I have the highest respect for the medical profession.
But twice in the past year I've been to my local surgery - seeing a different doctor on each occasion - and both times the GP has been snappy and prickly, and I've left feeling as though I wasn't welcome, and that I'd had the nerve to interrupt their busy day.
Is it just me? Whatever happened to a bit of gentle understanding and kindness towards someone who's feeling anxious about their health? Is 'bedside manner' no longer part of the service?
Last edited by TwoOneFour; 23rd Aug 2012 at 18:28.
A TD but Mrs OFSO tells me this happens all the time, so much so she has lost count of how many doctors her mum has seen at the practice in Islington over the past year, as "our doctors only work two half days a week" or "she's gone back to Australia" or "he's just arrived from South Africa" or "xxxx only speaks Poiish" (actually this was one of the more conscientious ones) or "they've moved on to Nigeria" or the receptionist says "you can't see the doctor for three weeks and by that time they will have gone into private practice".
A bit different from Spain where the public health system ONLY employs Spanish citizens and the private system seems to employ only Germans !
A TD but Mrs OFSO tells me this happens all the time, so much so she has lost count of how many doctors her mum has seen at the practice in Islington over the past year, as "our doctors only work two half days a week" or "she's gone back to Australia" or "he's just arrived from South Africa" or "xxxx only speaks Poiish" (actually this was one of the more conscientious ones) or "they've moved on to Nigeria" or the receptionist says "you can't see the doctor for three weeks and by that time they will have gone into private practice".
A bit different from Spain where the public health system ONLY employs Spanish citizens and the private system seems to employ only Germans !
Or a bit different to here where I just walk up to his house, 3 minutes away, where he holds "open" surgeries every morning and evening when I don't need an appointment or make a phone call and get seen outside these open hours, like in the afternoon, within 2 hours.
Likewise here. I asked for a check-up. We were called in five minutes before the time of the appointment. My Spanish is poor, Mrs SJ's is better (hence her presence), our doctor had no English. She was quiet, pleasant, professional and went to a lot of trouble to ensure that we understood everything. She then read out the standard message in this part of Spain to over sixties, and stated that I should walk at least 30 minutes a day (I cycle at least two hours daily) with a twinkle as she said it. She engendered confidence and we would have no hesitation in consulting her again. I don't think we were just lucky. Our Spanish friends here said, yes, this is the way of it. But the Spanish are awful patients - she was probably pleased to see a couple of expats!
Last edited by Sunnyjohn; 23rd Aug 2012 at 22:41.
Reason: typo
One of the local doctors here in NZ is from Arkansas, but he speaks r e a l s l o w so that we can understand him. He told me that them folks in Arkansas who get killed in a car wreck are really difficult to identify - no teeth and they all have the same DNA. He wears them pointed boots as well. I quite enjoy going to the doctor.
Some time back, I called my NHS doctor's surgery and explained that I needed an urgent appointment. (They knew I'd been quite ill a few months before). This was at about 1052. They gave me an 1100 appointment: I got there 2 minutes late and had to wait another 3 minutes while the doctor finished with his previous patient. 13 years ago, I was struck suddenly with sciatica, and turned up without an appointment: I had to wait 15 minutes.
My usual doctor is very thorough and sometimes appears slow, but that's because before he prescribes anything new, he checks very carefully for adverse reactions with my other drugs.
For me, the NHS works very well: I can order repeat prescriptions and make appointments on line, and in an emergency, they will fit me in somehow.
The services at my local UK rural GP surgery are one of the main reasons I don't move to warmer climes. As long as I turn up before 1000 I am guaranteed to be seen, usually by my own GP. If I want an appointment then these are available in the afternoon and usually I can get one within a couple of days, sometimes the same day. My GP never rushes the appointments, he makes sure I understand everything before I leave. Friendly receptionists, superb nurses, on site pharmacy. Brilliant NHS service.
God forbid that here in the village I live in the UK I would have a GP by my bedside! The implication of that would be a visit to fill in my death certificate.
It is extremely difficult to get a visit from a GP but in fairness the service at the local clinic/surgery is great and I have no complaints about the professionalism of the long suffering doctors who have done a good job on those vey rare occasions that I have tested their deskside manner.
For various reasons too boring to recount I am quite a regular at my local surgery. Always impressed by the courtesy with which I am dealt with. The practice has had a big shakeup recently with most of the previous long-serving doctors retiring or moving away, but the new lot are excellent. Particularly impressed with the Scots girl who trained at Glasgow uni - anyone who graduated from the same place as Doctor Finlay has my full confidence!
The shocking thing here is that when I phone my GP, he answers the phone and I can discuss my problem with him. No harridan receptionist to get past, and no Kafkaesque "you will have to call back tomorrow if you want an appointment, as I am not allowed to give you an appointment for tomorrow, today" nonsense. It takes a bit getting used to after years of NHS chicanery and buck passing, but is much appreciated.
Don't believe all you read in the press. My son is a GP and does not earn £100,000. The public don't realise that GP's are not employed by the NHS but they are classed as self employed and contracted to the NHS , and the money paid to them also has to pay for staff wages, and the costs of running the surgery.
My favourite Indian Doctor is about to retire. It's a pity. He's a wonderful bloke, very kind & understanding. And he's a bl**dy good doctor. I will miss him being around. The younger ones are OK, but not quite up to the same standard.
Last edited by Storminnorm; 24th Aug 2012 at 10:48.
Just got a letter from a friend living on Jersey ("70,000 drunken millionaires clinging to a rock in the ocean located between England and France", that place).
She had a fall and wrote that she can only get an appointment to see a consultant in 6-8 weeks time. On the phone to her I asked why she didn't go privately.
"That is privately" she said.
Here in Spain the waiting time is as long as it takes me to drive to the consultant plus how many people are in his waiting room before me.
I was advised to see my Doc yesterday so rang for an appointment.No appointments left today ring at 0800 was the response. I started ringing at 0800 and got through at 0804. Sorry no appointments left today for my Doc. I can do it on line for about three days ahead but have to keep checking to see when his name comes up and what availability he has. I am afraid progress has ruined the system..
As for Spain a mate lives there who is quite poorly, the service he is getting from the Spanish NHS cannot be faulted...
