"Experience at GP practice"

I have recently registered as a new patient at a medical centre in Hamilton. The reception staff have been lovely, welcoming and helpful. The majority of the health professionals I’ve spoken to have been great, lovely doctors and a really friendly practice nurse. As an NHS employee, this makes me so happy when I see the incredible service we deliver being done well. It equally breaks my heart when I see practice that goes against everything we stand for. I attended a GP appointment with one of the GPs a few months ago for a recurring ear infection. It was 7: 20 on a Tuesday morning, a quick appointment before I headed to work for a full on and busy day. The GP was friendly, introduced themselves, checked my ears and made me a referral for irrigation and gave me antibiotics.  The GP then began reading some of my notes from the computer and asked me if I was still taking Venlafaxine, I assumed a routine question to ask when you’re writing a prescription. The GP then advised me that my diagnosis is still under question and how long have I had a personality disorder. I have bipolar disorder and was diagnosed 5 years ago, I have never been informed of any questioning of my diagnosis, and have never been diagnosed with a PD. I told her I had bipolar, but was reducing my medication and would hopefully be coming off it in the next few months, as I would like to have children and know venlafaxine can have an impact on unborn babies. The GP advised me that I’d be on medication for life, but I could explore other options such as adoption. I felt like I’d been hit with a bus. The GP signed my prescription and sent me on my way. I truly couldn’t believe how flippantly a medical professional had dismissed an illness I’ve lived with for 10 years. I don’t present as a “typical” bipolar patient, I have a full time professional job and keep generally well thanks to my circle of support and unpaid carers. I ended up in a depressive episode that lasted 3 weeks and left reassessing all of my life plans, and unsure if I had a new illness and what this meant. This GP has absolutely no idea how much that flippant remark impacted my life for months. When I seen my psychiatrist, she advised me that it was a complete lie, and I will be medication free by January. I cannot bring myself to understand how the GP felt it was appropriate to bring up at that time, or that it was even any of their business when I have a psychiatrist the GP could’ve contacted if they had any concerns or questions. I had to get on with my day, leaving an appointment I went into for an ear infection and left not being able to have children. I’ve never reported it because I know how exhausting clinical governance can be, but I feel this GP really needs to know how inappropriate that was so it doesn’t happen to someone else. It didn’t come from a place of genuine concern, but rather what felt like a nosy questioning that I did not want. It’s not the first time I’ve had a GP who’s had a lack of compassion regarding mental health, however I want this to be passed on so it doesn’t happen to anyone else who’s worked incredibly hard to keep themselves well through an illness that’s almost killed me several times in my life.