"Doctor paid little attention and trivialised my concerns"

I had been putting up with bad arthritis pain in my hand for 2 years before I finally steeled myself to make an appointment to see a doctor earlier this year. (2018)  I hadn't been to see any doctor for between 10-15 YEARS until then.

It was difficult to make an appointment by phone and took a long time to get one.  Of course, the doctor was a complete stranger to me.

When I arrived, people came and went, even those who had arrived after me.  In total, I was kept waiting an hour after my appointment time.  When I was finally called in, the doctor blamed the computer for running slow.

I tried to explain the pain I was in, at that time not being sure if it was arthritis, and they barely looked at me while I was talking.  They couldn't tear their eyes away from the computer screen.

Then they said -Oh, it's 'just a bit' of arthritis!  Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for it'-

What did thy think I'd been taking for the last 2 years?  They just seemed totally disinterested.  It's hard to talk to someone when something else is obviously engaging their attention and I felt completely stonewalled.

When I got up to go, I turned at the door to say Goodbye and Thank you.  Not a flicker, not a response, they just carried on staring at the computer screen.

I shut the door behind me, furious at the way I'd been dealt with and angry that my whole afternoon had been wasted for nothing.  Worst of all, I felt that the doctor just didn't care.

Some time later I saw another doctor there who was kindness itself.  He was like a breath of fresh air - I could have hugged him!  The trouble is, his name doesn't appear on the brass plate outside, leading me to fear that he might only be temporary, and afraid that he won't be there if I need to see him again.  Yet another, different doctor phoned me at home some time later on another matter (another stranger), who said my favourite doctor was 'away', so now I'm scared he won't be back again and I'll be back to square one, nervous and afraid of strange doctors and nurses.  I'm in my late 60ies and this shouldn't be happening.  I shouldn't be made to feel like this on such a regular basis.  That's why it was so long since I'd seen a doctor in the first place.