GP, I am not happy .

[pottypam]

My prob is going to this GP, as to be honest have no idea who it is,

Previous Surgery had a doctor who said he wanted to know everything that hos said and what they did and to see him first and really felt i could go and see him whenever i needed to as he knew i would only go if I really needed to. But since i had to move, registration was ok and the doc I saw said to always see him as he was up to par with my condition. But since then have never seen him again ,only see doc sometimes usually get seen by a practice nurse .None of who seem to know about me and always say "well the hospital do your treatment so see what they say " I did have to go to the surgury twice a week for 9 months as had a leg ulcer but once it eventually healed ,it was ok your done .Even though i would talk to the nurses about how i felt and pain and other more personal prob ,None was put on record, and on the odd time have been back I have to go through my health issue and find it depressing so just dont want to go. If i go with the pain in my neck or my back or my face being swollen, either end up in hospital or again told talk to hos doctor, Just pass the buck. When am asked at times who my doctor is , I just say do not know but say the pratice name and they just say ok, But i dont like it and wish could have stayed at other docs, even looked into moving back that way so can , but not possible at mo.

[PJ68]

Oh I am sorry to hear this.

I was mis -diagnosed twice at my surgery and my husband recommended that I saw what is now my Doc - he was sympathetic, kind, caring and took the time to listen to my worries and concerns. I have to say that if I ever need to ask him something, he answers - he is also very clued up with what goes on at the hospital.

I have only mentioned this to give you hope - maybe someone can recommend a doctor to you and make a double appointment (like I did) make a list of questions, so you don't forget (I did this too!) and don't be affraid to ask any thing - however silly it mind sound.

Don't give up - and please let me know how you get on

Take care

Pen

[pottypam in reply to PJ68]

Trouble is , all my previous doctors , have been very good, I have had a back prob with a form of Arthritis since age of 11, OA for 30years and RA for 20years .

and with one doc to see always felt on top of it and coped

But have never had this with a doctor/surgery before , It has totally thrown me ,and makes me feel i am being a pest as no continuity of care . I know i see 4 differant consultants at two hospitals, But before a GP has kept it all together so can ask him/her if wanted something or if flare up knew who to refer it to . But now I actually dread going to the docs , put it off if i can and hope "it" will get better , unless an infection.

I am thinking of finding if i can register another doc nearby .

[PeteC]

Just wondering if this link may help

bbc.co.uk/health/support/ta...

[pottypam in reply to PeteC]

Thanks Petec have looked at it and made notes and will see if can change to one of the other ones .

[PeteC in reply to pottypam]

As you have recently moved have you tried this link

nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

Enter your postcode, you will be suprised by how many there are in a 5 mile radius, hope it helps

Just another thing, to join the doctors where I have been for ten years now, when I first moved to the area I was told to go there and ask for an "an immediate necessary appointment" the receptionist was none to happy as she had already told me they were not taking any new patients, she was even happier when I came out and told her the doctor said register me ... not

The point I am making you might have more choices than you think ...

[Hidden]

This doesnt sound very good, at least see if you could change to a different Dr at the same practice..my GP surgery v good and a couple of them have had rheumatology experience, hence my initial referral.. I get great service and my one Dr who I have a great relationship with always tells me it is pleasure to see me.. thats nice.. x

[ValerieBrennan]

I know how it feels to have an unsupportive GP. May I suggest that you see if there is another GP in the practice that you can join instead? that's providing that you are in a multi-GP surgery, if not, then you should de-register from the GP that you are with, and then register at another GP surgery in your area.

I have a group set up on Facebook for this sort of thing, it's called Patients Without Voices, and you can join by going to [e-mail]. Everybody is welcome to join, apart from health workers - this group is specifically for patients, families and carers to rant and rave about the way that they are treated.

[cathie]

I changed my GP a while back and it was quite easy. You have to identify a suitable alternative and go to them - arrange an appointment and explain that you want to transfer. They don't really want to gossip about a colleague etc. so t hey don't really ask why.

But I would suggest that you ask around about alternatives - perhaps friends or neighbours go to different doctors ? I chose a larger practice over a single hander because I thought my health problems were too complicated for just one GP and what if she became ill? Then in the larger practice I soon identified the really really good one who everyone wants to see! I also found that they had several nurses with different specialisms. This practice has a website so you can look to see if there are people with interests close to yours. That single hander knew nothing about RA - not even about the anti-TNFs I was taking. Didn't encourage confidence.

So it shouldn't be difficult, but it probably depends on where. I'm in Scotland.

Incidentally when I was first diagnosed I went to the partner in the GP surgery I'd normally seen. He looked at me and said it was wear and tear and I should lose weight. Luckily (?) my mother had had RA and I knew what it was like so I persisted and just asked to see a different partner who took me more seriously.

Good luck and I hope you find someone able to support you.

XX