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Topic: Switching GPs  (Read 2983 times)

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Switching GPs
« on: September 25, 2007, 08:59:55 PM »
I'm thinking of switching to a different NHS GP. Our GP is nice enough, but a few people have told me to switch as he didn't seem to be interested in pushing to get me in to see a specialist or getting my hubby in for a vasectomy (I feel it will be the same thing with any NHS docs, but like I said, people of have told me that's not necessarily true). Plus, I've always had women docs in the past, and I found one that is the same distance away and who has an office that's easier to get into (no stairs) and it's in better shape (the whole "falling-in" look of our current GP's office is a bit off-putting).

I know I just go register with the new GP, but can we still go see the old one? I'm on thyroid meds that required a blood test to get and that I have to take every day, and it might be easiest to just get the same doc to refill that while I go to the new doc for other things.

Also, I'm a bit nervous about it offending my current doc if I switch. I know that's not really a concern as I should try and see if another doc is more proactive, but I'd still be happier to know it was no big deal to switch.


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2007, 09:08:02 PM »
You can only belong to one GP practice so you can't switch to another one for your knees and stay with the current one for something else. However if there are several doctors within the practice you are with now, there is no reason why you can't make an appointment with one of them to discuss your kneww problem.


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2007, 12:04:13 AM »
groovy,

I can completely relate to you. I had a number of health problems when I lived in Hove (like you, I have hypothyroidism, and have to take meds every day for that, along with having a hip replaced and other medical problems). It's an irritating routine to sit and count out how many pills you have to take, for different things, EVERY day of your life. Sometimes, I don't even bother, because I'm so sick of it.

I've moved from Hove to Norwich (and timing-wise, I've paid for it deeply). I have yet to find a GP here (my GP in Hove prescribed me 56 days' worth of meds the day before we moved. He also recommended that I get grief counseling. F--k that. My dad is a psychologist (Ph.D. and all that), but he also was the cruelest person I've ever come across. Counseling won't bring her back. My mother died and we were waiting for our movers to actually FIND where we were moving. Anyway, I won't go on about that. If you're interested, look under Expat Life, and then click on Homesickness and Hard Times.

Anyway, you can always request a different GP in your local office. In fact, the original GP I had was a total a**hole, and when I mentioned how abrupt he'd been with me on the phone, the receptionist said she was going to refer me to another GP in the first one's practice. He was kind and concerned, unlike the first one. Just ask your local receptionist who is the kindest GP in the practice (they all know), and hope you get an honest answer. Then you can simply change GPs, given that they're in the same practice. I hope any of this advice has helped you.

Best wishes,

Suzanne


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2007, 01:12:39 AM »

Anyway, you can always request a different GP in your local office. In fact, the original GP I had was a total a**hole, and when I mentioned how abrupt he'd been with me on the phone, the receptionist said she was going to refer me to another GP in the first one's practice. He was kind and concerned, unlike the first one. Just ask your local receptionist who is the kindest GP in the practice (they all know), and hope you get an honest answer. Then you can simply change GPs, given that they're in the same practice. I hope any of this advice has helped you.

Best wishes,

Suzanne

Sorry to hear you've had so much trouble! And I guess I could change GPs in the same office, but there is only one other in there. This other office I'm looking at has four, and two of them are women. So we'll see. I think I will hold of on changing just now and have my GP give me a referral to a private ortho 'cause I want that taken care of rather than wait and see if the new GP will put me on one on the NHS. I will probably change later. I have no idea how they even go about annual pap smears here (if they do them annually) -- in the U.S. I had my GP do it instead of a gyno, and if that's the case here, no way would I feel comfortable with my current doc doing that!


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2007, 07:02:04 AM »
If you don't want your GP to do your smear you can go to a Family Planning Clinic. That's what my mother does because her GP is a man and she can see a woman at the FPC.


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2007, 08:33:42 AM »
Smears aren't done annually here. There's a thread on it in the Just Do It section. Anyway, usually the GP doesn't do it, it's the practice nurse who most often is a woman.
When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. ~ John Lennon


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2007, 09:52:13 AM »
There is no dignity getting a Pap smear here, either through a private doctor or an NHS nurse. They don't cover you up, they don't have stirrups for your feet, they just ask you to spread your legs, and then do a clumsy and painful smear. In addition, they don't do breast checks for cancer. Both people who gave me a smear looked at me as if I were an alien (which I guess I am) when I requested one (although they're automatic in the States), and then told me to do my own breast exams. I know these things because I've gone both the private and the NHS routes. So I hate to tell you, but in that regard, things are drastically different here from in the States.


