Dr Nidhi Bhargava 2019-06-13 Person 1 5 0

I telephoned the surgery to make an appointment for an HRT review. They told me that they did not have anyone with a special interest in the menopause and gave me an appointment with Dr Bhargava. I arrived early for an 0800 appointment and at 0808 I heard my name called out so looked up immediately, only to see the disappearing back of the doctor. I hurried to catch her up and she went straight into her office and sat at her desk. I assumed it was ok to close the door and take a seat myself. I was then asked what she could do for me and I explained I had come for an HRT review. Her reply was 'What's the plan?' so I asked her what she meant by a plan and she replied that she meant a plan to come off HRT. When I replied that I didn't have a plan, she then turned to me and gave me some eye contact for the FIRST time and started explaining the risks for women over 60 on HRT. I then replied that I understood the risks and was hoping to switch to a more suitable HRT to my current tablet form, one that included a body identical version of progesterone. She then told me that these have not yet proved to be safe but I think she was confusing body identical with bio identical. She then turned back to her screen and offered to send me to a specialist and recommended Oxford but my preference was for the Menopause Clinic in London. She asked me for the address, which I did not have to hand but I told her that it was the only one with that name and was available on the Menopause Society's website. I was then told to go home and do my research and make another appointment with my GP but I did not think that was acceptable and asked if I could phone in the address if she was not willing to look it up herself. She then took my blood pressure (which was high) and gave me a repeat prescription for HRT tablets which I thanked her for before leaving as quickly as I could - all again without any further eye contact. I would never accept an appointment with her again. There was a total lack of any empathic patient contact, no apology for keeping me waiting, no real understanding of why I was there or any respect for my time. I found her attitude rude and unprofessional, unlike the much kinder and professional attitude of other doctors at the practice. I would not have made these comments but when I mentioned my appointment to a friend, she was horrified I had seen Dr Bhargarva as she had also had a very negative experience in the past and would never be seen by her again. When I returned home, I took my own blood pressure and it was back to normal! I then telephoned the surgery and at the second attempt, managed to get through but was on hold for almost 30 minutes before my call was answered. I was asked if I wanted to speak with the doctor but I declined and asked for the address of the Menopause Clinic to be passed to her. The only thing to her credit is that she did make the referral and I am waiting for an appointment. As the menopause potentially affects so many of the Burnham surgery's patients, it would be wonderful if they were to have one of their doctors up to date and knowledgeable about the menopause so that others don't have to go through an experience like mine.