"Distressing Visit to the GP January 3 2019"

I took my 84 year old mother to see her doctor today.

She is very frail and ill.

Not so long ago, it would have been the norm for the doctor to visit such poorly, frail patients at home.

Sadly, this is no longer the case

We waited in the waiting area for 45 minutes.

During this time, I witnessed the poor receptionist inundated with patients visiting for various reasons, getting frustrated through the lack of help and care and her being unable to remedy any of their requests.

It was sad to witness patients desperate for help

Finally I went into the doctor with my mother.

The doctor is clearly busy and under stress.

The doctor did not turn around or looked at us and continued doing computer work. We were not greeted or asked to sit.

I explained, whilst standing, my mum had had a brain blood clot and the hospital had issued medication. The prescription had run out.

We had called the hospital and they had told us to visit mums GP.

The doctor said go see reception.

I asked will reception get this today for us.

The doctor repeated go see reception and no it would take time.

The doctor was hostile.

I protested that my mother needed this medication today. The doctor got angry with me and told me to leave the room.

I refused.

The doctor almost blew up in anger.

I asked for help for my mother.

Bedside manner did not exist.

Basic care and interest in my mother, the patient did not exist.

The doctor left the room at speed.

Did not attend to my mother and brought in the practice manager saying I was being “nasty”.

I was articulating clearly and directly, with assertion, not aggression.

The practice manager asked me what the problem was.

I made a comment about the doctors mental state as in complete honesty the behaviour is not what you would expect from a professional doctor practicing medicine.

We did not get my mothers medicine.

My mother is a vulnerable elderly widow.

My sister and I care for her travelling distances of 150 miles. We do not leave alone ever now and would not entrust her to social or welfare care

The doctor and the practice manager made me leave the surgery and the doctor told my mother I was not allowed ever to visit with her again.

The PM told me I could get a new doctor.

Do we really have choices here.

I am saddened and dismayed.

Attitudes and behaviours do not belong to government funding. Its an inside job.

I will make an official complaint as the treatment by the doctor today of apathy towards my mother and utter contempt towards me is shameful.

I have no idea how Mexborough Health centre became so bad.

I have visited many times with my elderly parents and the experience has never been thus.

I know I am not isolated in my views here as many of my friends in the area do not visit the doctor because of the lack of care, patience and interest in them and rudeness.