I know doctors receptionist get a bad rep but with the exception of one mine weren't bad, until a few weeks ago.
My husband had to have a triple by pass he was treated at the William Harvey in Ashford, but they work with Kings College so he was under a consultant there. He wanted to get my husband operation done ASAP so he could go back to work, so he used the private hospital he also works at London Bridge.
Everything went well he was home in a week, I rang my GP as instructed to get a home visit and a nurse, that's when problems started the nurses failed to turn up 3 times and they managed to give him E. coli in his leg wound. I rang London Bridge to tell them because I was frightened, so the nurse rang my doctors to ask where the community nurses were. They've not done anything and have been really rude to me ever since, wouldn't let me make an appointment and told me my GP can't prescribe the salbutamol for my nebuliser unless my consultant says so.
Last week my husband went in to try and arrange a treadmill test so he can go back to work now London have signed him off, they told him he needs the nurse, she rang to say they were wrong. Went back today, the nurse appeared at reception and said because you went private things are different.
So now it all makes sense why they've been funny, I don't know what to do but I've lost all faith.
Anyone's ideas or opinions would be great.
Kim xxxxxx
Written by
kimmy59
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I've heard of complications arising when someone goes private then back to NHS before. Have no idea how you can resolve this but I am wishing you the best of luck.
That's just my point he didn't go private it was NHS, the consultant just treated him at London Bridge to speed up the waiting so he can get back to work. The receptionist have just decided that it was private so are being funny, but they're doing it with me as well now. Xxx
I would definitely be making an appointment with the lead GP or one you get along with. Explain briefly & ask how you might get it across to the receptionist that your husband did NOT go private & therefore expects the same respect & treatment of any other patient.
Surely they're discriminating or something? I'm bloody furious on your behalf, how bloody dare they. Also you dont ever have to tell the receptionist your private business with the GP. I absolutely never would. Just tell them with a smile that it's private. What happened to confidentiality? They're breaching that too. You could 'ave 'em Kimmy.
Thanks so much, I was beginning to think it was me. Actually it's only a small practice and my doctor is very nice, unfortunately I think one of the receptionist is his wife. I got on with all the others until the London Bridge rang to ask why nurses hadn't been in and why my husband had E. coli, the receptionist rang me saying she had been told off.
I too have had a bad encounter with doctors receptionists.
3 days on the trot I tried to get an emergency appointment and was told none available.
I was getting worse and having more frequent exasperations which my medication was not improving.
I eventually phoned the hospital who sent an ambulance for me.
The consultant took a fit when I told him the saga of the receptionist and phoned my doctor direct.
The problem was that this girl had no Idea I was on a red list and didn`t even know what times emergency appointments were.
The upshot of all this has been a big shakeup in the department and a return to older experienced staff dealing with high risk patients like ourselves.
I know that this is slightly different to what you are talking about BUT, the NHS have an obligation to maintain a program of care to any individual who requires medical attention regardless to who they are or what referrals were organised by the NHS for them.
I would defiantly pursue this matter with the referral doctor and your practice manager and anyone else that can get this sorted out in case of future needs.
It is outrageous that you were treated this way under the circumstances, I am only glad that things turned out well.
That must have been horrible for you, they really annoy me the way they play fast and loose with our health. I am going to complain, he's got to wait until 9th for an appointment now. I'm really angry.
No wonder you are angry, as you are both being penalised for someone else's decision. To have to wait till the 9th for an appointment is wrong, that's a ten day wait, on top of the fact the aftercare was withheld. Pals do still assist in cases like these but some practices have a patient representative team also. I recently used the practice manager to resolve a failing in care, which got it dealt with quicker. Hope you get this sorted soon you don't need added stress right now, thinking of you best wishes x
Thank you to everyone for your replies, I feel much more confident now.
My sister and brother in law are Ex civil servants so they will draft the letter, I'm going to do it the proper way otherwise it just turns into a slanging match, and my husband is going to email his surgeon later about having to wait for the treadmill referral, with any luck he might offer to do it up there. I'm going to find exactly where I have to complain to, but I might start by going to my doctors first, only because he's normally ok once you get past the Gestapo.
I had an Ablation in a private hospital but it was on the NHS and everyone was fine with it as it is common knowledge that they do these in the private sector. It seems in your case they are not looking at facts but making their own minds up, Wrongly!
Yeah they are. But even if he had gone private for the operation it's none of their business, my husband said weeks ago that's what it was. Thing is we live in Medway in Kent when he had the heart attack the paramedic sent the heart trace to Ashford because they do the stent ops, Ashford told them to bring him there, when he got there they said a stent wasn't possible as he needed a triple by pass so he was referred to Kings College. What I don't understand is all the letters are NHS from London.
I can be as bit of a pain when it comes to my fellow man being abused and disrespected.
The way I look at things is, we are all created the same in the eyes of god, so , them who think the know or are blatantly dismissive and think they are better than everyone else should think on.
You never know what is round the corner just waiting to bite you!
As the saying goes " what goes around, comes around"
Hoping that a good healthy New Year comes around for us all.
I would go back to your consultant who did the by pass, I was registered at a GP practice for 50 years the receptionist were like Rottweiler I moved to another piratic last year.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
What A Birthday I Had !
really anxious after NHS appointment 
When the drugs don’t work
Lung reduction operation 
