Am I in the wrong or is the doctors?

Cat39

This is going to be a long post so apologies for that but to sum it up my doctors is bring very.... iffy with me.
I moved here 3-4 years back and have been at the same GP for two of those years and I've only been into see them myself a handful of times, at the start of this year (so six months back) my health began rapidly declining.

 I'm 'm meant to be under several doctors for various conditions and wasnt, despite needing frequent mri scans on my spine. So as my health began to get worse I thought it was time to get referred back to the hospital, this was when I began having issues. Firstly my doctors didn't have my notes despite me being with them for a year plus, I was told they couldn't help me without the notes. So I went through hell and got my paper note from my old GP and hospitals.
After this I went back several times to attempt to sort it and was more or less ignored and yelled at for wasting the doctors time because my notes wasn't on the system! Finally on my forth attempt she got my paper notes out and sorted it, I was told not to go back to them again about it, not to contact them about it. At this point I'm now in constant pain, I can't go out anymore, I can't move sometimes.

It took two months to hear back and get my referral.

Since then I've had to go back sadly, it's the only GP in my area, and I've got hell from them each time despite seeing different doctors each time.
Last time I went complaining of stomach pains, dizziness and VERY heavy periods which I suspect is causing anemia and vitimin deficiencys (which these doctors have diagnosed me as having). 
I was put on the mini pill because the normal pill would be dangerous for me to take, had lots of issues and went back. The doctor tried to put me on the normal pill! I have chronic migraines and family history of blood clots and heart attacks, I can't be on the normal pill and I've been told this by two different doctors!

So I'm not to sure if it's me being unreasonable with them or if they are genuinely being awful towards me? Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? 
They've even started to refuse to give my little boy his prescriptions and I've had to have his specialist call them about it, it's like everything is a fight with them.

Cat39

Title was meant to say in the wrong, not win, sorry!

thespiceman

Hello @Cat39 Pleased to meet you welcome.. I found best way is consult the surgery practise manager . Every surgery has one.  The ordeal been not only traumatic but difficult.  Which it has.

Then insist speaking to an advocate.  There are organisations out there to represent your views and opinions.

As for your medical notes this the duty of the surgery but also yourself. Just to make sure they are aware of your history. Just recently signed up on line for prescriptions. So can order on line. Have isolation and struggle with getting out not good physically and mentally. 

The website offers a service to view my records and I am only one who knows on it beside the doctor . Perhaps that could be a solution. Because not only the service I have said but others as well.   Such as book on line for appointments and advice for consultations on a range of specialists.

Further to that I would just leave. Yes it is the only surgery in the area but no one should be treated like that at all.

You are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect . If not then find another medical group.

I had the insistence of asking for one doctor only.  Always do if not then ask why.  Also have been there with doctors and bought in advocate.

Works every time.

Hope that helps. Remember if it is not working for you please change the doctors.

Take care

@thespiceman

Misscleo

Hi for 15 months I have been asking to see practise manager he wont speak to anyone.
There are problems with mophine tablets going missing plus statins and blood presure tables. 
The chemist phoned the practise ..no one would speak to him either.
Chemist trted to find our who was messing with perscription couldnt get an answer to that either.
Anyone know who I should speak too ?

Cat39

Misscleo said:

Hi for 15 months I have been asking to see practise manager he wont speak to anyone.
There are problems with mophine tablets going missing plus statins and blood presure tables. 
The chemist phoned the practise ..no one would speak to him either.
Chemist trted to find our who was messing with perscription couldnt get an answer to that either.
Anyone know who I should speak too ?

Maybe ask to file a complaint with the practice or try speaking to one of your doctors about it.

thespiceman

Hello @Misscleo   Sorry about you situation. Only solution if not happy to either to leave or contact the NHS website.   Usually it is your area and trust that deals with your surgery and medical practice.

I believe there are people there to ask for assistance and to speak to.  Who you can talk to and discuss the problems.

Every one has a right to medical care and to be treated decently, fairly and most of all respected. 

Hope that helps.

