Is there a ( decent) Dr. in the house?

[george65]

For about 8 years now I have been seeing a guy for my diabetes and general medical concerns. Love the guy, real character, done a LOT for me.
Having moved he's nearly an hour each way from me and being a great doctor is very busy and sometimes takes a couple of weeks to book into see.

At his suggestion I went to find a local GP for all the basic medical things I might need. Went to see this woman today and needed my medical for my driving signed off.
Fk me. Said I had to have an eye check. Yes, had one 6 Months ago. but you have to see an optomologist every year? Why? I have low power reading glasses, no other problems and never had to see one before. Oh but we want you to see one every year! Umm, Fk that! She said I'll give you a quick eye test now. Fine.
Can you read the top line. I read the bottom one. she says that's the wrong line. I said if I can read the bottom line we don't have to waste time with the others do we? Did it with the other eye, is that right? Yes, perfect. Well there we go!

Next was have you seen a cardiologist? Have you seen .. The foot ? Specialist, have you seen..... NO. Why not? Because as you saw, nothing wrong with my heart or Blood pressure, as you also checked, my feet are fine, and apart from my mental condition, everything else is fine. I haven't seen a Proctologist either because my backside is fine too. Oh but we want you to keep an eye on things. What makes you think I'm not and why would I want to frig around seeing people when I have no problem?

All I got was being pushed to see some specialist or another.

Question for those that know for sure... Do GP's get ANY sort of kickback from specialists , the gubbermint or anyone else for referring people?

This isn't the first time this has happened. One of my old doctors had me going to this High gap fee specialist or another all the time and they never found a damn thing wrong with me. I get there is a concern for giving proper care but I felt like this was way beyond that and the next thing I was going to asked was had the Blinker fluid in my car been checked recently?

My other doctor goes through things with me on the medical, asks questions, ticks the boxes and I go to the local RMS which is always dead and give them the form and I'm done. He gives me the standard eye test which I never have any problem with and that's it.

She questioned my a lot about my other doctor and asked who was my Diabetes specialist. I told her. She said who was my GP? I said the same guy. She q questioned that and said all GP's can treat Diabetes but they are not specialists. I said he is. She looked him up on the computer and was reading his credentials and Said "Oh, he is x, y and Z and...." I said yes, just like I told you.

By now I'm thinking WTF am I wasting my time here? She wanted me to come back to make a health plan and to give me some refferals to these specialists I don't need. I also got a form to transfer all my records when I went out and I said I can't remember any of the details, I'll take it home and fill it in and send it back to You.

Yeah, Pigs arse.
Came home, rang the old doc and made the first available appointment I could which is nearly 2 weeks away.

I'll wait and I'll happily travel from now on. This is the 3rd local quack I have seen and none of them give me any confidence or seem to be interested in anything bar their Medicare Cheque. This thing with trying to get you to see every specialist out there is annoying and suspect to me.

I'll go back to the other bloke and he will kick my arse for being slack and I'll sit there listening with a smile on my face thankful for his direct, no bullshit manner which motivates me not to let him down more than I'm concerned about myself.

[bob_m_54]

I had a diabetic brother in law that died of a heart attack at the age of 28, another one at the age of 60, and yet another one who has since died that had to have both feet amputated due to diabetes related problems. I can understand why he'd want you to see an eye specialist too... But as you say, you don't currently have problems. He probably just wants you to keep on top of common problems that can occur if you have diabetes.

[george65]

He probably just wants you to keep on top of common problems that can occur if you have diabetes.

Yes, I do get that but they checked over my feet, blood pressure, waist measurement, eyes and weight and everything was fine.
If I had problems then I'd be wanting to see a specialist but I don't have any issues atm. I did want to go and see a Phsyc for my anxiety but I never really got to talk about that, she was too busy trying to pack me off to see people I don't need to.

As I said, I understand and appreciate wanting to look after me properly but it this case it was very much making me feel like I was being " Over serviced" for some financial end and the problem I do have, I got NO help for.

I really want to know if there is any reward for GPs referring specialists? She just seemed SO intent on getting me to see someone, anyone, I left feeling highly suspicious of what was in it for her?

