"Lack of empathy from GP"

I start by saying that I'm not one to complain, more so about the NHS. We're blessed to have such a system in the UK. But specific staff have caused nothing but problems.

Medically, they are a great doctor, but I believe their shortcomings are vastly in the area of bedside manner. At my lowest point when struggling with depression, they showed no empathy at all, and I felt they exhibited a large amount of judgement towards myself. In my first appointment, I was given the proposition of prescribing anti-depressants or a waiting list for therapy; and although the guidelines state that talking therapy should be the front line of treatment for depression, I felt that the option of pills was pushed over a person, and wrote, printed and handed me the prescription before I made a decision on my treatment.

No information were given on these drugs and no idea of what to expect on side-effects and the risks of taking this medication. In short, this medication put me through hell. This medication also carries warnings for young adults in the increase of suicidal feelings which is a black box warning in the US ("suicidality risk in children, adolescents, and young adults w/ major depressive or other psychiatric disorder"), which wasn't provided to myself, but certainly later felt.

I felt like this doctor took no time in identifying the issues raised in appointments, and typically made conclusions on the 'treatment' within the first 2 minutes, without fully exploring the patients needs (at least in my case). I then made the decision to see a private doctor, which made a world of difference. They were a Psychiatrist, and they wrote the recommendation that my GP should prescribe a medication to myself. The GP declined this request, and seemed disgruntled by my choice in choosing private over them. I was told that this is what happens when people go to private".

So, I stuck with the NHS, saw a specialist which showed both compassion and empathy, and who came to the exact same conclusion as the private doctor. They made the same recommendation to the GP, at which point they were happy to comply. The private doctor was highly qualified in comparison to the NHS doctor. This stubbornness by this doctor meant that my treatment was delayed by 4 months whilst waiting on a list. Patients don't care about technicalities when looking for treatment. They're looking for support, care and treatment. This doctor is good at the treatment aspect, though their people skills, bedside manner and lack of empathy is prominent in their care for me. I found their interactions to be cold.