GP Services - Superb experience

[ManjiB]

I wanted to share something really nice that just happened.

Mum hasn’t always had the best support from healthcare professionals and oftentimes we feel the GP practice has not quite been up to the mark and on occasions let her (Mum) down badly.

Maybe they have turned a new leaf as the more recent interactions with the GP surgery has seen significant improvements at all levels - reception, nurse and GPs

I know we all like to complain and talk about bad experiences and sometimes we take the good experiences for granted, which in a way I can understand. I am not one for praising someone just for doing their job, but when the go above and beyond (which does happen) we/I often don’t thank them properly.

So today I am putting that right. I will write a thank you note to the GP letting them know what a pleasure it was to have them visit and help us.

So I am very grateful that a GP came to do a home visit and from the moment they entered to the moment they left they were very attentive, very respectful, very mindful and definitely went above and beyond. Whilst doing the obs, they made sure Mum was comfortable and relaxed with what was being doing. If something didn’t work they reset and tried again. An initial BP reading came up super high but instead of accepting it or brushing it off, they tried again and got another high reading. Using judgement and realising this does not add up i.e. not consistent with pulse, O2 reading and overall demeanour of Mum, they tried another technique. Instead of taking the BP from the arm, she took it from the leg and even then she had to take two readings. In the end she got a reading of 118/81 which by all counts is not a bad BP reading.

Now I could argue that she has “fudged” the reading until she got what so wanted, but I would be wrong. I believe in this case this was absolutely the right way to check the BP and I am happy (as is Mum - not distressed once compared to other occasions when healthcare professionals try to take a BP reading).

She also checked Mum’s ears, listened to her heart etc. concluding she may have a slight chest infection and to err on the side of caution (Mum is wheezing a bit) she will prescribe some antibiotics.

So all in all, from the initial call to speak with the GP (receptionist) to the GP visit and interim calls, this has really made us feel very good about things and for that we are truly grateful.

Now isn’t that nice? I think so

[IreneFC]

@ManjiB Luck you, on this occasion. Maybe they have heard about you and they were scared have a great day Irene

[Mrs5K]

That’s great to read. Glad you got a great level of care on this occasion. Long may it continue. I hope your mum gets over her chest infection quickly. Her BP reading was pretty much text book.

[Dexster]

That is good news! Thank you for sharing.

[ManjiB]

I am not to be feared - just respected.

I have spent much time trying to “educate” them and I have had to learn to get my message across using different language and importantly to recognise that we are all different and not everyone think like we do or act like we do or have the same ethics. It has to be accepted that some things cannot change and somethings we cannot even influence.

At the end of the day, I know I require their help as there are things they can do that I simply cannot and if they are not with me I cannot move forward.

These days you see “Zero tolerance notice”, “Respect our staff” or “Do not abuse our staff” type notices in many public service places such has hospitals or GP surgeries and I can see why. At the end of the day, the person you dealing with is not necessary the one who may have caused your distress - they are merely a messenger, but often it is the messenger who takes the first bullet

Just as an example, in my early dealings, I used to have many problems and used to get hugely frustrated and as the GP surgery receptionist was the first point of contact they were in the firing line and it was very difficult to teach myself that the person I am talking to is not the person I am frustrated with. It has taken some effort, but I feel I am there now.

Now I really appreciate when someone goes out of their way, above and beyond, being sincere. This is what happened today and it made us all feel really good. Now I have to say that either I have become more tolerant or maybe the GP surgery staff have had some training or maybe as you say they are “scared of me” because now I find almost everyone is nice and polite to me including one of the GPs who really finds it hard to empathise with his patients.

All in all, it’s been a wonderful day, because not only was the service excellent (all day) but also Mum doesn’t seem to have anything to worry about - just a slight chest infection that will likely be sorted with some mild antibiotics.

Now that’s what I call a result

[ManjiB]

@Mrs5K

Her BP reading was pretty much text book.

Her overall health is also pretty much text book, but they don’t want to see it like that. If this GP hadn’t done what she did they might have even sent us to A&E because the BP was “so high”.

I really hope I am not dreaming this stuff

[IreneFC]

@ManjiB You didn’t get my Glasgow Humour, it was a compliment when I wrote “they are scared of you “You have fought everyday for your mother and if we did not have people like you, we would not be able to improve and move forward. I myself scare people when i walk in a room, because I own it. I feel though your posts you are very similar to myself (and that’s a compliment).Have great day and keep on scaring them (keep being you) Irene