So two weeks ago I started feeling more breathless than usual , tight feeling in chest so as it had been going on for almost a week I was checked over in hospital , sent to ambulatory emergency department who only check for blood clots , tests clear which was great obviously so I was sent home and advised to go back if symptoms persisted , The last few days I’ve had done quite unusual sharp chest pains., feeling queasy and reduced appetite , in the early hours of the morning my watch picked up that oxygen levels had dropped to 92 and 90 so I had a gp appointment this morning and she sent me back to the same department for a review and a pacemaker check . Going back quite a few months I’d been sent to hospital by gp with sane symptoms as today but they were new symptoms for me at the time and was sent to this department . The dr I saw for test results was the sane one o saw today . He was unpleasant then and made me feel as if I’d wasted everyone’s time as all tests were ok . Back to today and when I was called through to see the dr unfortunately it was the sane unpleasant one . He said he remembered me going before and questioned why I’d gone today . I told him my gp sent me , he didn’t give me chance to answer his questions just kept interrupting me , he briefly kemtuined my blood oxygen levels , asked if I had a home blood oxygen monitor and if I took it out with me when I walked anywhere then told me that they aren’t accurate anyway . He was quite abrupt and said they only deal with medical emergencies and this wasn’t an emergency so to go to my gp., I was thinking omg have you read my notes as that’s who sent me there with a letter from her , I just said ok and walked out . Shocked at how I was treated so hope I’ll never have to be sent to that dept again as firstly I don’t want to be needing to go and secondly I’ll be reluctant to go after how I was treated today , just to add I am waiting on a stress test then I’ll be sent appointments with my cardiology and respiratory consultants . My cardiologist said I need some heart rehab which he’ll refer me for once he’s seen the results of the stress test .
Unpleasant dr at hospital visit - British Heart Fou...
Unpleasant dr at hospital visit
Hello Westiw2012,
I am so sorry to hear what you have had to go through with this unprofessional sounding doctor.
My advice would be to contact PALS at that hospital and make a complaint. You must not let this doctor get away with such poor behaviour.
Thank you for your kind words
poor you westie I think that’s appalling I would complain. I wouldn’t be in the state i in now if it hadn’t been for the first cardiologist I encountered, I was. Getting breathless on inclines and was sent to hospital and had to do the treadmill test, the nurse that was attending said to stop the test as I was in distress and thought I should have angiogram the clever chap decided he. Would send for me in a year and retest then forgot me never got called forward yet another year worse symptoms went back and low and behold straight back in for triple bypass. 10 years down the line then cardiac arrest and pacemaker now the damn thing has moved and very uncomfortable so back to get it sorted and im so upset about going it was bad enough the the first time and he went into my lung so we’ve got a lot in common which way to turn
Thank you , you sound as if you’ve had a rough time of things too , I had to have my pm repositioned which was a difficult decision to make and I put the procedure off once due to how traumatic events were that followed having my pacemaker and I was scared I’d have complications again post procedure but thankfully I was ok . Hopefully you’ll have a better experience when they sort out your pacemaker. Mine was so painful so I’m glad I had it repositioned . It’s not always plain sailing , I was very unlucky as my problem caused by the pm is very rare .
hi. It sounds like a horrible experience. I had an awful experience with a hospital doctor once and raised my concerns via PALS. I didn’t make a formal complaint but I did receive an apology. I think sometimes they forget the impact that their words/behaviour can have upon patients particularly at a time when you feel so vulnerable. I’m sure that it wouldn’t have been a deliberate attempt to upset you, just carelessness. Please don’t let it put you off getting help in the future if/when you need it. X
Thank you , it was quite upsetting and I couldn’t wait to leave the room
If you feel well enough then consider raising it through PALS. At least that way the doctor will be aware of the impact that he has had and might treat the next person better.
We have had experience of nasty doc in our family, my daughter did complain. When I got admitted to A&E January last year my chest pain was dismissed as non cardiac by the cardiac register without him even coming to see me, as e.c.g. And blood tests were normal. It was only because my G.P insisted a month later I go to A&E as I was having angina symptoms that I got referred for CT. Angiography and few months later ended up with stent as had completely blocked LAD
I've had the same experience. Sent away from A&E twice as ECG and blood tests were normal, locum gp told me that it was anxiety and nothing sinister. I had an angiogram 2 weeks later and the cardiologist said "oh I didn't expect that" , artery was completely blocked.
Hello 
I am so sorry you were treated this way there is always one I have come across them myself you have been unlucky to have seen them twice but do not let him put you of if ever you feel something is not right
I agree and if you felt up to it I would report it to Pals I would certainly be letting my Doctor know if nothing else
I hope you never have to see him again and can see someone else if needed x
Thank you so much , I do feel quite upset how I was spoken to , I’m a bit fragile emotionally at the moment anyway due to a family bereavement .
Sorry for your bad experience. I can only reiterate some comments already made. Lodge a complaint with PALS. Your GP referred you. You didn’t just turn up in the department. I have on 2 occasions dealt with PALS regarding bad treatment at my local hospital and the follow up was thoroughly dealt with. Had I followed the ‘advice’ given to me by a GP, I would not be here to write this. Fortunately I had a second opinion and 3 x CABG 4 weeks later.
Good luck.
What is it with some doctors, some just don’t get that you are worried and are following procedures, I had a similar experience just two weeks back, and this was a telephone appointment, after the call I felt as though I had been insulted
Luckily it is only a small percentage of Doctors who’s bedside manner as they used to call it is totally unacceptable
I was only doing as my gp said , some of these so called medical professionals have a shockingly disgusting attitude . Thankfully they are in a minority , well in my experience anyway . Still doesn’t excuse their behaviour towards people who have gone to hospital , it’s not like we go for fun .