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2007, 10:04:58 AM »
and then do a clumsy and painful smear.

Suzanne, your smear test shouldn't be clumsy or painful! If it is, I'd switch to a different practice nurse!
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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2007, 10:16:07 AM »
My smears here have been fine - as comfortable as is possible, and no problems.
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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2007, 04:10:42 PM »
There is no dignity getting a Pap smear here, either through a private doctor or an NHS nurse. They don't cover you up, they don't have stirrups for your feet, they just ask you to spread your legs, and then do a clumsy and painful smear.

Mine have always been the exact opposite of this.  I am covered, I have stirrups, I am made to feel very relaxed and the nurse is very gentle.  Last time she even made me laugh, which really helped to make me feel chilled.  It has never been painful.

Vicky


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2007, 04:27:38 PM »
Mine have always been the exact opposite of this.  I am covered, I have stirrups, I am made to feel very relaxed and the nurse is very gentle.  It has never been painful.

Ditto to that...except for the one time when i had a bunch of students as an audience...i know, why on earth did i agree to that  ???


Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #11 on: September 27, 2007, 04:30:16 PM »
This other office I'm looking at has four, and two of them are women.

I will probably change later. I have no idea how they even go about annual pap smears here (if they do them annually) -- in the U.S. I had my GP do it instead of a gyno, and if that's the case here, no way would I feel comfortable with my current doc doing that!

GroovyYank, not sure what surgery you are considering a move to, is it London St Surgery? (No steps to get in).  If so, PM me and I will tell you a bit about the doc's there....two women and two men.

As for a pap smear, again if it's London St Surgery you are considering there is a wonderful nurse who does them. I was very apprehensive about having it done at a GP's office but she was brilliant. (Not as comfortable, no stirrups....but she is great!).




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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #12 on: September 27, 2007, 04:31:07 PM »
Breast exams aren't done here because the belief is that YOU should know your own breasts better than anyone else. I agree with that, but I think if that is the case, then there needs to be much more in your face reminders about doing breast self-exams (i.e. telly advertising, magazines, etc).
When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. ~ John Lennon


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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2007, 05:28:45 PM »
Ditto to that...except for the one time when i had a bunch of students as an audience...i know, why on earth did i agree to that  ???

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Re: Switching GPs
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2007, 02:34:42 PM »
I guess this is as good a place as any to ask what to do if you really hate your GP and they are the only ones accepting patients in your area?  There are two doctors in the local surgery and they are both horrible.  The first one I saw was condescending and hard to talk to, especially concerning girl's things.  So I went today to see the female doctor at the practice and had a horrible, horrible experience.

Right now I have been coughing to the point of wheezing and having a hard time breathing and before even listening to my chest she says 'it's viral you are susceptible from being in a new country.'  Well that's all well and good, except what am I supposed to do when I am laying awake at 4 am because I can't breathe long enough to go to sleep?  She listened to my chest for 2 seconds, then made some sort of snarky remark about how my husband really ought to register because I am foreign.  He hasn't had time to, and I had my NHS card AND my residence permit with me anyways.

My original reason for making the appointment was that my gyn in the US strongly suspected I had PCOS but I never went for the tests because my insurance dropped and I couldn't afford to drop hundreds of dollars over and over again for bloodwork. I explained that birth control had very negative effects and that we want to plan for children so that wasn't a good enough solution.  She basically stopped me in the middle of speaking to answer a personal phone call, talked for a few minutes to them, then basically cut off what I was saying with 'Go out in the waiting room and wait for your prescription (antibiotics, not even sure why because she said this was viral).'  Seriously I walked out in tears without saying anything because I didn't want to cause a scene.  I couldn't beleive she actually IGNORED me. 

This is a very populated area and there is another (large, modern, friendly--my husband went to them when he lived up the road a bit) surgery nearby, but they don't take patients from our address.  How do I change my GP in this situation?  I can't just ignore my symptoms and not go to a doctor. 

Sorry if this is disjointed or ranting but I am upset and livid right now.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2007, 02:41:03 PM by Maeger »




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