A patient writes...

Barely had the ink dried, so to speak, on “Something better will turn up” than something did.

A long comment from Joanie, addressing the issue of GPs pay.

I have been around for a while in medicine and one should never take things like this personally.

Trouble is, these days, my skin is not as thick as it used to be.

I cannot bring myself to draft a reply to the letter. Instead, I print it (from the comments column of "British GPs win the Eurolottery") in full and verbatim.

Does anyone have any suggestions?


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Dear Dr Crippen

I'd like to make a few points about GPs salaries etc.

I've been ill since I was 24. I have been fobbed off by numerous GPs over the years who have patronised me and told me I'm depressed, take it easy, maybe you working to hard...... maybe a bit of talking therapy will sort it out...... etc. This went on for 6 years until I became so ill I had to give up my work.

I used to manage a business with a turnover of £100million+ which involved chemical, physical and explosive hazards. I worked 60+ hours per week, sometimes through the night. I loved it. I worked hard and I had many people keen to work for me. I am a well trained and motivated professional (chartered engineer and chartered
scientist) which took 10 years+ of training at both university and 'on the job'. If I was no good at my job I'd get the sack. I would not earn £140,000 per year. One half would be more like it.

Anyway, I went private as I had to find an answer to my illness. I knew there would be an answer. My doc took 10 minutes to tell me that I was indeed ill with a treatable bacterial illness. It can be seen clearly under a microscope. I saw the critters for myself. I also had a gut parasite infection and I have hypothyroidism. None of the above was identified by NHS GPs in 6 years!

So, I took the initiative, found the basic cause of my problem, paid for it myself, and slowly I am getting much better. Good oh. So what about those folks with no scientific training - they have to go to the local GP...... That is what they are there for isn't it? it is near impossible for many good folks of this country to realise they are being sold short.

My condition should have been diagnosed when I was 24 not 30. It is not rocket science. It does appear to be way outside the box of the GP. The GP who is trained to be conservattive, lacks innovation, is partronising and arrogant, is very well paid indeed..... Why?

Why is it that GPs spend their days prescribing drugs to help to eleviate symptoms. Drugs which are sold by pharma companies who want lots of profit. Why are the GPs who see most of us folks with chronic illness not creating a fuss and demanding better treatments based on the basic causes of illnesses rather than sheepishly dolling out the quick stickyplaster fixes? Why are they not shouting? Why do they not understand this arguement? Is it up to someone else to take the lead? I'd respect the doc who shows leadership. For £140k per year should the patient not be expecting this kind of behaviour and attitude in all GPs they encounter?

Why are patients like me given no advice about management of pain?
Even when we ask repeatedly. Is that not the job of the GP? Why do I get smiled at patronisingly when I have developed a new symptom and I'd like to exclude it from my current illness? Lower left side abdominal pain (I was not examined) It kept me awake for 2 weeks non stop and was painfull for 6 months+. I went back twice and still no interest. That is the problem. I am not interesting. My illness is not sexy. Those with my illness are told 'it' does not exist - in their opion. (60% of GPs in Wales reported this in a survey recently). Opinion. Thanks very much. I'd prefer to be told facts based on objective evidence not opinion based on hot air.

We have a poor record of treating and managing the long term chronic sick (MS/ME/FM/etc) in this country. My evidence for this - go speak to those who cannot work, who have MS (80,000), who have ME (160,000), who have fibromylaygia (1,000,000). They have the same or similar bacterial infections to me. The cost to the UK economy is estimated at £8 billion per year (ME patients only)! The GP remains uninterested. They will not benefit (financially) if I stay sick, stay the same or get better. They are unmoved by my physical and mental pain.

These are not new revelations. The evidence for these bacterial infections started to be published in the medical literature before the Second World War.

Can doctors not read? Can they not innovate? Can they not listen and communicate? Is there pressure for GPs to improve their communication skills, work alongside and with patients to get themselves well? What motivates docs to stay up to date. There appears to be no requirement for them to do any of this. I would respect them if they did. GPs pay is not affected if they are good or poor at their jobs.

Dr Crippen - GPs are not all highly motivated, keen individuals with their patients best interestes at heart. If so the patient would be able to see a doctor at a reasonable hour and not have to take time of work to do it. Why can I not see a well paid profesional GP at 8pm at night or on a Saturday? Routinely if necessary. Do we have to pay the GP more if this is to happen? Can they be bothered?

I have admittedly had a poor experience with GPs over the last 8 years. I think that many folks like me too have had simialar experiences.

If my GP was open minded, not patronising, was happy to openingly discuss test results with me and not fob me off with antidepressants (the uninterested GPs cure all pill to get rid of you) then I'd begin to consider that they should be renumberated well. By that I mean in line with other professions. I do not believe that currently this is the situation.

As soon as I have the stamina I will be on the hunt for a new GP. I hope I find him or her. I am willing to keep an open mind and I'm positive I will find one. I would like to have some medical support in my local community. One that I don't have to pay for. I think it will take time.

War and Peace over.


Joanie

Cartoon from wayno.com