Is my doctor any good?

Is my doctor any good?

It is surprisingly difficult to check whether your doctor is any good. There is little/no easily accessible information ‘out there’ for you to read.

So how do you find out? Like we say, it is difficult. It is easy to find out about the recent quality of a restaurant or hotel through Tripadvisor, or whether people think a new car model is a good one. But it is not easy to find out whether your doctor will get the diagnosis right, and make you better.

Also, it depends what you think is a good doctor. Most would agree a good one will: listen, let you tell your story, think, tell you the options (with pros and cons), and listen to your responses – and does not jump to conclusions too quickly. They make thoughtful and respectful counterpoints to your ideas, e.g. not always agreeing to antibiotics, even if you think you need them. It is important not to over-interpret bedside manner, or whether you ‘like them’.

A ‘red flag’ for less good doctor is when their immediate answer to a new (or old) problem is a new medication, e.g. substituting pills over a lengthier explanation, or giving opiate drugs or antibiotics too quickly. Rude and incompetent administration or nursing staff are not a good sign either. Good doctors have good and helpful staff.

Also, it is also best not to assume that a larger and more famous hospital is ‘better’. Doctors at a local smaller hospital may have more experience as they are not focussing on research etc.

Older doctors have more experience, but younger ones are more up-to-date. Doctors tend to peak aged 45-55 years.

There are 7 ways of checking them out:

1. Google them. See if there are any recent good (or bad) comments. You can access the GP survey to see how your practice is doing compared to others locally (https://gp-patient.co.uk/).
2. Permanent employee. Check they are a permanent employee of your local hospital or general practice, by looking at their website. Locum or temporary doctors may not be as motivated as ones in permanent employment.
3. GMC register. Check they are registered by General Medical Council (GMC) on its website. The GMC is the doctors regulator – and investigates, and if necessary disciplines, doctors that have problems. You can tell there whether there are any warnings about them.
4. Professional body data. See if there is any data on them in their ‘Professional Body’ website. Some doctors, especially surgeons, have to submit performance data (including complication rates) to their ‘professional body’. This is an organisation that most specialists join, which is specific to their type of medicine, e.g. cardiothoracic (heart) surgery. You may have to look hard to find the data within the website. You could ask them to show you their data on the website.
5. Ask the nurses – that work with the doctor: ‘Would you like them to be your doctor? and ‘If not, who would you choose?’
6. Talk to other patients – in the hospital or GP waiting room.
7. Local branch of disease group charity – consult them.

Most doctors in the NHS work hard and are caring. That does not mean you should not check them out – in the ways described.

Summary