Good for you Anne, sometimes people need to be reminded of why they are there
sadly there are quite a few of these idiots .
I had one who got extremely agitated when i called him Doctor, i was being polite and he shouted back in front of his entourage “ please refer to me as MR ……..”
I would contact PALs at the hospital and explain that you are not putting in a complaint per sey but just want to let them know.
Hi Westie 2012, Just to say I endorse everyone else's suggestion that you contact PALS to complain.
I also suggest that you copy in your GP on the complaint as they should also be made aware that the Dr appears not to be considering the contents of the GP referral.
We all have bad days, GP's included, but there is no need for direct rudeness.
At my first appointment the Consultant asked if I'd returned the Holter Meter as he didn't have the results ..even though the test had been taken 2 months before my appointment .... He certainly made me feel he'd accused me of stealing it! I complained & they at least found my results & ensured he reviewed them & responded via letter. I don't look forward to seeing him again (when my next appoint date eventually comes through), but I will still go.
Please do not let the Hospital Dr / Consultant's bad attitude stop you from attending other appointments and/ or tests. You owe it to yourself to attend in order to try & keep taking care of yourself. You are worth it!
And if you can stay polite when face-2-face with his rudeness, then you a better & nicer person than he is.
Good luck.
I had a very unpleasant exeerience several years ago. Was sent to a&e by 111 after a bad reaction to a wasp sting above my eye. Bloke was awful, lectured me about how he was only there to deal with life threatening situations and how useless 111 was and I should ignore what they say because "they always send you here". Thought about complaining but didn't in the end. Sadly there is "always one".
I am really sorry you have suffered this, one occasion whilst it is wrong could be just a bad day, but multiple occasions well that is unacceptable.
When you contact PALS ask them to ask the doctor 2 questions and get answers 1) How do you expect to be treated by a professional person. 2) How would you feel if you were treated poorly when accessing help?
Perhaps this might make them self reflect and act better in the future.
Wishing you well.
I fully agree with your sentiment and the 2 questions you suggested being asked of the doctor concerned. However, I wonder if this would ever take place. As many years ago I had occasion to put in writing to the practice manager of my GP surgery how one of his doctors had completely dismissed my agonising skin condition as nothing and allowed me to leave the surgery in tears. They wrote back asking what outcome I wanted. I replied that I had requested in my letter that i was not insisting on an apology, but I felt I would like the opportunity the tell the doctor in a meeting with him how he made me feel. I was very formally told that this would not happen and the doctor is not a skin specialist, he gave his opinion of what he thought it was. I was however, entitled to seek a second opinion. Psoriasis which is what I had been diagnosed with many years prior, is very debilitating at bad flare up times and this doctor didn’t even take the time to look up my history. So no I have no faith that doctors will be challenged on their attitudes or they would heed anyone pointing out how their manner effects patients.
Hello I can see your point based on experience, however I do think the majority of doctors are now willing or realise being respectful and considering how patients feel is a benefit, if they are not, then asking the question would hopefully make them see the error of their ways!
I have a patient/partnership meeting on Tuesday with our practice and if there is time I will ask the question of how medical staff should now treat patients.
As I have suffered from psoriasis since I was 10, I do know what you have gone through.
well yes this was some time ago and hopefully things have moved on from then. The oddest thing is though. A few years later I was forced to attend the surgery once again. This time feeling very unwell. When given all my symptoms he sent me straight for an angiogram that day, which turned out I’d had a heart attack, and 10 days later in a London hospital for a triple by pass. Apparently hearts were his special interest and we got on famously after that.
I’m so sorry to hear how you were treated.
Please don’t let him get away with it, he might one day be responsible of someone’s death if that is his attitude towards patients. 😡😡
Medical professionals like him should not be in the job if they cannot always show understanding, empathy and compassion.
All the best with your investigation x
I agree with other who suggest you write to PALS about your treatment by this doctor. I hope this helps you to feel that you can have a say in your treatment.
However, in the longer term, may I suggest that you look up some resources on Self Advocacy and start practising some of the exercises and skills. You can't control how others treat you, but you can change the way you behave towards them and how you approach them so that you feel you have more control over what happens in the interaction.
That’s terrible, I can’t believe people are treated this way. I would definitely put in a complaint, I bet you’re not the only one the doctors been rude to. Surely they should understand that patients come in all worried and concerned about symptoms, they should be trying to put you at ease, not make you feel more stressed when you leave.
I have encountered same kind of Dr's. Some are super and then there are those that let the system down. They are usually proven wrong but I doubt they learn... Its very demoralising when you are made to feel a fool. Then you get another one that is brilliant.
Hi Westie,
I presume you live in UK? If I were you I would put an official complaint in as that doctor seems to have an attitude problem!
I had that experience also Dr came round on day of discharge after my HA he' didn't explaining things very well the sister that came round with him said to me she was disgusted in the way he treated me.
Id just like to thank everyone kind enough to reply with kind words and support after my hospital visit , it means a lot to me and I’m grateful to everyone who responded with advice and kindness . I did email PALS to say that I wasn’t complaining as such but I wasn’t happy with how I was spoken to and that I just hoped by contacting PALS that no other patients would have to be treated the sane way by this dr. I’m still shocked he was so rude . Hopefully I won’t need to go to hospital again unless it’s an appointment with the consultants I am seeing as an outpatient .
hi. Well done for contacting PALS. If nothing else, the doctor will be made aware of the impact he has had upon you and will hopefully be kinder in the future Xx
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