Are official complaints about GPs taken seriously?

[gemmakin]

I haven't made an official complaint because I didn't think it would be taken seriously. I recently moved here and the first GP I saw removed my tramadol and told me that walking will remove my pain. He asked if I worked and I said not currently so he told me that I must sit watching TV all day then. He also asked if I was still having seizures because if I haven't had one in a while I can come off of the medication. He was insulting and incredibly unprofessional but I assume that if I complain he'll lie and nothing will be done. I ask this today because I've just read about a locum GP who can't find work because a woman complained cos he asked her to remove her niqab. This seems quite small compared to what happened to me

[Hidden]

I complained about a woman GP - a long term locum cover I think - who threw away a stool sample of been asked to bring in by a practice nurse. She claimed she couldn’t find the nurse’s request and argued with me about B12 result and told me I was clearly anxious and this was making me health obsessed. A few weeks later I was relocating and, as I have autoimmune diseases and was trying a new BP med I saw my GP and requested a patient summary for the new practice. My GP gave me this plus a few sheet from my notes for reference. I was surprised but then read the entry from locum and it was extraordinary! My GP was a senior partner and clearly knew if I saw locum’s entry I’d complain - which I did.

My withering letter of complaint was just to the practice manager but I did receive an email back saying it had been upheld and would be used for locum’s professional review - or something like this.

I also saw a locum a month ago about breathlessness and a persistent cough. He asked me if I had low mood before he had even listened to my chest! I think often these people are just substandard and are floating about unable to get permanent posts because mud sticks. And so it should if they can make assumptions on first meeting or write these things about us on our notes. Can you bring yourself to request access your notes I wonder as once the appointment has been written up then they can’t alter it retrospectively?

[Konagirl60 in reply to Hidden]

Doctors are using emotional cues to diagnose and should be examining us and listening to us. It’s ridiculous. Using their radar IS NOT a diagnostic method!

[Hidden in reply to Konagirl60]

Agree. It’s our radar that should count!

[Konagirl60 in reply to Hidden]

Exactly....they don’t listen to their patients. What utter nonsense.

[Hidden]

I complained about a woman GP - a long term locum cover I think - who threw away a stool sample of been asked to bring in by a practice nurse. She claimed she couldn’t find the nurse’s request and argued with me about B12 result and told me I was clearly anxious and this was making me health obsessed. A few weeks later I was relocating and, as I have autoimmune diseases and was trying a new BP med I saw my GP and requested a patient summary for the new practice. My GP gave me this plus a few sheet from my notes for reference. I was surprised but then read the entry from locum and it was extraordinary! My GP was a senior partner and clearly knew if I saw locum’s entry I’d complain - which I did.

My withering letter of complaint was just to the practice manager but I did receive an email back saying it had been upheld and would be used for locum’s professional review - or something like this. I took in a printed copy and asked for it to be scanned onto my records. When I relocated again I wrote to the next GP thanking her for all she had done for me as praise is important too when it’s due.

I don’t want a reputation as a serial complainer but I have complained also about a consultant neurologist (via PALS) and a registrar. Both complaints led to better treatment I think - although hospital specialists tend to club together long term. I think as GP practices are run as independent businesses we can and should complain if necessary and yes these are taken seriously.

I also saw a locum a month ago about breathlessness and a persistent cough. He asked me if I had low mood before he had even listened to my chest! I think often these people are just substandard and are floating about unable to get permanent posts because mud sticks. And so it should if they can make assumptions on first meeting or write these things about us on our notes.

Can you bring yourself to request access your recent GP notes I wonder as once the appointment has been written up by GP then they can’t alter it retrospectively? It might help your decision when you read what he’s said about you?

[gemmakin in reply to Hidden]

I did request access to my records and they said it would take a month and now they keep making excuses. I assume I will never see them. This supposed doctor is not even a locum, he is one of the senior staff. I am starting to wonder if he is really a trained doctor

[Hidden in reply to gemmakin]

I’d take heed of Strongmouse below and write a firm letter to the practice manager explaining the same to them as you’ve told us. Ask if this GP is saying previously diagnosed conditions have mysteriously disappeared or that other doctors were wrong to prescribe these medications?

If so then is he qualified to make this decision without referring you first for further assessment?

If a patient is deemed over medicated or wrongly medicated or even addicted to prescription medications then there are still strict professional guidelines they have to adhere to about withdrawing these medications from patients I believe.

The way this GP behaved towards you seems in breech of the professional code of conduct the GMC sets so you should be able to keep the moral high ground whatever they are up to behind the scenes.

Perhaps it’s time to stop assuming that they won’t respond appropriately and give the practice a chance to put this GP under the spotlight so they have to think about this as part of their reflective practice?

[gemmakin in reply to Hidden]

yes it looks like i will have to. I know that other patients have had problems with him too and I do wonder if he really is a qualified doctor. Thanks for the advice

[Hidden in reply to gemmakin]

Ask GMC for copy of his registration perhaps?

[strongmouse]

Yes I have complained about a GP who did not take me seriously. All GPs surgeries have a complaints system. I wrote it to the Practice Manager and then met with her. The GP had replied to me and implied that I was not happy with the whole GP surgery. I wrote a carefully worded replied saying that it was just that meeting with him which I was unhappy about. I felt that it was important for patients to be treated with respect and professionally. I did not want the matter taken further but did want my concerns taken on board. The doctor apologised but added that 'No-one else as has ever complained about me except you'. I simply ignored his comment. I later learnt that there were other patients in the practice who were not happy with him.

It is for that reason as much as for myself that I would make a complaint again. Doctors are under a lot of pressure but when people got to them they are asking for help and expect to be listened to and respected. Senior Partners need to know if there is a problem. It is about what is 'reasonable behaviour' or unreasonable or unprofessional. With regard to my various health conditions I know that with new doctors I sometimes need to 'educate them' as they are generalists not specialists! It is a nuisance but does help. Usually take in well referenced research material as they take notice of that. (Being an ex nurse does help).

There is a Pelvic Pain Management guide on-line. If you have chronic pelvic pain take a copy of guidelines in for him to read. The other suggestion which my husband made when I had a similar problem was to ask him if he thinks the other doctor / doctors were wrong and what diagnosis has he made? Asking questions as to why he came to that conclusion is a good way to see if they are being sloppy.

pelvicpain.org.uk/about-us/

Hope you manage to sort it out and be treated with care.