Do GP doctors think they have the time needed to diagnose properly?

Question

I am 49. When I go to a medical clinic it is like an assembly line with a receptionist, say 10 doctors inside, and a busy waiting room. Obviously it is go go go. When I was a child I went to a one doctor surgery in a country town - even though he was busy, he also seemed to take more time, and be thorough. I am not criticising modern doctors, but the changed enviroment they work in - they seem to be hurried by the external economic pressures? I have noticed how long it has taken several aquaintances to get a diagnosis for their problem. They seem to be sent off for one test, or specialist to rule out a possible problem, then weeks later to another ect. If doctors had more time to think things through I suspect these problems could be diagnosed in days, not months. Do people working in the medical field agree?

Answer 1

I agree and like your phraseology about the assembly line. Even in the small town where I live, it's getting to be that way, even though I have been seeing my family doctor for many years. It's in and out,,that's it......as if you were a serial number etc. The last time I visited my doc, he gave me a prescription that wasn't correct, I had to bring to his attention about this, and he just smiled and corrected it. I also agree with you that if docs spent more time with a patient, it would take less time to correct and/or find the problem.

Answer 2

"Screening" is a blood test. Other tests for thyroid disease are much less pleasant and still require the use of a syringe and hypodermic needle. If your needle phobia is truly that bad that you think you may faint or run away have your mother speak to the dr about prescribing a one time dose of a mild tranquilizer such as diazepam. It won't put you to sleep but it will help to relax you so that the process will be a lot less frightening. The body tempurature test is only an indicator. If that is positive then they move on to the blood tests.