As stated by Niknoks in the UK when you register with a GP you really don't have much of a choice when being allocated a GP with regards to the sex of the GP.
We don't get that choice here in the UK unless you are paying private .
You register with the practice . You are allocated a named Dr . In my practice there are three females and one male Dr . You can always request to see your allocated Dr but the wait is probably a lengthy one eg two or three weeks .
The form to register has very basic questions . There are no questions regarding the Drs gender.
As DRZ states :
Hi Niknoks, I think you are lucky you are registered at a practice where have the option of having a same day appointment. At my wife's practice, there now seems to be no chance at all of an appointment without a full two week wait, and so it is a mad scramble for places every morning. It's completely ridiculous.
I am reminded of a reason why my wife prefers male doctors, and that is that she has had personality clashes with female doctors in the past. The most recent was a few years ago when she had a problem with straightening and bending her middle finger. Right from the start I thought it was a mild overuse injury and so did the woman doctor, but that's not the point. It was the dismissive and contemptuous attitudes and behaviour displayed by both reception staff and doctor that were the issue. It seems a little unfair to generalise and condemn female doctors because of a few negative experiences, but that's how my wife feels.
Having said that, I have the highest praise for A&E staff of both sexes. All those I have ever encountered when I have accompanied someone needing urgent medical attention have had an exemplary manner and delivered a marvellous standard of care.
Its is always a very difficult awkward situation when their is a personality clashes or when you disagree with their treatment plan. Unlike in the US where you are much more in control as you pay for the consultation via insurance. In the UK seeing your GP is free you don't pay, the state does. It seems to me at times they are more concern with actual throughput than patient care .
I have no real preference when it comes to the Gender of the examining Doctor or the gender of my assigned GP . I'm more concern with establishing a good rapport with the doctor and working towards treating the illness or alleviating the present symptoms especially if its a new doctor that I'm seeing for the first time. My philosophy has always been, Ok what can we do, how can we treat this, what steps do I have to follow etc.
Truthfully I'm more concerned with their knowledge, expertise, rapport , communication and diagnostic abilities than their gender or orientation. As when you are ill returning to good health is much more a priority. I will however add that I do like a good bedside manner, arrogant doctors or doctors with the "god Complex" really infuriates me regardless of their gender and I will happily bring them down a peg or two or three.