tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post2622683289450185914..comments2023-07-18T15:27:42.958+01:00Comments on A fortunate man: This GP thingDr Andrew Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13858213625632400403noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-1149226594306547482008-05-05T11:42:00.000+01:002008-05-05T11:42:00.000+01:00Fwidman: Thanks. I'm sure you're right - we should...Fwidman: Thanks. I'm sure you're right - we should appreciate and make the best of what we've got while it lasts. While doing our best to preserve the good things, of course.Dr Andrew Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858213625632400403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-41659766469279429162008-04-30T02:05:00.000+01:002008-04-30T02:05:00.000+01:00Compliments, especially when one is in a job that ...Compliments, especially when one is in a job that is seen as less than wonderful,are always nice :)<BR/>It seems like you do a great job, so it is no wonder that people are hoping that you do not retire soon.<BR/>And, yes, Joni was correct, unfortunately people do not know what they have until it is gone.fwidmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17213274681817801121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-23853591677752265632008-04-27T23:27:00.000+01:002008-04-27T23:27:00.000+01:00I was quite pleased with this post after I had wri...I was quite pleased with this post after I had written it, so I'm glad to see that it has attracted a lot of comment.<BR/><BR/>Nutty: cynicism will get you nowhere, you know. ;-)<BR/><BR/>TheElementary: Thank you for your compliment and your story. All doctors have "bad days", so perhaps that doctor wasn't as bad as he appeared. In any case, I hope that things improve for you.<BR/><BR/>JD, Eryn & Fi: You are very kind. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous: As you say, we are all facing a common problem. Thanks for your support.<BR/><BR/>Dearieme: Have you met my friend, the Fortunate Optician? :-)<BR/><BR/>Old Codger & Oliver Smith: Do I agree with you? You might think so, but I couldn't possibly comment. :-)<BR/><BR/>Anonymous: I have never tried to influence my children's choice of study or career, I have only tried to support them in what they want to do. I know it looks as though I am applying for The Most Irritatingly Wonderful Man Award, but I simply wanted to avoid being criticised for pushing them into a career that they didn't want. And (having seen how grumpy and stressed it has made me) they have avoided medicine like the plague. If that isn't a mixed metaphor.<BR/><BR/>Dr Aust: Ah, Joni Mitchell - what a great musician she is! For me, the apotheosis of her work is "Hejira". It would definitely be one of my Desert Island Discs.<BR/><BR/>Dr John Crippen: Lovely to have you commenting on my blog. The praise of the praiseworthy, and all that. As usual, my visit statistics go through the roof whenever I am mentioned on the BritMeds. I don't know whether my partners (or my patients) would recognise me as "surely the kindest family doc in the country". The "persona" of the author is not necessarily the author himself. But I'm glad that my story holds water!Dr Andrew Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858213625632400403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-11152600030652043202008-04-27T19:20:00.000+01:002008-04-27T19:20:00.000+01:00I fear all we blogging GPs are of er.. "a certain...I fear all we blogging GPs are of er.. "a certain age" - I too can recite most of Joni's early work.<BR/><BR/>I introduced my children to her. They seem suprised that there was good music from my era. They don't seem to realise that we invented it!<BR/><BR/><BR/>JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-70731325383214940052008-04-27T19:15:00.000+01:002008-04-27T19:15:00.000+01:00dearieme said...It was the good Dr Crippen who sav...dearieme said...<BR/>It was the good Dr Crippen who saved my daughter from the idiot idea of doing a medical degree. We were lucky: back then he blogged in a font large enough for me to be able to read it.<BR/><BR/>23 April 2008 16:07<BR/><BR/>+++++<BR/><BR/>Oh dear,dearieme, I don't know how to change my font and spacing, and my DK technocrat is in love at the moment!<BR/><BR/><BR/>John<BR/><BR/><BR/>PS Sorry to have to reply here!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-46293020240383579902008-04-27T16:02:00.000+01:002008-04-27T16:02:00.000+01:00I've got another re-write for Joni's masterpiece."...I've got another re-write for Joni's masterpiece.<BR/><BR/>"They took all the GPs<BR/>And put 'em in a GP museum<BR/>And charged everybody<BR/>Fifty quid a time just to see 'em" <BR/><BR/>I think we could be onto something here. I smell a hit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-2995171924655093782008-04-27T15:45:00.000+01:002008-04-27T15:45:00.000+01:00You forgot the net line of Joni's song, Andrew. As...You forgot the net line of Joni's song, Andrew. As an updated version, how about:<BR/><BR/>"...they paved the parking lot, and put up a polyclinic"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-48004633257548389942008-04-24T20:13:00.000+01:002008-04-24T20:13:00.000+01:00Very interesting post. Just wondering; would you ...Very interesting post. Just wondering; would you encourage your children to follow careers in medicine?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-10248272730184600042008-04-24T03:05:00.000+01:002008-04-24T03:05:00.000+01:00This Government, that I used to be a supporter of ...This Government, that I used to be a supporter of and party member, has a lot to answer for. Not just with the NHS, but just about everything they've done past 1999 (and yes I did mean 1999 as the first 18 months or so went pretty well and they did lots of nice things that actually helped)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-80500959604406440012008-04-23T20:48:00.000+01:002008-04-23T20:48:00.000+01:00"Yes ladies and gentlemen, this GP thing really wo..."Yes ladies and gentlemen, this GP thing really works, though the Government doesn't think so."