Post by Iselin L on Jul 29, 2015 19:26:12 GMT
Hi,
I need some advice on how i proceed following extremely disrespectful treatment from my GP.
I was diagnosed with ADHD by a psychologist back in 2010, referred by my university. After I was moved unto a psychiatrist with whom I tested different medications. After moving back to my home country in 2011, I was off my medication until i returned to the UK in 2013. I then signed up with my current GP in Fulham (i chose him based on positive reviews on NHS), however this has turned out to be a huge mistake. I brought in my papers on my condition and asked to be referred to a psychiatrist within the borough. I got seen by the Claybrook Centre after a couple of months waiting. This has been very pleasant experience, and I have been on Concerta 36mg since January 2014. My psychiatrist has discharged me, saying that I only need to request a new referral if and when I require it. In July 2014 I had an episode of mental break/down after a very poor work situation, and needed to be seen immediately. I contacted the Claybrook Centre directly (even though I was discharged), as I have felt very uncomfortable with how my GP comes across in regards to mental health. I got seen by a Social Worked instantly, who also got me an appointment with the psychiatrist for a few weeks later back at the CLaybrook Centre, as I explained I was uncomfortable seeing my GP. However she said I needed to request a sick note from him after I left their centre that day.
Same afternoon I went to see my GP, and explained to him what had happened and that I couldnt go to work at that time. He proceeded to say that he would write me one for one week that meant I had to immediately return to work (without seeing him again). He also said that he couldnt understand that someone of the age of 26 could experience these kinds of mental health problems.
Mind you, previously when me and my wife signed up at his offices, he questioned me on what I called my wife (im in a same-sex relationship), and that he was just going to call her my husband cos it didnt make sense to him. He has also referred to her as my friend and my sister. This man is about 60+ years old.
Then I saw my psyciatrist againt in September, and after a second evaluation, I have continued on my medication. My job situation has since then been stable, and life has been back on track. I get my prescription a little less often than once a month, as I generally do not take my meds on the weekends and holidays. (To rest the body).
This Monday I called my GP several times in the morning to request a new prescription, but I couldnt get through on the phone. I called again at 5.30, then speaking to a receptionist. She explained that she could not take an order for a prescription at that time, and that I had to call again in the morning. I got a little frustrated as I explained I had tried to call several times, and that i only need to put a request through so that I can pick it up the next day. She said she that wasnt an issue as they could fax it over directly to the pharmacy, I then explained that wasnt possible as it is a controlled drug. I guess then she decided that I needed to speak to the doctor instead, and she asked for my number for him to call up. I gave him this> ... He then proceeded to call me the same evening at 9.17pm! I was very surprised by this as I have never experienced a GP calling over something like this at that time of day. He said that he could not prescribe my regular prescription until he had seen me again, and that he needed to discuss my situation. He asked me whether I thought I needed to be on this for life etc. He was speaking to me as if I had become an addict, and I felt extremely uncomfortable and very surprised by suddenly having this conversation. I generally got annoyed by his unprofessionalism and also told him this. Surely this conversation couldve waited until the morning. Or he couldve requested an appointment to see me in between my last prescription and this one. Regardless, I agreed to come into his office at 6.30pm today, wednesday.
And here comes the most appalling treatment by a GP Ive ever experienced in my life. He sat me down and asked me "what he could do for me today" I said that he had requested to see me in regards to my prescription. Then he was telling me that he wants to assess the necessity of my medication and that also he mentioned that i had gotten annoyed at him onthe phone. I said that yes i got annoyed, because i did not expect to get called up at that hour, and that i was annoyed with the way they are being difficult in regards to getting through on the phone and ordering prescriptions. Anyways he started to ask me questions on how I use my medication and whether I feel like I need them everyday. I explained that of course i can manage not being on the them, but that obviously are a tremendous help in managing my daily life at work etc. He then said that if i didnt need them everyday, then why did i really need them at all..... I felt like what he was trying to get at was that if i dont need them everyday, i dont need the medication, but if i do need them everyday, well then im an addict.
I wanted me to explain how i feel etc, and when i tried to, he then asked me to repeat as he didnt fully understand. I got more and more irritated by his judgemental way of answering and asked if he could rather refer me back to my psychiatrist if he had issues or questions in regards to my treatment, as I clearly could not explain to him how this condition works (which of course i cannot fully, as it is not me who has prescribed this treatment as im not a doctor). I also suggested that he himself contacted the psychiatrist to discuss my situation if he had questions. He would not do this and rather said that he is the one in charge. He then said that he was gonna prescribe my medication this time, but that he would see it necessary to question me the way he liked everytime, again , as he was the one in charge. He then again repeated that I had been annoyed with him on the phone a couple of days ago, which confirmed my suspicion on why he had called me in the first place (apparently he thought that I had requested to get a prescription written out the same day, monday night). I tried to explain that that was not the case, and that I was only calling because I needed to order one for the next day and had a hard time getting through on the phone. Apparnelty at this time he said he would no longer argue with me and that he was not going to continue treatment. So on that note it was clear that I was no longer his patient and I was forced to leave. He also, half way through my appointed called up his receptionist (this GP is the only one in his clinic) to come in as a witness for him. I literally felt like I was being questioned at a police station..
This is where I am at now, and I have no idea what to do about this. I have contacted the local Mind charity for advice, but is there anything else I should be doing in regards to switching GPs. I feel like he has now probably "black-listed" or something, as he wouldnt give me any kinds of written file on myself. I also want to file a formal compaint, for this episode, the way he has referred to me and my wife, and his comment on that someone young shouldnt suffer from mental health conditions.
