In a message dated 15/12/96 00:05:37, Peter Johnson writes:
>Suddenly I start to evaluate General Practice the way the rest of the
>population does. This wasn't some inner city lock up practice - this is a
>respected, rural teaching practice. The best??
>
>Is this really the way to treat people who call for urgent help?
>What would have happened if we had not had special knowledge, or if we'd
>been meek? Where has the human, caring, understanding approach gone? Do GP's
>realise how difficult it is for a parent to present a clear case history
>when they've been up all night, and are convinced that their precious child
>is about to expire? Especially when the GP is being hostile.
My sympathies Pete, I hope your son is now better.
Doctors make poor patients because they are scared to sound too worried or
are not taken seriously as they are thought to know too much. Look at how
many of the 'Personal View' articles in the BMJ are about doctors being mis
managed. Clinical instincts are blunted by ill health or illness in your
children and you often do not want to believe in your diagnosis because you
are worried.
The other problem is that General Practice has mutated into some varient of
the American system without the consumer clout that comes with paying for a
service. There are too many people crying wolf causing the really ill to be
ingored.
Having said all that, this is not a new problem. My parents-in-law called
thier GP to see their 3 year old in the night 40 years ago. As he arrived at
the door the docotr said, "you wouldn't call me out if you had to pay". The
child died of his pneumonia secondary to whooping cough the following day. My
mother-in law still dislikes GP's. The moral for all of us is examine first
and tell off after.
Trefor Roscoe E-mail;[log in to unmask]
Beighton Health Center Tel 0114-269 5061
Sheffield S19 6BJ
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