<BR/><BR/>Because this F*ing government is F*ing useless and trying to shift the blame.<BR/><BR/>Apologies for descending to Dr Rant levels but it tends to happen every time I think of this F*ing government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-29231209759108868042008-04-23T18:29:00.000+01:002008-04-23T18:29:00.000+01:00You sound like my GP (and it took me 26 years to f...You sound like my GP (and it took me 26 years to find her and I'm clinging like a limpet!) and the kind that shouldn't be lost due to bureaucracy.Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14286256866914263545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-10229110660206128682008-04-23T17:07:00.000+01:002008-04-23T17:07:00.000+01:00It was the good Dr Crippen who saved my daughter f...It was the good Dr Crippen who saved my daughter from the idiot idea of doing a medical degree. We were lucky: back then he blogged in a font large enough for me to be able to read it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-46858905912686855282008-04-23T16:28:00.000+01:002008-04-23T16:28:00.000+01:00See - when I posted my comment the other day it wa...See - when I posted my comment the other day it was because I suspected there were people who know you as a "real" GP person also pick up on what we hear from your blog. You care, and because you care you suffer the agonies of being caring. I agree with nutty - this government thinks that a "health care professional" paid £10 an hour with a questionnaire can give the same result as you at what is, you have to admit, apparently a large multiple of £10 per hour (I only say that because I know what my husband's rate is when selling his services to agencies outside the hospital). It's not quite the same, but there are parallels: I'm a translator and have a constant fight to get paid a reasonable rate too - there's always someone who will offer to do the job cheaper. They've done an intensive English course, of course they can do it. BUT - do they get the right answer, and how long does it take them? How many attempts will it take. Everyone has a foreign-made bit of equipment in their house whose "book of destructions" is meaningless. And in my opinion - I don't mind that for my refigerator, washing machine or food mixer. But heck - I do prefer my "health care professional" not to have to keep trying to get it right - because when it is something really nasty I might be dead before they've tried all the options!<BR/>Keep caring, nil illegitmum carborundum (or words to that effect!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-53476902793454678962008-04-23T13:04:00.000+01:002008-04-23T13:04:00.000+01:00Dr Brown,I like it when your blog makes me smile ;...Dr Brown,<BR/>I like it when your blog makes me smile ;-p. I hope i can be a good enough doctor also.<BR/><BR/>take care,<BR/>erynerynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15938675701687160658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-36194353133141640452008-04-23T05:49:00.000+01:002008-04-23T05:49:00.000+01:00Dear Andrew,I always visit your site because you w...Dear Andrew,<BR/><BR/>I always visit your site because you write eloquently about the world that I inhabit.<BR/><BR/>I do think it is really important that you (and I( continue to write about what we value and cherish to counter the febrile antagonism from the authorities.<BR/><BR/>I wish I could write like you.<BR/><BR/>JD.Jobbing Doctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15556376882759955757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-34268800267714863202008-04-23T01:14:00.000+01:002008-04-23T01:14:00.000+01:00When I find a new blog that I like, I at times don...When I find a new blog that I like, I at times don't know which post to comment on. My reason for liking it overall is not just the very fine writing, but the fact that you're a doctor who cares. I'm an immigrant from Ireland living in the US and I've found more compassion in your posts than in the heart of any doctor I've met here. <BR/>My husband was very sick in November. He went to the doctor in great pain; the doctor mechanically suggested a CAT scan at the ER. My husband wasn't sure why that was necessary and asked a few questions which didn't go down very well. The doctor said that if he didn't want to go to the ER he didn't have to; he could just go home. "I'm just trying to find out what your goals are," the doctor said. He was so cold, I felt like crying. So did my husband. We spent eight hours between doctor and ER that day and not one single person gave us comfort all the day long. I know, of course there are millions of stories like ours and much worse but so few blog posts from the perspective of someone like yourself. We're looking for a better doctor now, and I hope in our travels we meet somebody who cares even a fraction of how much you do. <BR/>Cheers.Phyllis Hunt McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13370730851612587650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-15980928844904194012008-04-22T23:27:00.000+01:002008-04-22T23:27:00.000+01:00I'd have thought you'd know better by now. You're...I'd have thought you'd know better by now. You're not supposed to be a good GP, you're supposed to meet targets. Being competent has nothing to do with it, you're not supposed to use your training or experience, just tick boxes. Heavens, then next thing you'll be telling us is that you don't want to work for a big corporation in a nurse-led polyclinic!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com