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[hanbanan]

peegeetip - I totally agree that doctors should not give the impression that they know it all when they don't. Humility goes a long way and the best approach is to admit you don't know but to listen and ask how you can help/offer to find out (but sometimes admitting you don't know something panics/angers patients, as far too many still expect us to know everything about everything). It's a crying shame that so many people have doctors who do not truly listen or empathise, and I am not sure what to say about that. Most of the doctors I know do try and do care but sometimes the system breaks the best. Others just shouldn't be doctors, I guess. For what it's worth, there is much more emphasis put on communication skills in med school training nowadays so hopefully this will improve as it needs to.

CLKD - Really? They went through every single specialty?! Not sure how that's possible. Do you just mean the core ones? Training is still 3 years (after two years of foundation training). 18 months in GP, 18 months in hospital. Hospital posts now seem to be chosen more on a basis of service provision than educational need.

[CLKD]

Obs/Gynae; Orthopaedics; Casualty Officer; ENT; Medicine; GP Surgery [to make sure ;-)]; Paediatrics ……. yep, all the Specialities in the Hospital which was a teaching hospital which also invited Doctors from abroad for 3 year stints.  If there wasn't a speciality where I worked as a secretary they were seconded to another hospital for the required 6 months.

Are you enjoying your Career choice?

[hanbanan]

Interesting. We can do Ophthalmology and Palliative care on my scheme but it will be at the expense of something else e.g. Psychiatry or Paeds. Most GP trainees won't do Ophth/ENT nowadays. There just isn't the scope (or money?).

Do I enjoy it? I find medicine/health fascinating and I enjoy working with patients, but I really really dislike working in the current system. It is pretty much impossible to be the kind of doctor I wish to be in the current NHS, and it's physically and emotionally exhausting. I am technically part time but still do 50 hour weeks.

[CLKD]

Too many government interventions which don't help the NHS to function, not much has changed sadly.  At least if you stick it out you will eventually be able to Practice where you like ……….  I think the NHS will emplode before long 

[dahliagirl]

Thanks for those links Hanbanan - off to read them now.

[hanbanan]

CLKD - I think you're probably right 

dahliagirl - you're welcome. Hope they're helpful/useful/interesting.

[Dancinggirl]

hanbanan - welcome to MM - it's really good to have a trainer GP in our midst - I do hope you will continue to post where possible.  Thank you so much for the info about the 'Changethechange' stuff - all very encouraging. I assume this is coinciding with the new recommendations that are being put forward this year - Dr Currie has been part of the panel looking at these new guidelines.
You will be part of a new breed of GPs who will offer women better support throughout eh meno - I certainly want things to be better for my daughter when her time comes.
I visited my GP practise today fro a sinus infection and I have to say it was great.  I am seeing one of the lady GPs about my meno issues and she has been very supportive - so I'm very fortunate. If you glance through a variety of posts on this site you will read some horror stories about what women get or don't get from their GPs.
I believe it's time we woke up and realised we need to pay more if we want the best from the NHS - either we have to pay for visits or pay more National Insurance. As others have said, the NHS is going to implode and GPs certainly can't handle the shear volume and range that they are expected to handle.
What a shame there hasn't been more publicity about the 'changethechange' day!!!! I didn't see a poster about it in the surgery today!!!! 
DG x

[Dorothy]

Thanks for your input Hanbanan - it's been very interesting to hear one person give a viewpoint from both sides.  And all the best with your training - you sound like the type of doctor we need more of!

My biggest bugbear with my local practice is nothing to do with training however; it's more to do with attitude.  I wasn't expecting my GP to be an expert, but listening to me would have been helpful - my concerns about the health issues of being perimenopausal age 39 were completely ignored - it was like I hadn't said anything.  All she would talk about was the importance of birth control until 2 years after my last period...any time I asked any questions about heart/osteoporosis etc, she just parroted back the exact same sentence about birth control.  As I am both childless and single, this was the LAST thing I needed her to be going on about.  If I hadn't found this website, I don't know what I would have done. 

It's encouraging to hear things might be about to change. Let's hope so, for the next generation.

[peegeetip]

The other thing about attitude I found was when I got sent of by Doc to look at this site.

I used the resourced to choose an HRT that suited me.

The longer cycle hrt options (3 months).

When I went back, the Doc was really annoyed that I had this information to hand and had a plan I wanted to follow.
It was their way or the highway.

I was given rubbish info on longer cycle hrt then put on a 1 month cycle which for someone who was almost 1 year without a period was quite "off" putting.
As I've said before, I'm sure "monthly cycle" option was almost a strategy by doc to ensure to make me give up quickly.
Doc almost succeeded!
But I'm just glad I stuck with it but I would have been much happier once in every three months than monthly.

 

[Kathleen]

Hello Hanbanan.

I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to post. Your comments have been very helpful and I hope you'll want to visit the site again in the future.

Best wishes and good luck with your career.

K.

[dazned]

Hanbana thanks for your great input.
Please keep posting and that you got/get help through your meno journey. If nothing else you will get moral support here .

[hanbanan]

Hello, and thanks for all the lovely messages. Sorry I couldn't reply before. It's been a rather frantic day launching the campaign! I think we are getting the word out there though
Really very tired now but will try and write again soon. Hope everyone has had a good day. Night night.
H.

[SallyG]

Brilliant post. I feel exactly the same. I can't believe it either. No well womens clinics and I had to pay to get some advice. I am now on HRT but I have been unwell since last March and signed off for a few months. It is a scary time but I am grateful that I know what it is but it has been a battle.