GP visits

[PANLAB]

Sometimes feel that GP is fed up of seeing me, that it is so difficult to get an appointment in the first place makes his worse, feeling that I'm getting shoved out of door before I get a chance to sit down. Hope this not too negative.

[sasays]

No, i agree, once im on the meds i think she feels a little useless, she got a letter from the clinician saying they have to see me every two weeks but she gave me a double prescription and im now not seeing her for two months! Shes lovely but i do feel that perhaps they feel a little helpless with MH issues, i guess my GP has done alol she can, its up to the MH professionals now. Are you in counselling of any kind? I hope so as the above mentioned attitude isnt ok if you're not getting help elsewhere. Best of luck x

[Hidden]

Hi can you see a different GP? And book a double appointment so you have more time with them.

GP's I have found don't have a great deal of mental health knowledge and I agree with what sasays says. Counselling is good.

Bev x

[MCHAMMER82]

Hi I totally agree with you. My GP has put me on medication and then referred me onto other professionals as they are more specialised in ways to help me. I then find that i am lost in the system as it takes ages to acually receive any other appointments.

[missrat]

I have a great relationship with my GP practice. Because I have an interest in pharmacology, and keep up-to-date with things in the depression world, she is happy for us to discuss treatment etc. and to stay out of 'the system,' - although it has been offered.

Ann x

[Hidden]

No, you're not being negative, just expressing how you are feeling at the time. It is depressing to have to wait weeks for an appointment only to find that when you do see a GP they have such a short time that there's hardly time to think. GPs vary so much. I used to live in a middle class area where the GPs were superb, I always felt understood and although the appointments were no longer I did feel listened to and understood. Now I find sometimes I feel supported by one particular GP but other times I feel like an object to be quickly assessed and shoved out of the door again - it's a much poorer area and GPs are overworked locally. I find it helps if I think clearly beforehand about what I am going for and make bullet points which at least enables me to make sure I don't find I've left without saying something. GPs tend not to like that approach but I find it helpful. The other thing I find it to think about their role - I feel that my GPs do not consider themselves as there to talk to, so when I need someone to listen I don't look to the GP for that, I either turn to someone else, a friend, this website, a therapist I see privately (luckily I can afford that) or I would ask the GP to refer me to a counsellor or contact an organisation like Mind. My experience has been that in recent years most GPs simply don't have the time or inclination to listen like a counsellor even for a short time. It all depends what you want from them. I do find it helps to be clear in my own mind what I am hoping to get from them and once I know it's reasonable to expect that from them then to communicate very clearly, so having something written down helps.

Suexx

[Charlotte1990]

I always feel like this when I speak with a receptionist and attempt to book an appointment. Makes me not want to bother yet they say that its a good step forward to seek help for MH issues.

It confuses me. Probably because the receptionists have no health degrees or training they dont understand that MH issues are to be addressed asap.

[Carolinee71]

Hello, I must be so lucky, in our doctors surgery there are I think five partners and a couple of floating new type of GPs. I always want to see one doctor who I get on with. As I have become ill with both mental health issues and physical issues my GP has been amazing. You know if you book an appointment with him he will alway be running late but it is worth the wait to see him. I have never felt I am wasting his time or that he is in a hurry to get me out. Also now as it is sometimes hard to get an appointment as he is a popular GP I just have to leave a message for him that day and he always finds a spare appointment so I can be seen. I can also always get to talk to him on the phone. He has been my family GP for a long time and my whole family would be lost without him.

If you feel that your GP is not taking time to talk to you I would try the other GP s in the practice or ask around friends to find a new one. The relationship between a GP and the whole family is important so finding a good one is important and I hope that you too can find a good one they are out there. It's not just me that thinks so my whole family ( including my mum) are looked after by him amazingly well.being able to talk to my GP has helped me in my mental health journey and I know he will help me get better in time.

Caroline xxx

[PANLAB]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and your varied experiences of GP appointments.I tend to think through what I'm going to say in the waiting room but when I get in, I think that they're thinking" Oh no, not him again!" and think what's the point and clam up. So may be I don't do myself any favours either.Once again, thanks for bothering to comment on my post.

[redroseart]

hi panlab i feel the same about my gp i tell him i am suffering with severe depression and he doesnt want to know he changes the subject. i have asked for counselling and have been refused as i am not at risk.

[SueBeeSue]

Hi, I'm a bit worried because I have an appointment this week with my GP. It's my first time seeing them about my concerns that I might be depressed. I'm hoping they will listen and be able to help me. I've tried a few things myself like self help and do exercise, but I don't think it's enough for me and it's definitely getting worse. I've made a few notes of things I want to get across. I've completed the assessment on the NHS web site and it suggests I see my GP. I'd be mortified if I was just told to go away and keep an eye on the situation. It's taken me quite a while to work up the courage to book the appointment, but I know some GPs are more support than others. Wish me luck.....