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Anyone else hate doctor's telephone appointments?

DeeMo

Hi, 

I'd be grateful to know I'm not alone or to have any of your advice!  Does anyone else autistic really struggle with the GPs/doctors wanting to do all their consultation on phones? For me, as someone autistic it is a little like mental torture.

You ring up the practice, say you need to speak to a doctor. Then the practice book you an 'appointment' for a doctor to ring on a specific day 'sometime' between 9-5pm! First of all, the unpredictable element of the phone call, with no timed slot makes my heart race all day waiting for the call. Then when they ring, understanding someone you have never met with audio only, no visual signals or faces for aiding understanding. Then also just the feeling of not being 'seen' or listened too when it is a phone call.Not the most reassuring. They totally rely on your linguistic skills to explain your symptoms, and without seeing you, or examining I always worry that they will miss something.

Then just the plain indignity which I think is universal for neurotypicals and autistic of possibly having to talk about your intimate health problem to your doctor , speaking on a  mobile on a street corner!  Unless you are willing to stay by your phone all day in the privacy of your home. Or the impossibility for people who work like myself and can't answer the phone. The list goes on.

I have tried to ask the GPs for reasonable adjustments and have a face to face appointment. But every time I have to explain myself again from the beginning each time. And then that's only for routine appointments. For urgent appointments, its still a ring back. I have physical disabilities and issues that demand more regular input from doctors, but due to it being so autistic unfriendly, I am hardly in touch. 

Thanks Relaxed️

Parents

  • PS- When I am complaining about doctor's only doing call backs, my surgery does this for routine appointments too. So for instance, if you had a non urgent appointment to talk about something which is still very important to you ( eg your coping with pain) , you would still be given an appointment for a call back with no time slot. Only a specific day. So you can see how waiting all day by a phone might not only be anxiety provoking for someone with autism, but also not very dignified! Nothing like, putting a time slot in your diary to physically see a doctor, and have the dignity of knowing when you are going to speak to them, and ready to do so.

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  • PS- When I am complaining about doctor's only doing call backs, my surgery does this for routine appointments too. So for instance, if you had a non urgent appointment to talk about something which is still very important to you ( eg your coping with pain) , you would still be given an appointment for a call back with no time slot. Only a specific day. So you can see how waiting all day by a phone might not only be anxiety provoking for someone with autism, but also not very dignified! Nothing like, putting a time slot in your diary to physically see a doctor, and have the dignity of knowing when you are going to speak to them, and ready to do so.

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