Ratings for Dr. Deborah Waxman

3
Staff
2
Punctuality
2
Helpfulness
3
Knowledge

This is the letter I sent to the surgery she was 'locum-ing' at. The contents ARE quite personal (sorry!), but quite frankly, at this point, I don't care:
I have spent some time mulling over whether or not to write this letter and have decided I do want my concerns to be heard. The concerns are regarding a telephone consultation I had with Dr Deborah Waxman on Friday 12th January 2024.
I am a transfer from Lake Surgery. My diagnoses include, but are not limited to, anxiety and depression, and when I received the phone call from Dr Waxman, I was not expecting her “bluntness”.
I had two questions I wanted a doctor’s thoughts on following a somewhat unsuccessful foray into hormone replacement therapy, which had given me some very unexpected and unpleasant side effects.
I found her manner to be exceptionally abrupt. I was told off for interrupting her while she was speaking, so I kept quiet until she had finished her rather long explanation of HRT.
I was feeling very embarrassed and misunderstood at this stage, and was struggling to stay on the phone. My anxiety meant that all I wanted to do was escape the situation.
She finished her speech, but I was trying very hard to get my fear and emotions under control and I didn’t say anything for a moment or two. Then she said “Are you there?” to which, wrongly I see now, I replied “Are you done?”
That led to another lengthy telling off by Dr Waxman, saying I was extremely rude and what she did for a job.
I tried to explain that I had anxiety and apologised. I tried to explain I find it difficult to talk to strangers (and I was interrupted here before I could say “about very personal things”) only for Dr Waxman to say if I had a plumber come to my house I could talk to him, and that this was no different.
I would like to point out that I do not discuss medication, menstruation or any other personal ‘ation’ with my plumber, landscaper, electrician or anybody else! It most certainly IS different.
When I finally managed to ask question one, (is there any possibility I could become pregnant) now that she had covered the basics of HRT, she said, “Oh OK. NOW we know what you’re really concerned about”. I was shocked and embarrassed by her tone.
The question was answered, but I didn’t get to ask my second one, which would have been “how long could I expect the bleeding to go on for”. She decided, without qualifying the extent of the bleeding, to offer me Tranexamic Acid to help stop the bleeding, which I accepted.
After doing a Google search later that same day, turns out it wasn’t required, as it’s for severe and extended bleeding. I’m 60, I’m overweight and I smoke. Taking medication to basically CAUSE blood clots probably isn’t in my best interests.
I also found her to be very unprofessional towards her colleague that had prescribed the HRT in the first place.
Dr Waxman naturally doesn’t have time to read all the notes from previous consultations, but she must not assume she knows the reasons someone is on a specific medication.
She spoke at length about how my previous doctor shouldn’t have done this or that, and should have done this or that. Dr Waxman demanded to know when I last had a smear or a mammogram, and when I couldn’t tell her dates, but that I hadn’t been recalled yet so both must be current, it wasn’t good enough.
To finish, I never want to have to speak to Dr Waxman ever again. She is blunt, rude and borders closely on offensive. She appears to have a very limited knowledge or understanding of mental health problems. She only half listens, made me feel hurried and makes me distrustful of my own GP.
I do not consider any of this to be appropriate for a doctor.

Submitted Feb. 13, 2024

1
Staff
3
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
1
Knowledge

Worst experience with any form of doctor I have ever had. Rude, dismissive, zero empathy, not seeking to listen and comments about other doctors and medical professionals who had made initial (correct) diagnosis were disgusting. She refused to help me further when it became apparent she did not agree with my doctor, my specialist or my physio. I would rather take my chances with a witch doctor then have any further dealings with this woman (I refuse to call her a doctor). The only reason I have scored 1 is there is no option for zero. The only plus was she was 5 mins early!

