that is open on a Sunday. I now keep a leaflet with the details of all such local help beside my phone – which will probably ensure I never need it

chookgate

My GP never seems interested in anything, it's difficult enough to get an appointment, you pluck up the courage to go see them, and they just give you cream or anti biotics and say come back in two to six weeks (so you have to go through the whole rigmarole again). Not Arthur related but a lady I worked with died of bowel cancer last year, and I had a little bleeding, so eventually I plucked up the courage to go to the docs, and he didn't even look, just gave me pile cream and said come back if it doesn't clear up. I haven't been back, not plucked up the courage again yet! It's the same for everything I or my husband have ever gone to the docs for, it seems you have to go repeatedly for the same complaint just for them to believe you might have something wrong before you even get an examination!

Rant over. I'm impressed with your local walk in centre Tubby, we have one next to the local hospital, but it's about a 2-3 hour wait to be seen (probably because the GPs are so useless!)

dreamdaisy

I think the main thing is that you are now sorted and hopefully everything is healing as it should. I agree that it shouldn't have involved such a caper but it's done and dusted now. The trouble with us and our meds is that we require specialist knowledge and by definition that will be lacking amongst GPs and A&E staff. At least we have the NHS, surely the alternative is too awful to consider. Imagine being us in the USA: how would we pay for all the care and meds we need? DD

Tubby

Thanks for all of your experiences and support - it a sad sort of way, I am pleased I am not the only one.

I think I am going to put in a complaint to the surgery if only to stop the receptionist not fobbing me or any one else off in the future about where to get urgent care. I doubt any complaint about the GP's would get anywhere, they tend to close ranks and potentially it could result in worse treatment in the future. I'll save the complaints for them for when I am really angry with them!

Hopefully, the antibiotics and well dressed wounds will work.....seems to be going in the right direction today

MrOptimist

As a general point I feel there is a danger in tarring all GPs with the same brush. Many do a 'good' job and genuinely care about doing the best for each and every one of their patients.
It was stated that GPs aren't specialists. Well actually their specialism is 'general medicine'. Additionally, many GPs actually work in hospitals as Consultants. My son for example is both a GP and hospital dermatologist. I rest my case

Tubby

Mr Optimist, I agree that not all are the same but I generally find modern GP's Jacks of all Trades and not really interested in even finding the masters of one (never-mind be one themselves) because it costs too much.... It is true that GP's do get some bad press, perhaps we should widen the criticism to the NHS reforms and the subsequent response from some GP's.
I have known many of my GP's for sometime and had VERY good, caring service for many years BUT as the NHS reforms kick in harder and harder, I find they are increasingly only interested in business, taking the cheapest route whatever the consequences and bidding to deliver services that they don't have the experience for (or desire to do) but want the money for.
I have a good friend who is a very recently retired GP (not from my practice). She is only in her early 50's but is massively frustrated by the system and by her 'Partners' who seem to work in the 'old mill owner' style of business. You do not even want to hear my next door neighbour's (very recently retired paramedic) view of the NHS reforms.
I am pleased your son is keeping a specialism (a GP who understands Psoriasis is great in my opinion!) and I am sure he is interested in his patients as I am sure some of my GP's still are but they still didn't want anything to do with me from 18.00 on Friday until 8.30 on Monday leaving me with the advice to call 111 if I wanted any help. A little frustrating and frightening..... Sadly DD we are lot closer to the American system then perhaps any of us realise

dreamdaisy

GPs are just that: they generalise. I dread the thought of any of my 17 GPs in the practice to which I belong having any form of specialism, what would be the point? If you want to specialise then do so, don't be a GP. I rarely get to see the same one twice and have now almost perfected my schtick in telling the one I see about what is going on.

We take the NHS so much for granted - I've had one taste of private medicine when my husband paid for me to have a closed synovectomy: four grand down the drain and some dreadful nursing to boot. (Mind you this was in the days before we knew what was wrong and that it couldn't be fixed. )

I for one don't think we're anywhere near the American system (or lack of) and I am grateful for that. I must be costing my lot at least fifteen grand per year (probably more) and I know for sure that currently I cannot afford that. I remember listening in amazement to the groans and grumbles of the 'flu jab patients on a Saturday morning (the majority of whom were retired). If they were so bothered about having their 'free time' disrupted in such a way they could always go to B**ts or *sd* and pay for their jab at thair convenience.

