NHS complaint

Hi guys,

I haven’t been around much since my chemical pregnancy as I felt I needed to withdraw from the fertility side of things but I have been dropping in from time to time and seeing some lovely success stories, wishing you all very happy & healthy pregnancies. To those of you with heartbreaking stories I send you love & strength to help you through these difficult times.

The reason I’ve dropped in today is to see whether anyone has made a complaint to the NHS for their mistakes, etc? & if so, how did you go about it?

I’ve been having pain in the area where my ectopic was. The doctor referred me to hospital to get it checked out but the hospital cancelled my appointment saying the consultant had reviewed my file & I didn’t need to see them.

When I was in hospital due to the pain, etc from the ectopic I had a scan. The consultant reviewed the scan & said thatvalthough all my pain was on the right hand side, I had an ectopic on my left ovary so they would have to remove that tube & potentially the ovary. I was given the option of waiting for a few days/a week to see if it resolved itself and because I was so upset (& due to the attitude of the consultant which I won’t go into) I decided to wait. A week later I had another scan which clearly showed the ectopic on my right hand side & a small cyst on my left ovary!

Anyway, went to the doctor this morning & she said she’s had a letter from the hospital to say that they cancelled my appointment as I couldn’t possibly have painnon my right when the ectopic was on the left!

They won’t check my tubes unless I have another ectopic as I’ve already had IVF on the NHS & am therefore not entitled to any further treatment/tests. Still don’t have a decent answer as to why they didn’t do that before the IVF, they said it was due to my age and they didn’t want to delay the IVF but I was 37 at the time...

Basically, they have completely washed their hands of me & couldn’t seem to care less if there’s something wrong as how could a 41 year old get pregnant??? & they obviously wouldn’t want to help me get pregnant at my old age.

I’m very angry about the way I’ve been treated and also with the consultant and want to put this all in writing to someone.

Any ideas?

Thanks xxxx

[kumkums]

Hi,

Sorry for what you are going through. I can understand in part as I have had to deal with doctors pushing me round like a table tennis ball.

Though I'm in Scotland, I got the email address of our NHS and I sent an email detailing the poor treatment I got so far and they looked into it and things changed and moved on well.

So of you can get their email address, you can just send them an email and maybe copy your GP.

Wishing you well with your treatments.

[Hidden in reply to kumkums]

Thank you for the advice, I’ll see if I can find an email address for them xx

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear about your experience. You can make a complaint via the Patient Advisory and Liaison Service at the hospital that you want to complain about. Google PALS and the hospital name. I would suggest sending an email- you should receive an acknowledgement email and then a response.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, that’s great, I will look into that! Xx

[Cinderella5]

Im not sure how things work in England unfortuately but hopefully someone here can help you out with some details....perhaps Dianearnold1 ?

Ive not had my tubes checked either, I just got sent straight to IVF due the fact that it was male factor that was the problem so Im none the wiser either....its just seems like what they do. Massively frustrating for you!xxx

[Hidden in reply to Cinderella5]

Seems ridiculous to go straight to IVF when they could have resolved the issue just by flushing some dye through our tubes. There must be some decent swimmers with both our hubbies that would make it if the coast was definitely clear - at least I live in hope anyway!!

Xxx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Hidden]

I know but then again I did ask what the chances were of it happening naturally and the Dr said "highly unlikely but you can give it a try"! I reckon my OH swimmers do the backstroke....the wrong way!😂😂xx

[Hidden in reply to Cinderella5]

Just realised I never replied, think we have the same problem...!! Xx

[Cinderella5]

Oh I've just remembered I saw someone recently mention PALS for making a complaint. Have a google for the contact details in your area.xx

[embiemomma]

definitely PALS! Ideally in writing (email) so you have a paper trail. If there's something to be sorted they will sort it. I had to use them and the issue was solved in 48 hours. I'm also in the medical profession so know about them from the other side. This is definitely the route you should take. Best of luck getting the answers you want xx

[Hidden in reply to embiemomma]

Thank you for the advice 😊 xx

[vic77]

I complained to nhs after the way we were treated during and after our miscarriage. .I checked their complaints procedure and wrote to complaints manager .needless to say the 20 day response period had past and I have heard nada..so sorry you have not been treated as you deserve and good luck xx

[Hidden in reply to vic77]

😕 So many people let down by the NHS, it’s just not fair xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Contact PALS at your hospital. I would also ask your GP to support your complaint and request referral to an alternative consultant preferably at a different hospital. Also request a copy of your notes from the hospital which there should be a minimal charge for.

[Hidden in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Thank you 😊 xx

[Hidden]

I agree with the other ladies I believe starting with PALS would be the way to go.

I’m truly sorry to hear the way you have been treated and good on you for complaining; unless people say things nothing will ever change.

I’m also sorry to hear of your loss I had early miscarriage one last year and it’s just devastating.

I recently thought about going through PALS ( I posted on here about it) as my endo specialist was prepared to “ignore “ my severe symptoms till my lap in 8 months I felt so desperate ; luckily my GP wrote to him over my severe symptoms and my fertility specialist got involved and it’s now being taken much more seriously by the endo specialist 🙄. Its awful that is what it takes for some medics to listen 😩

Good luck with the complaint and will love to hear a update 👍

P.s I thought it was standard to check tubes before deciding on fertility treatment? xoxo

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I thought so too...

I’m so sorry to hear about your loss too 😢

I’m glad to hear that you have now been referred to a specialist and that the nhs are finally helping you. It makes me so angry that they throw money at some completely unnecessary things but don’t help out people who genuinely need medical assistance! Good luck with everything xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It shouldn’t be like that... 😡

Thank you. I’m lucky I have such a good fertility doctor he’s so supportive 👍

I got my surgery date thanks to my GP and fertility specialist it’s been brought forwards to 9th July 😊

Good luck with your complaint let us know how you get on xoxo

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That’s brilliant news! I hope everything goes well xx

[Hidden]

The first thing they did at my NHS clinic was check my tubes - they wouldn't let us do anything until they saw what was going on....

How strange...

Xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Funnily enough, you aren’t the only person to say that!! I feel very let down still xx

[glt01]

Hi, you can either write to the clinic direct or contact your PALS team. Personally I would recommend contacting PALS as they are bound by contract to reply to complaints within a set time period and have to keep you updated with how your complaint is processing and what the outcome is.

With regards to your pain I would ask your GP to refer you onto gynaecology as that may be able to offer some assistance. They can't leave you like that and you are entitled to a second opinion so maybe highlight this to your GP so they can refer you requesting one. Good luck and I hope you get sorted x

[Hidden in reply to glt01]

Thank you 😊

My doctor has referred me back to gynaecology and disputed what the consultant said so hopefully I’ll get checked out at least. It does mean that i’m Going to have to wait for ages for another appointment though... xx