Submitted Jan. 15, 2024

1
Staff
1
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
1
Knowledge

Believe the one-star reviews and long list of complaints to the Medical Council.
Dr Waxman should not be able to practice medicine, her manner is combative and dismissive. She didn't listen to a word I said, talked over me repeatedly, and was not interested in helping me. Her appointment notes are a rambling mess and now on my permanent health records. I was left in tears after my appointment with no solutions.
Unfortunately the current pressure on the medical system means that Dr Waxman is working remotely around the motu.

Submitted Aug. 16, 2023

1
Staff
1
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
1
Knowledge

Dr Waxman is the absolute worst. She was 20mins late then spoke to me so aggressively I hung up on her and proceeded to have a panic attack. If you are suffering from mental illness in particular then whatever you do, do not seek help from her. She is completely without empathy and will just do you harm.

Submitted March 29, 2023

1
Staff
1
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
1
Knowledge

Absolutely atrocious attitude. Worst doctor (not capitalized on purpose) I have ever seen. From the second I walked through the door she was combative and argumentative. Looking back I can only think that it was because my race or sex as she had nothing else to go on.

I had a relatively simple issue, no medication was needed or requested and I was made to feel like I was only there to waste her precious time. I wanted and paid for a medical opinion, but instead was belittled and the irony was that she spent 10 minutes of the 15 in the room complaining about her time being wasted.

Submitted Dec. 5, 2022

1
Staff
1
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
2
Knowledge

Very rushed and had no empathy to what I wanted to talk about. Would talk over me when discussing my symptoms and concerns. She even decided to say to me that the consultation should only be about one issue only. I felt unheard and unseen in her company.

Submitted Aug. 11, 2022

1
Staff
3
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
1
Knowledge

This has been the worst consultation I have ever received from a so called doctor. She rushed the whole consult, it only lasted 5-10 minutes when it was supposed to be 30 minutes. I truly do not believe she should be working as a doctor. This was such a traumatising experience for me I was on the verge of tears throughout the consult. She barley let me speak and when I did she would rudely interrupt and cut me off. She didn't listen to what I had to say and consistently spoke in a very rude and angry tone. I felt bullied by her character and I definitely would not recommend anyone seeing her.

Submitted June 30, 2022

1
Staff
1
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
3
Knowledge

This doctor would have you out the door in five minutes if she could. She rushes a lot, does not take the time to introduce herself or get your name, immediately starts rushing and typing. Does not explain anything to you, nor does she listen to the entire reason why you came before cutting you off and making her diagnosis/ decisions for treatment. She has a rude tone. I wouldn't recommend seeing this Dr to anyone - especially elderly patients or those who speak English as a second language. My main issue is that she rushes too much to let you speak, speaks over you and cuts you off - even if you are entirely polite. If you don't have enough medical knowledge/health literacy she would likely convince you that you cannot be helped.

Submitted Jan. 31, 2022

1
Staff
1
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
1
Knowledge

Very poor and unprofessional experience with this doctor. Was unable to get to the clinic today and set up a phone consultation instead. No phone call 20 minutes past the arranged time so I called the clinic only to be told she hadn't realised it was a phone consultation and then rudely questioned as to why I'd set up a phone consultation in level 1.

When I then told her what the issue was (not my first time with this same issue so should have been easily treatable) she was unhappy prescribing the required antibiotics and told me I would need to make an appointment. As I had already mentioned, I could not make it in today. Her solution was to wait another day and make the appointment for tomorrow - which, in my limited medical knowledge, is the least helpful approach to treating any infection. Extremely unhelpful and unwilling to listen to anyone but herself.

Would not recommend to anyone seeking medical treatment and can understand why she has had multiple complaints made against her.

Submitted April 13, 2021

1
Staff
3
Punctuality
1
Helpfulness
1
Knowledge

Worst ever doctor. Poor manner, rush and rush.
Not trying to see patient thoroughly and in doctor manner. No good communication and consultation at all. Decided to see another doctor coz cannt believe her consultation.

Submitted March 24, 2021

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