Thoughts on Public Doctors?

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I’m curious whether anyone else feels the same.

One thing I’ve noticed is that many fresh medical graduates come across as if they’re already very confident, but when you’re on the patient side, it often feels like they don’t actually know what’s going on. More often than not, the answer seems to be, “We’ll refer you to another specialty.”

I understand medicine is incredibly complex, and referrals are an important part of good patient care. No single doctor can know everything. But from a patient’s perspective, every referral usually means another consultation fee, more waiting, and more costs. Sometimes it feels like patients are paying for uncertainty multiple times before getting an answer.

People often say doctors serve a bond because their education is heavily subsidised, and that’s true. But patients are also part of that training process. Every doctor has to learn somewhere, but when a diagnosis is missed or treatment is delayed, the patient is the one living with the consequences. It doesn’t always feel like there’s much accountability unless something catastrophic happens. For example, when you go to a GP, do you realise that you just take the doctor’s word at face value even though he might have misdiagnosed you? This happens more often than not. I’m a healthcare provider and I have seen a GP prescribing my mother with random medications that does not fit the symptoms nor the diagnosis. I’m lucky enough to know, but not others.

Another thing I’ve always found a bit ironic is the number of doctors who eventually leave clinical medicine for aesthetics. During medical school interviews, many applicants talk passionately about serving patients and contributing to society. Yet quite a number later move into Botox, fillers and cosmetic procedures. I completely respect that everyone has the right to choose their career, but it does make those interview stories feel less convincing in hindsight.

I also struggle with the public discourse around doctors’ working conditions. I don’t doubt that junior doctors work extremely long hours, and I genuinely think burnout is a real issue. At the same time, medicine remains one of the most stable professions. Many people in other industries deal with layoffs, restructuring and job insecurity with far less public sympathy.

Sometimes it feels like doctors receive a level of empathy that isn’t extended to everyday workers facing a different kind of stress.
Overall, my biggest concern is that healthcare feels increasingly fragmented. Patients get bounced from one clinic to another, pay multiple consultation fees, and still don’t always get clear answers.

I’m not saying all junior doctors are like this. I’ve met excellent ones who were knowledgeable, humble and genuinely cared. But as a patient, I can’t shake the feeling that the system is becoming more fragmented, and patients are often the ones bearing the cost of that.