[lsemmens]

Good doctors are hard to find. We have been blessed in that all the doctors with whom we deal are very competent. Wife has many chronic conditions so we do tend to see many specialists. When we moved down here from the Territory we had to have a GP in place before we left the NT. We "lucked out" in that the surgery we contacted had one partner that would look after her. We have found him to be brilliant! Co-incidentally we ended up playing cards with his parents due to completely different circumstances they - too had spent time in the Top End. Any way, although we have a doctor around the corner, literally, we travel 3/4 hour each way to stay with "our" doctor. Any time SWMBO needs a hospital it is one of two, both over an hour away, again, there is a hospital literally around the corner and the ambos are required to take a patient to the nearest hospital in certain circumstances so, rather than stuff around, because all the local GP (who does know us) can do is refer her on to the nearest major hospital which is not one of the two specialist ones we need. It's quicker for me to load her into the car and drive than it is to stuff around waiting for an ambulance to turn up (local crews are all volunteers - so we may see a crew from 1/2 hour away anyway). Triage her, take her to the local hospital, who, then, must call the doctor in (we only have one doctor in our town), who then must call the ambos back tpo transfer her. Often that means travelling to the next town and meeting another ambulance there for the transfer.

My recommendation to all and sundry, no matter what your medical condition is, learn as much as you can about it, know what drugs you are on, exact dosage and why you are taking them. If you talk to a doctor intelligently, most of them respond in kind. We've met all sorts over the years (f'rinstance wife has been in and out of cardiac care several times this year. Most of the staff we have known for many years now) a new doctor comes on and thinks that they are going to solve all your problems in a short visit. When we respond with dates and dosages of the various meds he wants to try and why they did not work, they often leave scratching their heads and then, after talking to the staff, realise that we know what we are talking about and are quite reasonable in trying something new if we can see a possible benefit.

A comment on our local GP, we have spoken extensively with him and know that he is not the GP for us. He is willing to admit that he does not know enough about wife's conditions to treat her effectively. There have been circumstances where we've ended up in A&E of our local hospital and, in one procedure he was more than accommodating and even acted as my nurse whilst I accessed an infusa-port that she had. (I am not medically qualified -but have had some training over the years).

[Johnno]

To my knowledge the answer is NO to GP's getting a kickback from specialists. It'll be illegal.

Although, nothing is going to stop a nice Christmas gift being sent to the GP..
Normally familiarity with the specialist and past experiences gets the referrals.
I would research and choose which specialist i want and then ask the GP to write a referall for that doctor.

[shred]

It sounds like the GP is making sure his or her bottom is well covered in case you ever have a car crash and your condition is involved.

It’s like when I bought my current house and had a building inspection done. The guy only found problems that I already knew about, yet missed one obvious thing that was going to cost a few thousand dollars to fix. His contract was full of “all care, but no responsibility” clauses. To make absolutely sure he couldn’t be held accountable for anything, the report ended with advice to obtain reports on plumbing, electrical, geotechnical blah blah blah... about 20 specialists or tradesmen needed.

[admin]

If you have a good GP, stick with him/her. They are hard to find.

I intend to move a fair distance in the next year or 2, but will be keeping the same GP.

[hoe]

If you have a good GP, stick with him/her. They are hard to find.

I intend to move a fair distance in the next year or 2, but will be keeping the same GP.

I find it easier to just be healthy....

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

[Mr 672A]

I find it easier to just be healthy....

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

WHAT!!
What happens if you have a issue that comes from you family like known heart attacks and strokes in your parents and grandparents. I rarely eat greasy food, I dont drink, I dont smoke and never been over weight in my life and yet I had a heart attach and a stroke + 3 TIA's

[ol' boy]

Do u have high blood pressure?

[Mr 672A]

To my knowledge the answer is NO to GP's getting a kickback from specialists. It'll be illegal.

They are smart about this and do it a way that they cannot be busted. Trust me having a Heat attack and stroke I was very suspicious at one surgery because they demanded me to see this specialist. Also the same goes to Medicine/Tablets.

[Mr 672A]

Do u have high blood pressure?

NEVER EVER HAD HIGH BP in my Life, NO I'm other way around my Normal BP is 75/50 sometime. When I had the Heart attack and operate on a Prince Charles Hospital I was there for friggin 3 months because of my known low blood pressure and because that could not find a Beta blocker that would not lower my BP lower so they said to me and my Family we cant send you home as you might dies, We have to keep you here until you body accepts at least one brand of beta blocker.
yeaH I had the monitoing device on me 24/7 for around 3 months

WHAT IN THE Fuk I had a Stroke and I have LOW BP, that's not known and I have puzzled the Experts

[Mr 672A]

I laugh where I watch HOME and AWAY and a girl actor got bit by a Snake and the doctors there saying "we are losing her BP is 96/70, we are losing her 88/65 Shi.t I feel good and the lowest BP I had is 65/38 although my parms of my hand were slightly white. but still fealt good. My body has adapted to LOW BP but still had three more Brain Bleeds after the Main Stroke (TIA'S)
Now Back to the Main Topic and yes male doctors are hard to find because around our way Male doctors are Chased away all the time. I sick of my Doctor or other Male Doctor that change the surgery every 6 months or so and they cannot tell you why they have moved.

