Dr Philip Denis Le Seve 2022-03-30 Person 1 5 0

I had a typical experience of a Doctor who assumes they know what is best for me without engaging with my situation. I got in touch with Sussex University Health Centre after my child died. I asked the practice to sign me off work for bereavement and psychological distress. I had a particular request, which was for the doctor to sign me off for the full 3 months of sick leave I'm entitled, which would make the bureaucracy and admin side of things easier for me. The doctor instead gave me one month and said I could ask for more later. I asked again, saying that my life was hard enough already and the full three months would make it easier for me to communicate with my work. I also asked directly, 'Is there any reason why you can't sign me off for the full three months?' The doctor didn't answer my question and insisted on the one month. This was reported to me via the receptionist staff - the GP never once spoke to me, asked me follow up questions or engaged with me directly. I left the practice and registered for a different GP. At the new GP practice, I made the same request and they signed me off for the full three months right away. Thanks to this, the HR staff at my work were able to help me plan my sick leave and my return to work with more certainty. And most importantly, (due to my sick leave policy, I couldn't afford my half-pay sick leave for most of the leave I was entitled to) seeing that I was signed off for 3 months, the HR staff worked with me to help me financially be able to afford my sick leave. Basically, the new GP at the new practice was able to simply help me whereas this GP at Sussex made my life more difficult and stressful at a time when I was struggling just to cook for myself and get up in the mornings following the death of my child. I would have really appreciated if the GP had at least answered my questions or helped me during the most difficult time in my life.