Posted by Fi on January 3, 2002, at 4:16:51
In reply to Is there such thing as a sympathetic and nice GP?!, posted by ELA on January 2, 2002, at 10:53:41
ELA
Since you mention 'GP', I'm wondering if you are in the UK?
If so, its worth mentioning to our colleagues that getting to see a psychologist on our NHS is not easy- there are often waiting lists of many months, even if your GP agrees to a referral (you cant refer yourself on the NHS, and its the GP who makes the decision, not the patient). Tho it can be worth asking for a referral anyway, of course.
GPs really are the main provider/access to all community health services here. Lots of their patients will have psychological problems, tho of course they may not deal with them well. I've had one really great GP- she didnt have much time (the average GP appointment time is 8 minutes for anything in the UK), but she was sympathetic, well informed re medication and self help measures. The others varied from OK to appalling!
You can pay and refer yourself privately to a psychologist- if you can afford it. One way to find one is to contact the British Psychological Society (http://www.bps.org.uk/index.cfm- click on 'find a psychologist')
It would be worth considering changing to another GP practice, if there is another one locally? You dont need your current practice's 'permission' to swap, but the new one has to agree (you need to be in their area and for them to have space on their list).
Finding a better GP isnt easy. If you are in the UK, you may already know about Depression Alliance (http://www.depressionalliance.org/ or phone 0207 633 0557
) who have a network of local support groups. *If* there is one in your area, they will have some experience of the local GPs.(DA also have an email discussion list for members which I tried, but got a bit swamped by the dozens of emails).
If you are on chatting terms with any neighbours, you can ask them if they have a sympathetic GP (you dont have to say you have depression).
Apologies if you are not British!!
Good luck.
Fi
poster:Fi
thread:16140
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020102/msgs/16196.html