This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

Issues with my GP practice

Posted By Xanadu

"Issues with my GP practice"

About: General Practices in Grampian

(as a service user),

I feel that I have been given the wrong diagnosis twice. The first time a GP said I had bursitis when in fact I had a sprained knee which required treatment by a chiropractor. The second time another doctor said I had a blockage in my colon when in fact the problem was a gluten allergy which I had to work out for myself. 

My other problem was with another doctor. I had been prescribed vitamin D and calcium tablets by my previous doctor. But this doctor said that I did not need the calcium, and vitamin D tablets were cheap enough so I had to buy them myself. On another occasion when I consulted the same doctor regarding my ongoing problem with IBS I was told to go home and research the problem myself and choose my own treatment.

I have worked most of my adult life and paid my NI contributions, expecting to receive the proper care when I needed it. But such care is sadly not available. I feel that more competent and caring doctors could be found to replace those employed by my practice.

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Kirsten Dickson, Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team, NHS Grampian 4 years ago
Kirsten Dickson
Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team,
NHS Grampian

Submitted on 17/07/2019 at 14:13
Published on Care Opinion at 14:13

picture of Kirsten Dickson

Dear Xanadu

I'm sorry the care and diagnosis at your GP practice hasn't been great.

GP’s, or general practitioners, have a broad knowledge of lots of different conditions and aren’t always experts (although most have specialist areas), this may be why you have received conflicting advice from different doctors. However, whatever their specialist area, a good GP will always listen carefully and understand that you know your body best. If you don’t feel happy with a diagnosis please remember that you can say so. If you don’t feel comfortable saying so it might be worth trying another GP at the practice. I know this can be frustrating - you may have to work through them all (I’ve been there). Personalities are always complex and the GP that works well with you might be different for someone else. Once you have found the right GP they should work with you to find the best way forward, which may involve you finding out about a condition or illness to understand it and help with self-care, but your GP should sign post you to the best places to look for this information and provide information on the appropriate treatment (or refer you to a specialist who can) - being asked to do this without help would have left me feeling uncared for.

Most GP Practices are run independently and, if you feel comfortable, it would be best to get in touch with the practice manager about your concerns. However, I can do this for you if you’d like to let me know which practice you visited? You can do so by commenting on this thread, by email: Kirsten.dickson@nhs.net or by telephone: 01224 558404.

Take care,

Kirsten

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k