Help with complaint when Ombudsman does nothing

harry01

Complained about poor service from two hospitals and the health service overall with respect to a skin condition or parasite/thing that came from a dodgy seller of Amazon marketplace.

I complained as they still haven't treated it after 9 years and didn't even do a skin biopsy to establish what it is. 

The report from the ombudsman basically amounts to 'Yeah, this guy's nuts. Nothing to see here.' while admitting that dermatology is based mostly on visual inspection. Leaving it open to human error. 

Tests can be wrong and have a certain specificity and probability but when you have a sample of this 'thing' they should surely be able to do some lab analysis on it to find out what species it is. 

What frustrates me in all of this is I understand how causality works and in my opinion my reporting of this provides them information to act on but instead they are treating me as just being mad. 

I pointed out that it was impossible to be the thing that one dermatologist diagnosed. They incorrectly put in the report that those was confirmed and it was contradicted by another dermatologist. 

So after 9 years not one of them have accounted for an error or the possibility of error. Anyone else had this happen to them? 

I pointed out emphatically that there was no mistaking the onset of this as it was immediate and while they struggle to see it, I can. If I can see it it can certainly be analysed.

Because I see it, feel it, it does not mean I am wrong. I hope that at the end of this they will really consider how they evaluate evidence. Any input from someone who has been in the same or similar situation. 

Even acknowledgement would be a start. That would be a start. 

harry01

Anyone? 

Albus_Scope

Hi @harry01, I can see no one had been able to offer any advice on this. Have you managed to make any progress?

Sometimes if things are busy, posts get missed, so hopefully by commenting, I'll give your post a little boost so more people can see it. 

harry01

@Albus_Scope not really. The ombudsman did nothing. I'm on a waiting list for another hospital. I keep telling them that I want treatment after 9 years. They stopped my life. 

Albus_Scope

I'm so sorry to hear that @harry01, that must be infuriating!  Hopefully someone will see this and be able to offer some advice soon.  I hope the waiting list is quick at the very least. 

harry01

Thanks. I did see private dermatologists who didn't help but it coated a lot of money. I have to remain confident that a solution can be found. It should as it responded to a random shampoo from the body shop that has been discontinued. 

harry01

"Thank you for contacting our advice line on 17 January 2024. I am sorry to hear you remain unhappy with our decision.

 

I have tried to explain how we reached our decision over the telephone and in emails. When we have spoken on the telephone you have terminated the calls. I appreciate this is upsetting for you and sympathise with your situation. I do not wish to cause any further distress to you.

 

As explained in my previous emails, our decisions are based on the evidence and advice we have received. Unless you have any new evidence or arguments which would alter our view, we will not look at a decision again. We have carefully considered your calls, emails and new complaint form dated 10 January 2024. We do not consider you have provided evidence or explanations for why our decision is wrong. Because of this I’m afraid there is not more we can do to help you.

 

We will not consider your complaint further and this concludes our handling of your complaint. There is no further stage in our process. The only further route for you would be if you decided to apply for Judicial Review of any decisions taken in your complaint."

I can't even read it. It just makes me angry.

 

Albus_Scope

I understand the frustration and anger there if it's been going on so long.  You said it was a Body Shop product?  I'm taking it you've contacted them directly to talk about the issues that started after using the product? 

harry01

So the unidentified 'thing'/parasite that went on my skin and stayed there was sold to me as 'vaseline' on Amazon marketplace. The shampoo actually helped remove it when there was less of it on. (Yes, I wasn't in the best mental health and didn't connect the problem with the product/'thing' in it going on my skin and being so difficult to remove). 

Sorry, I hope that is cleared. I understand that it might not initially make sense why you would reapply something to your skin that causes a problem. 

Thank you for listening. I am hoping to hear this from a parasitologist or dermatologist. 

harry01

Anyone still there? 

Bananas

You might consider contacting your MP & PHSO for help

harry01

@Bananas thanks. I actually tried this. The ombudsman didn't really seem to engage with the actual complaint. 

harry01

It's all very weird but their response amounts to them not being able to make mistakes. No talk about what might change to diagnose skin conditions in future. 

Just that I must be in error. Noone sold me anything. It didn't happen. It's unbelievable really. So much for the scientific method.