Forum Topic

Which? Doctors

Which doctors/surgeries do you like best in your area? I think Dr Bull at Crown Street is quite good.

Manish Madan ● 5101d20 Comments

She was trained at Dundee.  They train them well.  Don't think much of the rest of them.  I had good reason to make a complaint against them.It will be interesting to see what happens next year, when the GP practices are in charge of the purse strings and, who gets what.  Is this just a ruse for privatisation.

Nicola Howard ● 5101d

I like the Crown Street doctors - they have always been good with our family.I would like to see Dr Pambakian more often but I suspect he does more prqctice running now and maybe a bit less doctoring - or he is just very in demand.

Sara Nathan ● 5101d

Mill Hill Surgery - have been with the doctors there for many years and would highly recommend them. Drs Cabot, Durandt, Scully and Measday have always been fantastic.

Clare Gittins ● 5101d

I second Dr Bull but she is part time and sometimes you have to book in advance,  but I always try to get her if I can as she is so helpful and considered.  I like Dr Garg too.  Yes I think the purse strings will be a problem and will possibly cause some arguments between patient and doctor.  In essence it will lead to the erosion of trust between doctor and patient.  For me it has already caused problems with a Consultant prescribing one drug and the GP surgery giving a prescription for another,  cheaper less effective,  drug.

Jen Morty ● 5101d

Branded items always cost more than the alternative name.  Same company, different name, but the same drug.  Think you could call it a rip off.  Of course the drug could be manufactured in France, under licence and, then repackaged in this country under a different name.  All very confusing.

Nicola Howard ● 5101d

Nicola,  it wasn't a branded drug it was a different drug as I said.As for brands and the generic drug I always buy the generic drug for example I always buy ibuprofen and never nurofen,  it amazes me how many people think nurofen is a better drug than ibuprofen but I go off topic.

Jen Morty ● 5101d

A vote for Dr Kenny at Crown Street. I always try and ask for him and he used to do the early morning commuter surgery which was handy.

Tony Crumpton ● 5101d

Actually - and still off topic - there is some research that suggests the branded drug may work better - because of the placebo effect: people have faith in a brand they know or a packaging they know, so it works better. Sounds daft I know - but true!

Sara Nathan ● 5101d

I get the placebo-in-reverse effect. I buy the cheap generic over the expensive "name" brand every time and the thought of the money saved makes me feel better before I've even left the pharmacy...

Peter Millman ● 5101d

Love it!

Sara Nathan ● 5101d

Indeed Sara but I am am aware the generic drug is the same as the branded one so the placebo effect would not work on me!

Jen Morty ● 5101d

Also wise to read the label, some of the alternative names have the E numbers in them.  Someone on Statins should seek advice, as some other cheaper versions of a brand, could interfere with the way Statins work.Back to the subject, Hillcrest Surgery.  They had to sort out the catastrophe of Crown St.

Nicola Howard ● 5101d

I don't know if it's just me, but Crown Street seems to have a lot of hangers on nowadays. They're not doing anything you would complain about, just standing together in groups, sometimes talking or arguing loudly and a lot of gesturing, but it does strike you as odd, and makes one a bit uncomfortable.

Manish Madan ● 5101d

Agree with Dr Kenny's recommendation, I try and ask for him too. Only downside is because he takes his time understanding your problem, he usually runs late, sometimes by an hour or more!

Manish Madan ● 5101d

Manish do you mean in the street or in the surgery?

Jen Morty ● 5101d

Manish, My complaint was over the lack of care and treatment.  I had what I thought was a chest infection, which eventually led to a visit to A&E, where I was diagnosed with Pneumonia.  After a weeks course of antibiotics the condition had not improved.  I asked the GP for a further course of antibiotics, and, was refused, I also asked for a repeat X-ray, again this was refused.  Hence the condition got worse, developed into Double Pneumonia, with Pleurisy.  Even got told by a jumped up receptionist, the doctors said I couldn't be seen for two weeks.Time for a change of practice.  I went to Hillcrest, explained the situation and, said that I wanted to speak to a doctor before I registered.  This being done, Dr Spencer took me on his list, knowing that there was a complaint in progress.  It took many weeks of antibiotics and X-rays to effect the cure, both from the new GP and hospital.The PCT believed my version of events, which is all on record.  Crown St had the audacity to put a letter in my notes saying that I was a trouble maker.A lot of patients won't make a complaint, in fear of being struck off from a GPs list.  Mind you, Hillcrest have to chase me for routine lung function tests.  The only other time I go to the doctors is for the flu jab.  Does that sound like a trouble maker?

Nicola Howard ● 5101d

Jen I mean the street outside, not the surgery itself.

Manish Madan ● 5101d

Nicola, I don't think your complaint was unreasonable at all. If a doctor has overlooked something like this, I would consider a complaint to be valid feedback and an opportunity to improve the care offered by the surgery.Sorry to hear you became so ill because of this, being ill is never fun and being ill when it could have been avoided is just wrong.

Manish Madan ● 5101d

Can I just ask? If a GP partner works part time, can they still claim a full time salary? I assume they pay their locums themselves?

Maire Lowe ● 5100d

If a GP Partner works part time they draw a pro rata share of income (as self employed). Depending on the partnership agreement which each partnership should have there is usually a mix of paid leave with the partnership paying the cost of locums and then if long term absence the absent partner paying the locum cover costs but still drawing his /her profit share.  If a Salaried GP i,e they are employed by the practice then they are paid a pro rata salary if part time.

Claire Rutland ● 5100d