General Chat

What a hardy breed are GP's.Just about everybody who walks into their consulting room has a pain, an infection, a disease, a melancholy demeanour.
In the average week they must see so many sick people with anything from mumps to rabies to leprosy. They might have to sign a death certificate, wonder if someone is senile, counter sign a certificate authorising cremation, all in a days work.
No wonder they are well paid.

GP's initial enquiry: "What's your problem"? :-D

But they ask it with a smile (?) having already seen your medical history on their computer. As well as their training they have the world's most up to date medical encyclopaedia at their disposal in the same computer.

They diagnose on sight, sound, smell, touch literally. They refrain from tasting it.

So your 10 minutes in there is to present your symptom(s) and for them to diagnose, refer or prescribe.

Last visit to the GP

new GP "Hello what can I do for you"

me "The receptionist called and said you wanted to see me"

GP "ah let me see" ...types...

GP "Oh yes it's to let you know we had a letter back from the rheumatologist"

me "Yes he sent me a copy a couple of weeks ago "

GP "Oh right, is there anything else? "

me "no thanks"

Do they honestly read and understand all this correspondence ?

My first GP , long before the invention of computers kept me healthy, or more correctly I only went to him when I was ill or injured.

Given all the maladies on the planet I have a GP who says her specialised subjects are venereal disease and epilepsy !! And speaks French, when a high percentage of her patients are Pakistani or Chinese.

Our GP retired - so we were given the next longest serving in the practice.
I only tend to go twice a year for regular check ups/blood tests/prescription update

Letter from new GP - "Please make an appointment to see me as soon as possible"

Called Surgery Tuesday morning - "I had a letter from Dr ******""

Receptionist "what seems to be the problem "

Me " I dont have one she wanted to see me "

Receptionist "Is it urgent "

Me "no idea she wanted to see me ASAP"

Receptionist "So it is urgent - you dont have to tell me why - i can book you in on Monday at 10:35 "

Me " I work full time - any chance of after 5pm "

Receptionist "Dr only work s 2 mornings a week and one afternoon when its Gyne and every other Fri"

Me "well can i do Fri morning next week as i am off "

Receptionist "Oh very well 9:05"

Arrived to see the Dr

GP " what seems to be the problem "

Me "You sent me a letter asking to see me"

GP" Oh your one of those people, Whats wrong with you then"

Me " Nothing I'm fine "

Gp " you can't just waste my time , what do you need "

Me " I dont need anything, just a check up twice a year etc"

GP "dont think I'm going to remind you like old DR X you will have to book yourself. only see me if you really need to - you can go now "

Needless to say i have not seen her again and always book when she is off, or ask for another Dr

In the last couple of months I have had 2 visits from a District Nurse. I haven't seen my GP since 2012 and then only for a medication review.

The Nurse thoroughly test my heart and lungs and kidneys. Weighed me, observed my mobility limitations, and at the end of her visit kindly informed me I wasn't suffering from dementia !! Just what I wanted to hear thank Good. She also gave me a flu vaccination..

On her her second visit she tested my blood pressure and asked a few questions.
A pleasant woman, good at her job. I did not request that she call, perhaps my GP sent her ? I don't know.

We were very lucky with our doctors practice

It's changed over the years with doctors retirements and new doctors coming in but it has always been an excellent practice

Hubby got problems and he was referred immediately and a diagnosis made
In the meantime the referring doc had his own health problems so he eventually retired and a new doctor taken on board

When hubby was struggling at home having been sent home bedbound our doc just turned up unannounced to see him and said to me I was shocked to get the hospital report cos he was doing so well
So shows they knew who their patents were

They were a great support when hubby passed and still ask me am I ok and do I need any support even now 3 years down

They can be kind and compassionate Shirley <3

I recall one Doctor, that I didn't ordinarily see, who was treating me for a chest infection asking "are you stoic ?"

I confess I didn't understand the question.