@thespiceman

veriterc

This sounds very much as if you are caught up in the 'post-code lottery'. I know it is probably difficult to change surgeries, since the NHS has been encouraging all surgeries in one area to amalgamate, and if you can't see the Practise Manager can I suggest contacting the Patients' Association?  It is free and I have found that they are full of good practical advice.  You could also contact your MP.  Most are not very helpful, but the fact that you have contacted them will concentrate the minds of those who are being 'unhelpful' !
Good luck. 

littleruthie123

Hiya how awful for you .you can ask you surgery for a statement of care . (Can't remember the exact wording )..I did this at my surgery when they started saying similar .might be duty of care!.my surgery completely changed after I did this .as normally they don't want you too complain.if I was you I would complain and move too a different surgery .even if a surgery isent in your catchment you can write and I ask them too take you on (I've done this ).good luck xx

Misscleo

Thank you for your advice 

Topkitten

I am not sure I have followed this correctly but will try to make things clearer.

If you have problems with GP's at a surgery the first step is to contact the Practise Manager by letter. If the problems continue then contact the PM again and this time insist on raising a complaint. There is a set procedure that follows and your complaint should be recognised and you should be told it is in progress almost immediately. If the problems persist then the next port of call is to contact NHS England. They will initially try to help without you having to raise a complaint but if they cannot then again raise a complaint with them specifically. Again you should be notified it is in progress and again there is a set procedure. Beyond this though it gets very airy fairy. You can contact your MP but then any help from them depends on whether they can be bothered with your particular problem. Also there should be an Ombudsman in your area to cater for such breakdowns. Do remember though that your actions and temperament will be brought into question in their defence as soon as you make anything official.

If, as you say, there isn't another surgery in your area then even if you get de-registered (which some surgeries do to prevent problems) you can contact ACE who will get you assigned to another surgery or put back with the same one if there are no alternatives. It is against the law to leave someone with no medical assistance.

Being de-registered means that the surgery will no longer support you from 7 days from the date of the letter they send you to inform you. The same letter will give you contact details of how to contact ACE. This letter is mandatory by law if they want to provide you with no further support to avoid dealing with you.

Hope this helps.

TK

Misscleo

Yes it does.
I have found 1 doctor who is getting me seen by a surgeon so that's a step in right direction. 
The chemist has phoned docs and tried to find out whos messing with perscriptions. They wouldnt talk with him. Neither would their manager
I finaly got my morphine 2 weeks later. By the date its a new perscription. My other one is "lost" by the receptionist 

Topkitten

Most surgeries, especially those with more then a couple of GP's, have a prescription team not usually made up of receptionists who handle most prescriptions and all repeats. Only if you visit the GP and get him to do the prescription there and then will this system be circumvented.

TK

veriterc

I really feel for you, but what a shame that things can get so bad.  When I lived in London I changed GP surgeries three times in three years because GPs had decided to de-register and become private - saying they were fed up with NHS, paperwork etc.  All of these are thriving as private practices, but left our area registered with one mega-surgery, which had an awful reputation.  One day I was waiting in Reception and overheard Receptionists crowing over how many new patients they had signed up that week - it was obvious they were playing numbers game but didn't care about patients.  But it shows how patients can be unimportant - it's all a numbers game.

Waylay

I'm so sorry to hear this. I made a complaint to PALS about a mental health issue about 6 years ago. The issue was resolved, although I was then classed as a "difficult patient" at that MH service. It sounds like they treat you that way anyway, so you don't have much to lose.

https://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1082.aspx?CategoryID=68

It sounds like this situation is very stressful. How's your mental health? I'd be getting depressed and anxious in this situation! Can you see a counsellor for some support with this?

Cat39

So as a little update to my issue, I have got my boyfriend/carer to fill a complaint about all of this, he's also agreed to come with me to all doctors appointments from now on even if I say I can handle it.
They wasn't very happy we filed a complaint and the staff seemed pretty panicked about it all, guess we aren't the only one who's complained.  

Luckily next year the doctors will be shut down and reopened elsewhere with a bigger building and more staff so hopefully once we've moved over to the new one we won't have as many issues.