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lindafw

Please may I have a RANT?

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My team leader is off work at the moment having treatment for ovarian cancer (full hysterectomy and now chemo). Her GP was treating her for IBS for months until she suddenly developed water on the lungs which needed emergency treatment in hospital. The cancer was found following MRI scans to work out what was causing her lungs to fill with liquid. I understand that it was caught just in time.

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All just makes me want to scream at times. It was my experience that really become a turning point for me in terms of my self-confidence and determination to be heard. Sometimes now when parents apologise to me about perhaps being a bit over zealous about their son and his education and tell them not to worry as it is a natural instinct and they are understandably their children's best advocate and that I would expect nothing less from caring parents. By that I don't mean we should go around shouting, but that when things do not seem right we should challenge and be heard.

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I just want to say that a long time ago someone pointed out to me that a GP is a jack of all trades ....he is really just there to treat minor illnesses and recognise the more severe ones and send you to the appropriate consultant...I stay away from the doctors as much as possible, and only take antibiotics when absolutely necessary..(as a child suffering with tonisilitis I had more than my share of pink medicine in the early sixties to compromise my resistance for good!!). I'm sure like everything else they have good and bad days and make the occasional bad judgement call...but they are only human and doing their best...it's just that their mistakes can have such awful consequences...personally I am grateful that when I make a mistake at work it's only money and thankful that there are people out there still willing to put themselves in the firing line! :D As to bedside manner, I'm not sure I want to go to the GP who starts treating me like a "customer" . I work for a firm of "beancounters" and personally the way that "accountancyspeak " has already impacted on the NHS makes me very unhappy...and I'd like to see us move away from it instead of towards it as seems to be the current policy. :(

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What I find is that as soon as the Gp knows I'm a nurse I think their hackles rise - its written on my notes and in any referral letter. In no way do I profess to know better and surely if I consult a Dr I want their opinion and guidance. Unfortunately in this day and age where we all fear that taking time off will give employers ammunition to get rid of us what we want is prompt treatment so that good health is resumed. I told my GP my bosses dont like us taking time off sick and we get the Spanish inquisition and he admitted its the same for their nurses. God help us if we dont care for our workers no one else will. Hope you all feel better.

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My GP is pretty dire tbh. I keep meaning to move but never get round to it. The receptionists are as unhelpful as it is possible to be. One in particular, should have been sacked years ago. The way she speaks to the elderly and infirm leaves people staring open mouthed in utter disbelief.

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What I find is that as soon as the Gp knows I'm a nurse I think their hackles rise .

 

 

My husband finds the opposite is true, he understands how much time is wasted by patients and so will only go to the doctor when necessary and I think they appreciate this, he never tries to self diagnose and trusts their judgement though

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Can I just say I dont try to self diagnose - not my fault if i have an inkling of what might help. Nor do I go with a shopping list - this is as it sounds only reads as follows-

patient attends with things written on a list

 

Ask Dr/ Practice Nurse (she has more time - yeah right)

1My blood pressure (reason why I'm here)

2 My big toe which has been sore for weeks

3 Rectal bleeding - probably piles but google says its the big C

4 Probably just ask about ED's mood swings

5 And sons acne

6 wonder if she knows anything about cats. Could ask about Tiddles wind problem.

This is not an exageration - the one thing which they normally drop into the conversation which is the most worrying for us is the last on the list OR the one as they reach the door. :wall::wall:

 

So it swings both ways- annoying Drs and patients and even nurses. :lol:

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Its not just GP's I was referred to a very emminent consultant after a week of waking up and not being able to focus (like my vision was not working for quite some time after I woke up) He dismissed me out of hand with NO bedside manner and told me and a very shocked husband it was just my age -mid30's :shock:

 

A month later when I was referred back again with the same, but worse, symptoms he diagnosed what I suspected all along and said it was now so aggressive I had to have invasive treatment. Any wonder we never really developed a relationship and I mistrusted everything he said.

 

My secret theory (not so secret now) is that these professionals we are mentioning do not like questioning women

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I think we have to face that some health professionals just dont have a bedside manner. Years back I was refered to a breast specialist whose manner was dreadful and frankly if I had cancer I couldnt of coped with him treating me. My recent referral to a specialist bearing in mind my mum died of the disease was an Arabic guy - who was lovely - and sent me for tests and went thro results same day. I had told my GP where I didnt want to go to go back to him and she was fine about it. I cant fault the female Gp who listened and referred me under the 2 week rule (ie any possible cancer- patient should be seen in under 2weeks). Thankfully I had good treatment that time.

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thank you for asking Egluntyne. My cough is still there...but as told by GP I am trying to suppress it. Day two on antibiotics and I feel less exhausted and am not running temperatures...much!

 

so all in all I think the anti b's are starting to help :)

 

I'm glad it seems to be turning a corner. it shows how there is a lot to be said for trusting someone's judgement. Unless someone is stupid, and in my experience those people are fairly obvious, their concerns should be taken more seriously

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Oh how I have read this thread with interest . . . . .

 

I am always made to feel I'm wasting my drs time so I tend not to go unless I absolutely need to. DS fell on his wrist last week and it was so badly swollen and bruised that he was sure it was broken. He had an x ray and afterwards the rude dr took him straight to the plaster room. DS looked horrified that he had broken his wrist at the start of the holidays. When he sat down the dr said 'No broken, bandage' that was it! Not impressed.

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My dad broke his arm when he was away in Italy, The Doctors did a good job pinning it together.

But when he came back home and it was time to have the pins removed.

There wasn't a surgeon in this country that could remove the pins as it had be done using new technology.

They had to fly the surgeon over here which must have cost a fare bit.

I guess budget cuts don't help and to be honest i would be happy to pay a little more out of my wages to

secure a better health service.

 

I'm not that good at telling the whole story - My new Doctor seems to know when i've missed something

out and will jog my memory.

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Glad to hear it's all settling now Linda :)

 

I must admit that I suppress coughs as well after being advised to years ago, I find if I do cough it just makes me want to cough more. (I only get 'dry' coughs, not productive ones) I inhale steam as that helps....usually off a steaming mug of cinnamon and ginger tea with honey in it :) It sounds like odd advice to suppress a cough but it does work.

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I have a wonderful GP - she really is fantastic. She is always running really late because she spends time with all her patients! And getting an appointment with her can also be tricky as she is so popular. She listens, has your notes up and will have read them before you enter her room. She remembers you and treats you as a human being!

 

The receptionists though... 1 week before I am due to give birth, Dr wants a blood test done. I go to Reception to book blood test, was advised 3 weeks time... Took me 10+ mins and one of her colleagues getting involved before she got the fact that 3 weeks time was pretty pointless, and found a time for that afternoon. I was verging on tears by this point (was very hormonal!!) and my blood pressure I am sure was going through the roof!

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