Liver Biopsy.

[Lmm4]

Hi,

My liver biopsy results have returned, yesterday a letter was sent to my Hepatologist from his medical secretary but I cannot be told until the letter has been signed and approved by him.

Can anyone explain why they aren't telling me anything yet!

It's driving me insane.

The medical secretary told me I can't speak to my consultant as he's in meetings all day today.

She has advised she will call me and read the letter out when it's been approved.

It's very frustrating!

[lonmallin50]

They would never email my blood results to me unless they were signed off

[McEwan1962]

I completely understand your frustration from a patients point of view, however I am a medical Secretary and I would never give any information to patients without having checked with the consultant, sometimes, with letters the dictation can be difficult to understand and we need clarification, also if there are test results, medication etc they need to be thoroughly checked to ensure they are correct. The consultant may want o make some changes to the letter. If he then okayed me reading it to you, that’s all I would do. I couldn’t and wouldn’t be able to answer any questions you had. Although we are highly skilled and knowledgeable, we are not medically qualified and it is not our role.

[Readlots]

I received a routine letter following my clinic appointment which included details that clearly weren’t me. A temp had done the letter rather than my consultants normal secretary. I suspect she took the dictated ‘copy previous’ to mean copy the details from the last letter she typed, rather than the last letter to me. Although it’s frustrating having to wait, it’s better to wait and get the right information than push for information which may be wrong.

Also remember that if you have a liver problem, these people are going to be in your life for a long while. A good relationship with your consultant and their secretary is worth a little patience.