I need some advice on how i proceed following extremely disrespectful treatment from my GP.
I was diagnosed with ADHD by a psychologist back in 2010, referred by my university. After I was moved unto a psychiatrist with whom I tested different medications. After moving back to my home country in 2011, I was off my medication until i returned to the UK in 2013. I then signed up with my current GP in Fulham (i chose him based on positive reviews on NHS), however this has turned out to be a huge mistake. I brought in my papers on my condition and asked to be referred to a psychiatrist within the borough. I got seen by the Claybrook Centre after a couple of months waiting. This has been very pleasant experience, and I have been on Concerta 36mg since January 2014. My psychiatrist has discharged me, saying that I only need to request a new referral if and when I require it. In July 2014 I had an episode of mental break/down after a very poor work situation, and needed to be seen immediately. I contacted the Claybrook Centre directly (even though I was discharged), as I have felt very uncomfortable with how my GP comes across in regards to mental health. I got seen by a Social Worked instantly, who also got me an appointment with the psychiatrist for a few weeks later back at the CLaybrook Centre, as I explained I was uncomfortable seeing my GP. However she said I needed to request a sick note from him after I left their centre that day.
Same afternoon I went to see my GP, and explained to him what had happened and that I couldnt go to work at that time. He proceeded to say that he would write me one for one week that meant I had to immediately return to work (without seeing him again). He also said that he couldnt understand that someone of the age of 26 could experience these kinds of mental health problems.
Mind you, previously when me and my wife signed up at his offices, he questioned me on what I called my wife (im in a same-sex relationship), and that he was just going to call her my husband cos it didnt make sense to him. He has also referred to her as my friend and my sister. This man is about 60+ years old.
Then I saw my psyciatrist againt in September, and after a second evaluation, I have continued on my medication. My job situation has since then been stable, and life has been back on track. I get my prescription a little less often than once a month, as I generally do not take my meds on the weekends and holidays. (To rest the body).
This Monday I called my GP several times in the morning to request a new prescription, but I couldnt get through on the phone. I called again at 5.30, then speaking to a receptionist. She explained that she could not take an order for a prescription at that time, and that I had to call again in the morning. I got a little frustrated as I explained I had tried to call several times, and that i only need to put a request through so that I can pick it up the next day. She said she that wasnt an issue as they could fax it over directly to the pharmacy, I then explained that wasnt possible as it is a controlled drug. I guess then she decided that I needed to speak to the doctor instead, and she asked for my number for him to call up. I gave him this> ... He then proceeded to call me the same evening at 9.17pm! I was very surprised by this as I have never experienced a GP calling over something like this at that time of day. He said that he could not prescribe my regular prescription until he had seen me again, and that he needed to discuss my situation. He asked me whether I thought I needed to be on this for life etc. He was speaking to me as if I had become an addict, and I felt extremely uncomfortable and very surprised by suddenly having this conversation. I generally got annoyed by his unprofessionalism and also told him this. Surely this conversation couldve waited until the morning. Or he couldve requested an appointment to see me in between my last prescription and this one. Regardless, I agreed to come into his office at 6.30pm today, wednesday.
And here comes the most appalling treatment by a GP Ive ever experienced in my life. He sat me down and asked me "what he could do for me today" I said that he had requested to see me in regards to my prescription. Then he was telling me that he wants to assess the necessity of my medication and that also he mentioned that i had gotten annoyed at him onthe phone. I said that yes i got annoyed, because i did not expect to get called up at that hour, and that i was annoyed with the way they are being difficult in regards to getting through on the phone and ordering prescriptions. Anyways he started to ask me questions on how I use my medication and whether I feel like I need them everyday. I explained that of course i can manage not being on the them, but that obviously are a tremendous help in managing my daily life at work etc. He then said that if i didnt need them everyday, then why did i really need them at all..... I felt like what he was trying to get at was that if i dont need them everyday, i dont need the medication, but if i do need them everyday, well then im an addict.
I wanted me to explain how i feel etc, and when i tried to, he then asked me to repeat as he didnt fully understand. I got more and more irritated by his judgemental way of answering and asked if he could rather refer me back to my psychiatrist if he had issues or questions in regards to my treatment, as I clearly could not explain to him how this condition works (which of course i cannot fully, as it is not me who has prescribed this treatment as im not a doctor). I also suggested that he himself contacted the psychiatrist to discuss my situation if he had questions. He would not do this and rather said that he is the one in charge. He then said that he was gonna prescribe my medication this time, but that he would see it necessary to question me the way he liked everytime, again , as he was the one in charge. He then again repeated that I had been annoyed with him on the phone a couple of days ago, which confirmed my suspicion on why he had called me in the first place (apparently he thought that I had requested to get a prescription written out the same day, monday night). I tried to explain that that was not the case, and that I was only calling because I needed to order one for the next day and had a hard time getting through on the phone. Apparnelty at this time he said he would no longer argue with me and that he was not going to continue treatment. So on that note it was clear that I was no longer his patient and I was forced to leave. He also, half way through my appointed called up his receptionist (this GP is the only one in his clinic) to come in as a witness for him. I literally felt like I was being questioned at a police station..
This is where I am at now, and I have no idea what to do about this. I have contacted the local Mind charity for advice, but is there anything else I should be doing in regards to switching GPs. I feel like he has now probably "black-listed" or something, as he wouldnt give me any kinds of written file on myself. I also want to file a formal compaint, for this episode, the way he has referred to me and my wife, and his comment on that someone young shouldnt suffer from mental health conditions.