[admin]

I find it easier to just be healthy....

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

I am healthy. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't take illicit drugs. Apart from being overweight due to spinal issues (120 kg/193 cms) my health is perfect. Blood pressure is perfect. Cholesterol is perfect.......for a 52 year old I am likely healthier than most my age. Of course that doesn't help spinal issues at all, nor does it help people who's family lines contain genes that make them susceptible to a host of medical ailments.

Do you drink and smoke ? If so, lets face it, your not healthy. You just think you are. And if so, your number will be called in the near future as age catches up with bad habits.

[hoe]

err, that comment was meant to be tongue in cheek.....

but i am lucky enough to be in excellent health for my age, never smoked but do drink too much.....

i was lying in bed with my missus the other day and said to her how awesome it was to be my age (56) and have a sore cock from rooting her so much.....

btw, im on no medication at all, apart from the occasional purple pill.....

[admin]

err, that comment was meant to be tongue in cheek.....

I did notice that But I can and do sympathize with the many who really don't do anything wrong yet have a horrendous run with their health which is why I posted what I did.

Don't worry, you should know by now if I didn't think it was tongue in cheek I would have been a bit ruder

[george65]

Now Back to the Main Topic and yes male doctors are hard to find because around our way Male doctors are Chased away all the time. I sick of my Doctor or other Male Doctor that change the surgery every 6 months or so and they cannot tell you why they have moved.

Who Chases them away and why? Is this a Women thing you have?

I have had male and female doctors, dentists, Phycs, and everyone else. There are some good male medicos and there are some shit ones. There are some good Female medicos and there are some shit ones .... like everything else in life. I'm Racist, Bigoted and every other PC catch cry these days but I'm sure as hell not anti women. Some things I have found them to be hopeless at. That said, I will NEVER go to a Male check out chick at the supermarket because repeated experience with that tells me women are FAR better at that particular line of work.

I take every medico as I find them, good and bad. I have had several Brilliant female Dentists and I had one guy I literally reached down and grabbed by the balls and threatened to rip them off if he ever fked up and hurt me like that again. Current male dentist is brilliant too. I have never had as bad female dentists overall as I have male. Had some shocker male dentists that I saw once and wouldn't go near again. Never had that with a female dentist. The only reason I changed was because they moved or left to have a family.

As far as changing surgery's, That may be part of their training/ experience. My doctor OWNS the medical centre he works from and there are 7 other doctors there.
He generally has 3 "student?" / new doctors there at any one time for learning purposes and they rotate. They have profiles on the centres website and they often say they will be there for 6 months or are there to get wider experience etc.
I don't know but perhaps it is like teachers where they have to go where they are told and country postings are a part of that? Seems my guy helps the new ones by allowing them limited time at his practice full knowing they won't be a permanent fixture. I had a couple of phsycs like that. Couple of them were fantastic and I was very sorry when they moved on. Come to think of it, they were women.

I don't think this last woman Doc I saw was a bad doc, she just did not suit my impatient short tempered disposition. She struck me as one that may find a problem with a new patient that other doctors less through had missed for years. I have been on the diabetes and other bandwagons for a while now and am probably a bit better read and informed than most that have what I do so I don't want to be run through the ringer, know what I want and that's all I want.

I still think she was trying to over service me but for someone else, may be what they needed.

[admin]

Who Chases them away and why?

He may live in a rural/country area and they leave ?

Its a regular thing in Victoria, foreign doctors are only allowed in if they do 3- 4 years (cant remember which, its one or the other) in the country before being allowed to move to Melbourne.

[lsemmens]

Time was when all new (insert profession here) had to serve their time in a rural area before they could return to the big smoke. Now the PC BS has stopped all industries from infringing upon their "human" rights.

[george65]

He may live in a rural/country area and they leave ?

Its a regular thing in Victoria, foreign doctors are only allowed in if they do 3- 4 years (cant remember which, its one or the other) in the country before being allowed to move to Melbourne.

Dunno about that.
Daughters friend is doing a teaching degree and she could be posted anywhere next year. Expecting she will end up in some hell hole at the back of Buttfuk where no one wants to go but hoping to be somewhere reasonably close. She is doing her prac round the corner from us so staying a few nights a week to save her the otherwise hour plus drive each way.

At least for new Teachers they CAN send you anywhere.