GP's, NHS & sportsmen - a rant

[bestathlete]

I am also uneasy with the general idea on this forum that we are more deserving cases than smokers or fat people. It may or may not be true but I do think we risk coming across as health fascists.

I think it's more a case of 'why aren't we given as good a service as the fat smokers?'

Also - Why do i have to pay extra money to take my bike on a plane whilst the fat bloke sitting next to me pays no more despite weighing 75% more than I do?

Travel fascist?

Add it to the list.

[Multiterrainer]

I'm still gobsmacked that my GP put in a referral to the local NHS specialist centre for an ultrasound scan on my degenerative achilles tendon without even questioning the history of the problem/who suggested a scan in the first place (it was my last but one physio) etc.etc...

...still had 3 months to wait though and finally get the scan next week.

[Chris]

Travel fascist?

Could do with being less judgemental! I don't think it would be good for our sport if non-participants knew what fellrunners thought of them.

[Wheeze]

Its not about being in our sport. Its about people who make an effort and committment to stay healthy having to put up with second rate care when they hit a problem compared to some lard-arse ne'er do well who is in the surgery every 2 minutes with some self inflicted problem or other. Remember, its called a national HEALTH service not ILLNESS service. It should be there to keep us healthy not drag us back from the edge of some self inflicted ill health precipice.

[bestathlete]

Could do with being less judgemental! I don't think it would be good for our sport if non-participants knew what fellrunners thought of them.

Wasn't being totally serious there but if I was it would be as a thin person, not a fellrunner, cyclist etc.

[pilchards4t]

i feel a bit guilty reading these post as i have just recieved an exceptional service from my GP. i hurt my knee and it swelled up. i iced, elevated and ibuprofenned all weekend then panicked and hobbled to the drs on monday morning. he prodded about, went through all the movement stuff and asked me exhaustive questions about the injury and running prior to injury.

he did the usual no-running-for-a-month thing then referrred me, without being asked, to a physio. i was speechless. he also told me that running downhill was definately no good for knees but he understood that i wasnt going to stop so i should discuss how best to strengthen my knees with the physio! what a wonderful man

i feel double guilty because he was a bit chubby, and sometimes i do think unkind thoughts about portly people.

to be honest, i feel triply guilty because now, three weeks later my knee is totally better and coped with 15miles at the w/e and i really should not have gone to see him at all.

[Yorkshire Thug]

Could do with being less judgemental! I don't think it would be good for our sport if non-participants knew what fellrunners thought of them.

In my experience Doctors are the most judgmental, opinionated and pompous examples of our species, and if they taught them a tiny bit of empathy at university we wouldn't even be discussing them on this thread.

I also find that, although I very rarely need to see the quack, when I do it's usually something serious, he is invariably inadequate for the task and I need to go to A&E or to see a specialist.

[Wheeze]

Pilchard, you were lucky enough to hit on a 'Gypsy' or GPWSI, otherwise known as a 'GP With a Special Interest'. Practices now encourage each GP to develop a special interst, be it Kids, Heart Disease or, sometimes Sports Medicine. It's always worth checking at your local surgery if one of the docs has a SI in Sports Med. You may be lucky. If you live in Tylwch you will not be!

[XRunner]

In my experience Doctors are the most judgmental, opinionated and pompous examples of our species, .

In my experience forum members are the most judgmental, opinionated and pompous examples of our species..

[RichK]

Anyone who thinks fat people get some kind of five star service are wrong. The second you tip over from the "normal" to "overweight" category on their BMI are instantly subject to lectures, prodding, patronising and general ominous warnings about dying before their time. God preserve you if you put a couple more pounds on and reach the "obese" stage.

GP's in general are just a triage to stop people overloading hospitals. I've stopped expecting anything from them. Occasionally you find a good empathetic GP but I'm tempted to believe they are the minority.