To think this letter from gp was really rude?

(134 Posts)
ariane5 Sun 10-Mar-13 09:09:57

Dd2 has a lot of health conditions and is frequently very unwell.

Last sat (2nd) she was terribly poorly and our gps were shut so we took her to the ooh walk in and she was prescribed antibiotics.

On monday she was worse and woke up at 3am in the morning extremely ill and with high blood ketones (she is diabetic) so dh took her to a+e, she was let out the following morning.

Yesterday I received a letter from our gp and the more I read it the ruder it sounds.

"I noticed you took dd2 to a walk in centre on monday. I am concerned and disturbed by this. We have her records here and can provide better continuing care. I am worried as to why you felt it necessary to take her immediately to a walk in centre"

"Please make time to explain this to us, make an appointment or telephone as this issue needs to be discussed"

For a start dd2 went to a+e not walk in early tues morn-surely if information has got through to gp then it would have stated the time date and reason?

I don't understand why they had to write a letter like that, would have been much easier to phone me and clear it up.
It has made me really annoyed.I feel like phoning tomorrow and telling them to check their facts before writing a letter of that tone.


Tee2072 Sun 10-Mar-13 09:12:56

Easy reply

Dear GP

Because you're not fucking open at 3am, you fucking moron.


Ariane, the not fucking stupid who took her diabetic and ill daughter to the OOH and A&E because it was OOH and an emergency.

PS did I mention you're a moron and fucking stupid?

How's that?

It really is a rude and ridiculous letter and deserve and equally rude and ridiculous response. How stupid are they?

Yama Sun 10-Mar-13 09:14:41

Tee has said it perfectly.

DinglebertWangledack Sun 10-Mar-13 09:14:49

I would be phoning them up and asking why they think it is any of their business where your daughter gets medical treatment, especially urgent medical attention seeing as she had to go to a&e! Who do they think they are?

ariane5 Sun 10-Mar-13 09:15:46

Thankyou tee that made me laugh!!

They must get something through on their computers informing them on ooh/a+e visits but ob not with the date/time/reason?? It just really made me angry that they were so quick to write such a (shitty) letter to me.

Buzzardbird Sun 10-Mar-13 09:16:10

You should hire tee as your pa grin

Flobbadobs Sun 10-Mar-13 09:16:23

When I worked at a GP's we would get reports through everyday from the ooh with the bare details of the visit on the sheet, so for example if your daughter presented with a rash and temp that is pretty much what it would say on the sheet along with details of the treatment received and any medication prescribed. It would also have the date and time on so the GP would know that they were shut when she needed medical attention.
YANBU, thats sounds very rude and strange, surely if your GP is so aware of your Daughters needs they would expect you to get medical attention asap?

Yama Sun 10-Mar-13 09:16:27

Oh yes, agree with Dingle now. Answer with a question. How very dare they question you in such a way. I'd be tempted to change surgery.

pookamoo Sun 10-Mar-13 09:17:44

Do they not have enough to do with their time? hmm
I'd ignore it, OP.

DinglebertWangledack Sun 10-Mar-13 09:17:51

But why bother though? That's what is baffling me. Maybe the number of unnecessary a&e trips and they just assumed? Even so that is not on either!

Tee2072 Sun 10-Mar-13 09:19:14

Thank you. Abject stupidity and shitty work, especially from a HCP, really really makes me angry.

As Flob has said, of course it has the time and date of the visit! Unless your GP has some secret 24 hour clinic that you're suppose to use your psychic powers to access, they are acting like total fucking morons.

DeepRedBetty Sun 10-Mar-13 09:19:26

Tee's letter, but without the swear words.

Delayingtactic Sun 10-Mar-13 09:20:56

I read it as trying to see if they are failing you in any way. As in, shit this woman would rather go to a walkin clinic than see us, what the fuck are we doing that's so shit? (The letter from the OOH may have been typed in the morning or not have a time on it at all).

It's the govt.

