Uncooperative GP

[Eulophia47]

My husband died in summer 2022 in hospital. At the time I was having very successful B12 loading injections for anaemia but after his death I was overwhelmed with work. I had asked the surgery not to use my mobile phone number (which they insisted on having) and use my landline instead but the GP who was giving me these injections left two messages on my mobile phone asking how I was getting on but I didn't see these messages for about a month, I was so busy trying to deal with the aftermath of my husband's death and the huge amount of work I had to take on - the finances, the garden, the upkeep of the house, repairs, etc. I had an appointment to see the GP for my first non-loading dose in May 2022 but when I went to the surgery my appointment had been cancelled. After the last loading injection I felt fantastic and skipped up the hill to my house.

That was nearly two years ago. Since then I have seen a haematologist who has been a great help with iron and a blood transfusion which has made me feel a lot better. But I'm still tired all the time, with pins and needles in my hands and feet, and terible cramps in my thighs and hands.

Last week I decided to try and talk to my original GP about resuming B12 injections but when I went to see him he didn't look at me, just stared at his screen with an irritated look on his face and said my B12 levels were fine. He recommmended I buy a book to read - "The 4 Pillar Plan" by a Dr. Chatterjee - which I did, but it has nothing to do with my B12 health problem.

I want to find another surgery but I don't know how to go about doing that. Any advice?

[Nackapan]

Can you see another G.p at your surgery?

Was that a recent B12 test?

As its over a year since your last b12 injection it couid be compared to the result that triggered your initial loading doses .?

I wonder what that Gp meant

Levels are fine . When it was done?

Write down symptoms that have returned or new.

Write to the practice manager if unsatisfied with care.

What result he/she was looking at.?

Ask for a print out of your blood results to see for yourself .

Or get access on an app .

More form filling bit if you use a mobile useful .

Have a fried ,relative to help you . Go with you to another appointment.

The haematologist could help you with B12 too.

Ask them to write to Gp.

You can ring other gp surgeries in your area .

No guarantee they will have spaces.

Also usually have to be in catchment

Often local surgeries are in groups now so you don't gain anything as same doctors rotate.

All I can think of .

Glad you are managing to get life back on track after your sad loss of your husband.

[Narwhal10]

Dearest Eulophia47,

May I express my sincerest condolences on the loss of your husband. A very difficult time and there is a massive amount of work to be undertaken after we are bereaved.

I am extremely sorry that your surgery could not follow simple instructions. You had specified which was your contact number. They failed to listen. This actually falls under the General Data Protection Act (2018). So, they breached it twice by leaving two messages.

With regards to your injection being cancelled in May 2022, I can only suggest it is the chaotic, disorganised NHS. It is good to read that the haematologist has sorted out your iron levels.

Your GP sounds like an absolute delight, is totally uneducated in PA/B12D. A computer clearly tells a person that another person sat near them has pins and needles in my hands and feet and terrible cramps in their thighs and hands. Your GP may also be good friends with Rangan. So, is merely trying to boost his book sales. (Please note my humour is sarcasm).

I shall reply by Thursday with a more comprehensive plan. I do recommend that you join the PA Society because this disease/condition is poorly understood, often misdiagnosed, mistreated and under treated.

Best wishes

[jointpain]

I'm sorry to say, that as you have reached the age of 80+ , you probably have fallen off the radar from any profit to be made from having you as a patient. GPs are driven by profit and an early retirement.

[newlandvale in reply to jointpain]

So true

[Bellabab]

Your GP gave you the wrong book reference - he meant "Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Clinical Practice." ISBN978 1090400819.

[Narwhal10]

Hello Eulophia47,

Yes, of course you can change GP Surgery. The easiest way is to type into a Google search :- Finding a new GP Surgery ( then your city or town ). If you are in England then you can use

nhs.uk/service-search/find-...

You may have to register on-line. Write everything out first so you have all the information to hand including your NHS number.

Please write in your notes (on the computer) :-

[ Date of 1st B12 injection ] - 6 doses of 1 mg/ml of Hydroxycobalamin E.O.D. for 2 weeks for Pernicious Anaemia/ Vitamin B12 deficiency.

May 2022 attended ( name of old surgery ) for 3 monthly Hydroxycobalamin injection. It was cancelled without any explanation and I have not received any further treatment to my detriment. Neurological symptoms persist including dizziness and peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, Fall Risk as per NICE [CG161].

[ Start date ] of seeing [ Name of haematologist ] at [ name of hospital ] for Iron Deficiency Anaemia. Blood transfusion received and [ any iron supplementation ].

Medical History since 2011 - Macrocytic anaemia. (Enlarged red blood cells).

It takes anywhere between a few and ten days for your information to be processed. Depending on how cheeky you are, you could walk in to the new GP Surgery and say to the receptionist, I am a new patient, I need my B12 injection. It is overdue.

They will not know what to do because they cannot access your data on the computer. So, they will fit you in to see the nurse. Then you will be given a date for your next 3 monthly injection.

Best wishes, sweetheart.

[Eulophia47 in reply to Narwhal10]

Thank you, Narwhal10 and all the others who replied with helpful hints as to how I can proceed to get out of this morass.

I looked up Healthwatch Swindon for advice and they said I should talk to the GP in charge of complaints at my local practice. You guessed it, he happens to be the one who couldn't wait to get rid of me last week when I went to discuss injections with him. No point in wasting my time with him.

My haematologist will be getting a bag of my blood from my local surgery next week and I'll be talking to her soon, so I will see if anything has changed. As soneone on here pointed out, if she treats me with a txfusion or other blood input, it will just confirm that the GP is reading the result soon after and can say I'm fine.

All your comments have made me want to persevere to get some action.

Thanks to you all.

Eulophia47