Doctors have at least one failing: humanity. They are not perfect, they make mistakes and things go wrong. Unluckily for us, as their patients, we bear the brunt when that happens. I made mistakes in my professional life and confessed; if I didn't know the answer to a question I would say so and then go away and find out. As I said the main thing is that now you are sorted and hopefully on the mend. The human body stays remarkably stubborn when it comes to medical advances, bones were not designed to accommodate joint replacements, joints were not meant to be 'vacuumed' when having fluid withdrawn and then 'pressure-washed' with a steroid injection and implants are a whole different ball game. The body ain't too keen on some meds either. Crikey, life is complicated at times.

I hope that if you decide to complain it is acknowledged and acted upon - good luck. DD

woodbon

Hi,
What a horrible way to spend a hot summer weekend!

I don't know the procedure for complaining about the treatment you've had, but if you feel you can go through with it, you should. The only way to change things is for people who suffer poor standard treatment to make a complaint and follow it through. Does your GP have a practice manager? If so i think thats the first person to raise the matter with.

Too many of us just can't face the fuss and bother and we are frightened of the power doctors have over us. I include myself in the 'should have done something' catagory. It may be that you can sort it out without too much trouble. But it sounds as if you really have a case to settle, but I'm no expert!!! Certainly talking to someone from the practice might settle things and give you a chance to make your feelings known.

I regret not complaining years ago, when a serious condition needing urgent surgery was missed and I was sent home. The next day I was rushed to the hospital with blue lights ect, had surgery that night and spent 4 weeks in hospital. I didn't feel well enough to complain and just wanted to forget it and move on at the time, but now I feel I should have done something. I'm fine now, although still on meds for that condition.

Anyway, I'm glad you'r sorted out now and wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
Love Sue

MrOptimist

Dream Daisy, many GP's have started their medical lives as hospital consultants. Any General Practice that is able to call on such expertise is extremely fortunate.

dreamdaisy

Crikey, have they really? Well, that's food for thought. I think it's a wonderful system, I've been a frequent flyer since childhood and in all that time only had one GP who wasn't much cop. DD

maria09

Hi
I'm not sure about them becoming first a consultant then heading to GP practice a Registrar maybe but not a consultant
Well not any consultants I've ever known have Plus they are not old enough the new ones we have at my practice are certainly young and its not because I'm ancient I'm 50!
Think I will ask them on my next visit
Maria

MrOptimist

Maria09, what I actually said was that some GPs have actually worked as consultants before becoming a GP. No, not registrars...consultants . Some medics head straight for General Practice however and do not enter the world of hospital medicine.

Catie

My daughter is dating a chap who's a GP and he used to work as a hospital anaesthetist as a consultant. He's not terribly old either at 38 . I think a lot of hospital doctors get really tired of the long hours.

maria09

Obviously Mr Optimist you will stick up for GPs which is fine but remember not everyone has a caring GP and some GPs so called bedside manner is not up to scratch
I have a very good GP practice all the doctors are caring and I must say very good but there are those out there that don't really care and can't wait to get the patient out as quick as possible those are the ones we are talking about here
I do know a little of how the NHS works was in it for 30 years and have felt for many years now that we will lose the NHS and head down the private route maybe not in my life time but maybe my childrens!
At the end of the day poor Tubby has had a dreadful experience and it should not have happened
How are you doing? Has the infection gone?
Best wishes
Maria

dreamdaisy

Did you note it went from 'many' to some'? I wonder if we're confusing specialism with specialist. GPs may have a special interest in a particular branch of medicine but sometimes they are very slow to pass us on to those who we need. In the end it was the local footie physios who referred me to the hospital!

Tubby, how are things going now? Has the infection begun to clear? I hope so and that you are not flagging too much in this hot weather. DD