They now in their wisdom penalise GP's whose patients use OOH or A&E. So I suspect we shall all be getting these letters every time we dare to be ill on a outside the hours of 9-5 on a weekday. Bonkers. But I suspect the GP thinks the whole thing is as insane as you do.

quesadilla Sun 10-Mar-13 09:22:44

Wrong on so many levels. 1: as so beautifully put above, only a moron w

Tee2072 Sun 10-Mar-13 09:23:55

Well then write the letter, without the swear words (as much as they make you feel better grin) and add:

"I realize you are required to write such a letter but, honestly, it's stupid. And you're stupid for writing it."

It's time we fight against this stupid government shit instead of just whinging about it. Be the change, not the whinging about the need for change.

Megatron Sun 10-Mar-13 09:24:27

Dear GP

MY DD required urgent medical attention. Your surgery was closed.

Now perhaps you could phone or make an appointment to see me to explain why you see fit to send me such a rude and unprofessional letter. It is no business of yours where my daughter is treated. I look forward to hearing from you.

OP my DD is also type 1 I really hope she's feeling better now. sad

ariane5 Sun 10-Mar-13 09:24:31

We do have a huge amount of visits to ooh/a+e but the gps are well aware that we have 4 dcs with disabilities/illnesses so I am astounded by the tone of the letter.

I am angry that they didn't check their facts before writing it, a quick phone call could have cleared up any confusion.

ChestyNut Sun 10-Mar-13 09:26:41

I would be fuming! The more I read what GP put the shittier it sounds!

"Concerned and disturbed by this"

WTAF? Because you sought out of hours care for your DD? hmm

ariane5 Sun 10-Mar-13 09:28:20

Megatron thankyou, dd is a lot better today, I think the tonsilitis had affected her diabetes (all new to us as she was diagnosed in dec) and she had high sugars and ketones but seems a lot better now.

quesadilla Sun 10-Mar-13 09:28:46

Whoops. Only a moron would fail to realise if the surgery is shut in the middle of the night you need to make alternative arrangements. 2: doing so in no conceivable way prejudices your relationship with your GP. 3: its your business which healthcare providers you use. 4: you are not a child and they shouldn't speak to you like one. I would be fuming and would write a stiff letter to manager of the centre and copy to your MP.

StuntGirl Sun 10-Mar-13 09:29:44

They sound fucking mental. Contact them and complain - get them to justify themselves to you. Idiots.

Skygirls Sun 10-Mar-13 09:30:41

Whoever wrote that letter should be reported! As a parent it is your call to take your DC to see medical attention if you deem it necessary. It's not for the GP to imply that it was unnecessary! How dare they?

I would change to another surgery if I were you. Actually, I'd make an appointment and have it out with them.

When my dd was 11 weeks old, she had a cough and cold but on the Sunday, became very drowsy and not wanted to be fed, and had temp of 39. I took her to A&E and lucky I did because she was admitted for 2 nights with bronchiolitis.

Even if your dd didn't turn out to have anything serious, you know your child best and its always better to be safe than sorry.
I would have been furious to receive a letter like that.

formerdiva Sun 10-Mar-13 09:30:42

It sounds unacceptably rude to me. I'd be tempted to cc someone in on the reply who's above the GP in the food chain (no idea about NHS structures, though. Would it be head of the PCT or something?)

I would be FUMING if I'd received it!

HecateWhoopass Sun 10-Mar-13 09:33:11

I would go down the dripping with sarcasm route.

Dear GP

I am sincerely most dreadfully sorry that I didn't come to you at 3am on Monday morning when my child was extremely ill and with high blood ketones, and instead chose to rush her to A&E for emergency care.

I did not realise that you, my gp, would be open at 3am or that you would be able to provide emergency care for a child requiring (insert what she needed, sorry, I am ignorant of what happens) because they were at risk of (fill in the blanks)

I sense from the tone of your letter that you are angry that I chose to take my child to A&E at 3am when they were desperately ill and I can only apologise for my actions and assure you that such a thing will never happen again.

I would like to know whether you will be open 24 hours a day with the facilities to treat my child any time I need to rush them to you, or whether you would like to provide me with your home address in order that I can come straight over. Alternatively, would you prefer me to ensure that my child only becomes desperately ill during surgery hours?

Yours, most appologetically humbly


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