Need a serious vent

sorry for this but I need to vent about how useless at their jobs some people are

Ive not had treatment for my hip or an appointment with anyone since January. I called my pain doctor and said enough was enough I need something doing about this now, he then sent a letter to my doctor to get me referred to a special surgeon where he works. This was 2 months ago.

After not hearing anything for that long I called my doctors yesterday to ask what was going on, they simply said the sectary did it over a month ago and to check with them. I then called MSK to ask what the hold up was as it was sent through urgent, she told me my doctors had not only written the entire form incorrect they only sent half, MSK had sent it back to them to be sorted properly and my referral was put on hold until they received it. So I again call the doctors and they tell me this isn't true that they sent the whole thing with my letter etc so I ask for proof before I make a complaint. I got sent my referral form (which wasn't filled in correctly didn't have my condition on to or any relevant info nor was it written by my doctor or even a doctor I had ever seen) and that they had done everything their end. So again I called back MSK after sending everything over myself and the manager tells me that actually whoever I spoke to was wrong and they sent everything apart from the letter but it hadn't been read properly so it was just put to one side and there wasn't anything that could been done for at least a few months

After making a formal complaint about them , I get a phone call back saying I now have an appointment on Tuesday

If I hadn't chased this up myself nothing would of ever got done and I would be without help yet again, this isn't the first problem ive had with my doctors or MSK it just seems they continually do their jobs have arsed or not at all

[Madlegs1]

Typical! Just goes to prove that one has to be in the full of their health to negotiate the Health Services.

I was so fortunate when I was in hospital , to have powerful advocates in my spouse and daughters, otherwise I would be a crippled wheelchair user now , rather than a fully returned to health individual.

Well done for keeping after them.

More power to you.

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

This isn't the first time this has happened either, i don't need the stress of having to chase things like this or do peoples jobs for them. doctors receptionists/secretaries always think they are doctors and just end up getting everything horribly wrong

Ive been on morphine and tramadol everyday for over a year now and never even had a check up or anything I'm only 26 and have a small child its outrageous. i cant even change doctors surgery as the only other one in my area is even worse.

The NHS and the people they employ are just going more and more down hill . My mum works in the hospital shes a high up nurse so when I'm there i get amazing care and brilliant doctors but it just brings out the fact that most people don't get that kind of care and i only get that because my mum works there .

Thankfully the actual doctors ive seen through MSK are brilliant just again their receptionists and admin people having got a clue about anything

[zimcy in reply to Hidden]

I know what you mean I have been diagnosed with nine different things wrong with me and have had to chase GPs and consultants for the past seven years often to no avail and paying to see them privately it's disgusting after paying into the NHS for over 40 years.

[suegar in reply to Madlegs1]

i guess dr.;s are the same no matter where you live. i have somewhat the same problem. i live in a small town and we have a bunch of dr. wannabee. there's only one rhuematologist in town and she's good but not real good. she has a bad bedside manner and she ask's if she has seen me befor and i've been going to her for almost a year now. glad your family is helping you out and hang in there and good luck

[Hidden]

I am sorry you have had that experience and I have heard a number of stories like yours. I am not saying it is right but I think it is due to the lack of investment in the NHS. Sadly I think stories like yours will increase.

[Cb1963]

You must of felt like pulling your hair out, ultimately this shows people either being overloaded with work or just not concentrating on what they get paid to do, I had a couple of incidents where the chemist's counter staff were all having a joke in full public view and I just knew that this was not acceptable, so firstly I got my prescription, which was duly handed over, but I knew i was outstanding another one, so I said to her I'm needing some headache medication, and she said here it is, surprisingly I got back up the road and yep she's got it wrong, so I rang up and said is my headache prescription there, "oh yes awfully sorry", so pretty hacked off, and on another occasion I was having to get antibiotics via a drip in hospital and around 2am the nurse started to force the liquid by squeezing the bag to get it into my blood quicker, and within a couple of minutes my lips had become swollen couldn't stop scratching my head and my heart was racing and felt like my head was going to explode, she had to call the duty doctor to prescribe something to counteract the allergic reaction I had, so it seems like I said either rushed,meaning understaffed or not concentrating either way not a good situation to be in, but good on you for your perseverance and hopefully you'll have no further issues, good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Cb1963]

Omg pharmacists are awful aren't they lol , I've had multiple fights with mine but now they always sort my out properly and deliver them on time I must have something on my account to say I'm a huge pain in the arse if it isn't done properly.

Luckily having grown up with my mum as a nurse I know a lot more than most but the things they try to palm off to other people is just a joke. I was in hospital once with a cyst on my overy and rushed into A and E, the doctor looked at me for one second and said why didn't you just go to your doctor and take an ibuprofen you don't need to me here (I was screaming in pain as the cyst was nearly the size of a tennis ball) , it wasn't until I told him who my mum was that he gave me the time of day and rushed me straight in for treatment but I dread to think what would have happened otherwise.

I mean I understand the NHS is stretched etc but why go into a care sector if you really don't care about people.

Doctors (gps) nowadays only deal with coughs and colds other than that they have no clue at all it seems. My friends doctors whenever anyone calls they try to make them see the nurse rattan that the one doctor they have there and they have about 5 thousand patients it's just a whole big joke. And tbh it's not like it's free the about of nation insureance people pay and paying over 8pound per prescription it's awful.

I tried looking at the

[Cb1963 in reply to Hidden]

Suppose it could of been worse I might of ended up with somebody else's prescription and found out it was a months supply of 10mg of diazapam's, and then I wouldn't have a care in the world 😁

[Hidden in reply to Cb1963]

Lol I've never used it although I've been told I should because of the spasms buts with everything else I think I would prob keel over lol

Just always keep on st them , that's my motto anyway lol

[cyberbarn]

Have you talked to both PALS and your local Healthwatch about this? This is exactly the sort of information they need, as they can put pressure on which ever trust is running your MSK service to make sure that it is run more efficiently. They handle complaints about GP surgeries too.

The really silly thing is that if they got patients like you to sit around the table with them when they are designing services, these things wouldn't happen! And I would rather be sitting around the tables with them than having to do their job for them when it goes wrong!

[Hidden in reply to cyberbarn]

Yeah I've make complaints to both and the national NHS complaints. My mum works for a hospital so thankful she pointed me in the right direction.

I completely agree I have thought about doing something like this for a little no time as its not the first nor the last I'm sure that this has happened.

[Hidden]

I got a phone call from my doctors yesterday and the doctor told me a bunch of lies trying to get out of stuff and I told her that I had seem all the paper work and she shut up.

I then asked for a check up on my BP etc as I've been on tramadol cocodamol and morphine for over a year now and her response was well I don't feel we need to these painkillers don't effect your blood pressure of you body I'm sure you fine . I nearly screamed down the phone at her, how can a doctor be so stupid at their job. I called my mum (she works for the hospital as a head nurse) and I told her what she had said to me and she was completely shocked. My body went septic last year and I nearly died from my doctors being like this and I just hope it doesn't get to that point again.

I just feel like the doctors don't actually care anymore nor know what they are talking about