Wednesday 11 March 2015

Being a G P

Yesterday I had an appointment with my G P at our local Medical Centre.   I am always impressed by their efficiency and by the pleasant atmosphere - all the staff make you feel welcome.

But sitting there in the Waiting Room and looking around at the other people waiting I decided I would not wish to be a G P.   Any really interesting work is passed on the Consultants in the appropriate field, and I suspect that they gather far more criticism than praise.

But the real thing that put me off was how most of those waiting to be seen seemed to have taken no care at all over their appearance.   One very large man was wearing shorts and trainers without socks (and the trainers were not even laced up).  Nobody was smartly dressed and quite a few folk looked unwashed.   

If I am going to see the doctor I always shower before I go and put on clean clothes - I think we owe it to them to be as clean and tidy as possible.   If we don't it is tantamount to going to the dentist without cleaning one's teeth.

In fact when I got home I sat and thought about the experience and could not think of a single plus in taking on the GP's job for life.  Seems to me it is a lot of responsibility for very little reward.   Do you feel the same?

17 comments:

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Sorry you had that experience.
Here in Vermont, the people I see are all neatly dressed at the doctor's office. In summer, I believe the same is true.

Sue in Suffolk said...

No I wouldn't want to be a GP either but thank goodness a few people do.But they do get well paid I think around £80- 100,000 a year in the end and lots finish work at age 55 and they never work weekends!

Pondside said...

The old-fashioned GP or family practitioner is becoming a rare thing. Apparently there is less stress and better hours for those who go on staff at hospitals.
As far as dressing for an appointment goes - I'm with you. I believe that lack of care is lack of respect for the person. I can't imagine the sorts of things a GP sees in the course of a day!

Heather said...

I would be ashamed to go to the doctor unless I was clean and neatly dressed. Having said that, I have seen one or two doctors who looked a bit casual. We are very fortunate to have our local Health Centre and have received excellent care and advice when we needed it.

Gwil W said...

Our family doctor kept a bottle of whisky in his desk and he wasn't averse to getting it out and filling two glasses. He had the blarney too. By the time he'd finished with you you'd forgotten all your mostly imagined ailments.

Terra said...

I agree, I dress nicely to see the doctor or dentist. I think being a G.P. would have lots of plus things, like keeping people healthy and steering them to do healthy things. The specialists would be likely to have patients with life threatening conditions, perhaps taking a toll on the specialists' emotions.

John Going Gently said...

They get paid well pat

angryparsnip said...

I look at the GP as the first in line to keep us on track and healthy.
Then send us to on if needed.
I always try to look my best even if zooming over to the post office.

cheers, parsnip

Rachel Phillips said...

I have never seen a poor GP around here. They are nice people too.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

I had an appointment with my GP yesterday too - and saw similar things - though I did see a lot of people that were cleaned and neatly dressed. I like the idea of a GP - of having someone that oversees every aspect of my medical care, combining the information from the specialists and taking an overall look at everything that is going on. Lots of questions and she gave me great answers and I feel content - and glad that I don't go back for three months.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes, I do agree that they get well paid but I do think that they earn it because for one thing they are the first to get the blame if anything goes wrong.
On the subject of their dress - in our Medical Centre they all dress in suits - both the female and the male doctors - and both remove their jackets when it is warm, but no sloppy dressing.
Thanks for calling in.

Frances said...

Now this is a very interesting post. As you know, over here in the States, we are all still trying to figure out what will eventually be sorted out by the Supreme Court and various polititians with regard to the Affordable Healthcare Act, aka Obamacare.

I am still covered by my employer's generous insurance benefits and am very pleased with each of my doctors, and admit that I've never seen folks in any of their waiting rooms that resembled those with whom you recently waited. However, over here it's also possible that your fellow waiting room folks might not yet have access to medical care. (All that will be eventually sorted out, but certainly is not at present.)

I do respect my doctors and have know some of them for enough years to actually share some off the record conversations about the future of medical care over here.

I'm glad that you've got the National Health, and envy that access for all. We are not quite there yet.

Let's see, what else...oh, of course, good health to you. xo

Cro Magnon said...

Absolutely. And just imagine having to spend your entire working life with people who are ILL. I'd want a very high salary for that!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Frances hits the nail on the head over health care - folk moan about the health service but I personally think we have a jolly good one over here and are very lucky.


Thanks to everyone.

Linda Metcalf said...

I've sat in the waiting room with some who smell so horrible I would refuse them until they showered ....I always do my best to look neat and made up even when sick.

MorningAJ said...

It's not quite so straightforward as you imply.

It must be nice to have the time to make sure you are clean and tidy for your doctor. Those of us who are working have to go straight to an appointment in whatever we have been wearing all day in the office - or face the wrath of our employers for wanting to leave early enough to make time for a shower and change.

There are also lots of diseases that body odour can help to diagnose. Smelling of recently applied attar of roses doesn't help the doctor one bit!

Lack of personal care can also be a symptom of mental health problems and stress.

I think most doctors would prioritise honest answers to their questions over appearance.

Cloudia said...

Why ARE people so careless of appearance?





ALOHA from Honolulu
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