Stuck between an old and new GP

[Mirath]

I don't know if this is the best place to put it, but I could use some advice or a "you're being daft and impatient"

A bit of backstory - I went to my old GP when I first wanted to be referred when I was 18/19, so from that time on she got to know me (bonus is that my mum also goes to see her, so she's a bit of a family GP).

However, because she's risen up the food chain at the surgery, she's now very busy either being booked up or out on training courses, so there'd be months between her free appointments.

So, to try and combat that, I started seeing this new GP at the surgery (she said she specialized in women's health so I thought she'd be a bit more comfortable to talk to in terms of down there, and I'm still physically female) - I've only seen her the once, so maybe I'm just a bit wary, but it just feels like she's a bit hesitant towards me. She did apparently send off a referral to the Exeter GIC for me (sometime around June, I think), so the other night I emailed Exeter as I was getting a bit panicked over why I hadn't heard anything, and they replied (pretty quickly I might add) that they hadn't received my referral. Part of me hopes it's just the '18-week limit', I think it's called.

But now... I don't know, part of me feels like I should have stayed with the old GP and just put up with the longer times between when she was free. But then part of me wants to try and build that same relationship with this new/more available GP.

Sorry, bit of a ramble.

[Dan]

Hey Mirath,

It is crucial that you are able to work with a GP that you feel comfortable with. It is going to be a vital partnership during your transition especially. If you feel that the second GP was a bit hesitant, maybe this will impact on communication in the long run ( it seems to have already impacted as it seems that maybe that referral hasn't been sent off yet).

I usually give a new GP and myself two visits before I decide if this relationship is going to work out, and that means that I can discern a comfortable two way communication between us.

Since you have seen the new GP only once, maybe give it a second chance and decide after that if you feel that the ice between you has melted to float each others boat, so to speak.