Doctors' mental health problems 'last taboo'

[Northerner]

Patients rely on doctors to look after their mental health but is enough being done to help the doctors when they are the ones with problems? There are concerns that some medical professionals in England are unable to get the help they need.

In 2016, 26-year-old junior doctor Sophie Spooner suffered a panic attack while working on a paediatrics ward.

Twenty-four hours later, she had taken her own life.

Her mother, Dr Laurel Spooner, believes her suicide was the result of depression which she had struggled with in the past. She had previously been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45356349

 

[SadhbhFiadh]

The article talks about the verbal abuse/disrespect that patients dole out- and I have seen that a lot. I have seen, aside from gossip, family members or even patients make a public spectacle in the lobby of the surgery, the accuser naming themselves to be in uncontrollable grief. I think that the Practice Managers, if they have the authority, should make a complaint about that abuse through the right channels. The posters are posted, but that doesn't seem to stop people from verbal attacks and no one seems to take the action the posters say can be taken. No one should be treated like that. For any reason.

 

[mikeyB]

I’ve only once had a tirade of abuse in my GP career. This was down in Maidstone. One of our patients, who had manic depression, was in the surgery ranting loudly - I could hear him as I arrived in the car park for the Saturday morning surgery (those were the days). Went in to be be met by the receptionist who asked me to see him first. So did.

It was my noisiest consultation ever, but eventually I said I was going to get him sectioned. “you’ll f.....g have to, I’m going nowhere”. So I picked up the phone. Then stopped.

“Where the bloody hell do you think I’m going to find a psychiatric social worker on a Saturday morning” I shouted

“Oh.” Said he “I’d best go in voluntary then”

I phoned his usual ward, the ambulance came and he meekly went out. I made sure he got in, and went back into the surgery.

...to a great round of applause from the rest of the patients, who’d heard everything.

At that very same psychiatric hospital, while I was working there on call, I was called down to the waiting room in the front hall to calm down a young man who’d threatened to kill anyone who wouldn’t let him be admitted. He was holding a nine inch kitchen knife.

He left with an OP appointment the next day. I left clutching a large whisky.

 

[Northerner]

The article talks about the verbal abuse/disrespect that patients dole out- and I have seen that a lot. I have seen, aside from gossip, family members or even patients make a public spectacle in the lobby of the surgery, the accuser naming themselves to be in uncontrollable grief. I think that the Practice Managers, if they have the authority, should make a complaint about that abuse through the right channels. The posters are posted, but that doesn't seem to stop people from verbal attacks and no one seems to take the action the posters say can be taken. No one should be treated like that. For any reason.

Completely agree

 

[Ljc]

The article talks about the verbal abuse/disrespect that patients dole out- and I have seen that a lot. I have seen, aside from gossip, family members or even patients make a public spectacle in the lobby of the surgery, the accuser naming themselves to be in uncontrollable grief. I think that the Practice Managers, if they have the authority, should make a complaint about that abuse through the right channels. The posters are posted, but that doesn't seem to stop people from verbal attacks and no one seems to take the action the posters say can be taken. No one should be treated like that. For any reason.

I agree.

 

[Ljc]

At that very same psychiatric hospital, while I was working there on call, I was called down to the waiting room in the front hall to calm down a young man who’d threatened to kill anyone who wouldn’t let him be admitted. He was holding a nine inch kitchen knife.

He left with an OP appointment the next day. I left clutching a large whisky.

@mikeyB . Only a large one , I would have needed a couple of triples

 

[mikeyB]

I was on call, Lin, otherwise agree!

 

[Northerner]

@mikeyB . Only a large one , I would have needed a couple of triples

Pass the Rehoboam! 😱 🙂

 

[Ljc]

I see and hear some terrible behaviour at our Gp practice . I really feel for the receptionists at times . They are really good and do their level best to help but still some people seem to think the receptionist is their own personal verbal punch bag.

It was similar in my old line of work too, I’ve been sworn at had books thrown at me , been yelled at etc .

 

[Northerner]

I see and hear some terrible behaviour at our Gp practice . I really feel for the receptionists at times . They are really good and do their level best to help but still some people seem to think the receptionist is their own personal verbal punch bag.

It was similar in my old line of work too, I’ve been sworn at had books thrown at me , been yelled at etc .

Things are very genteel here in Harrogate 🙂