My GP should not be allowed to be involved in Mental Health Assessments

[JoshD]

Ive had a horrible experience with my GP. I had some regression in my mental health and have been trying to get a new referral for my Psychiatrist to get my medication reviewed as it had been over 2 yrs. ADHD & Bipolar 2 diagnosis for reference.

When I arrived I was berated for booking a short consult as I would need a full Mental Health review, I assumed the bad mood was due to me missing a previous appointment. I wasn't sure why i needed a full review but In the haze of depression I wasn't very assertive so just went along.. I felt rushed and that I was a burden the whole time. At the end the Dr asked me if there was anything else going on while i was there. I said yes actually and showed her a cyst that I had come up on my upper buttock.. She again berated me saying this would need another full consult, i got embarrassed and said dont worry but she said no just show me. When I left and went to pay they asked me for $280! She had charged me for a full MH review and another full consult without telling me. Silly me left without the referral, admin saying they will forward it.
I called over a dozen times asking for them to send it the referral to the psych, every time they assured me it would be done but the psychiatrist continued to say that they hadn't receive it. I finally went into the Dr's to get it and take it myself only to be told that she never actually did one, when i asked why the response was "you didn't ask for one, you only wanted one for the psychologist". I pointed out that a psychologist doesn't prescribe medication and it was supposed to be for my psychiatrist, admin said they would get it fixed up. After hearing nothing back from the Dr and the psychiatrist saying they hadn't received anything I called again only to be told that she refuses to do another referral for me unless I come in for another consult. This whole process has been going on for over 6 months, luckily my psychiatrist accepted the one from 2 years previous somehow bless him.
I have made a complaint to the fair work commission but I seriously wish there was a way to name and shame these GP's.

[Croix]

Dear JoshD~

I'd like ot welcome you to hte Forum and hope you find it a friendlier and more accommodating place than your GP.

It does not sound as if you have been treated well on a number of counts and can sympathise, I too have had similar problems. In my case the practice manager,not the GP, came ot the rescue and the matter was sorted.

First any GP - or other practitioner -worth their salt has to realise that cost is an essential consideration associated with any form of treatment. For example not everyone can afford  a Medicare Mental Health Plan due to gap payments.

I would think it is simply part of duty of care to advise someone if their proposed action is going to incur a cost, and give them the option of refusal if it is not within their means. Twice your GP proceeded to conduct full consultations and at least for the cyst should have said it was extra.

Then there is the matter of the referal, if one was promised repeatedly but failed to be sent then being told you would be charged to rectify their mistake is simply inappropriate.

I wonder if it is possible for you to go to another establishment with another GP?  It sounds as if your visits to this one are expensive and counter productive.

I would be interested to know how you get on

Croix

[P12]

The first thing that came to my mind while reading your post was to visit a different GP. However, I do realise this might not be possible or suitable for everyone. Where I live, in a large city, I think many people do not have a close connection with one GP. Up until about five years ago I rarely visited GPs (only when I was sick) and often a different one each time. Only recently have I seen the same one slightly more consistently and slightly more frequently. He probably consults thousands of patients, I'm not sure he even remembers me as a repeat client.