pavlovs_dog
17-10-2006, 6:38 PM
i was wondered what 'rights' we had as patients under the nhs?
to cut a long story short, future MIL is diabetic (currently controlled by diet and mild medication).
in june this year, she was diagnosed with advanced gum disease, as a result of the diabetes.
recently, she has been feeling under the weather. tests revealed she is struggling to keep her blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol under control, so she has been given stronger medication to try and reign this in.
however she also has other problems/symptoms which cannot be attributed to the blood sugar/blood pressure/cholestrol issue. using diabetic books and websites, she believes she has diagnosed what is wrong with her.
she raised this with the doctor today, who dismissed it out of hand, saying it cant be this otherwise you'd also have x, y and z symptoms. fair enough, he is the medical professional... yet at the same time, neither he (nor the other docs) have shown any interest in diagnosing what IS causing the problem, so that it can be treated/cured :mad:
understandably, MIL is worrying herself...which isnt doing her any good as she is already feeling off colour to begin with, without all this extra stress.
i want to know what are her rights as a patient? normally i would say to demand a second opinion, but none of the other docs seem to care either :rolleyes: ive mentioned to her the possibility of switching docs surgery, which may be a longer term option.
but in the short term, is she entitled to demand a referral to the diabetics clinic, or could she refer herself? the symptoms she is presenting certainly correspond with the issue which the doctor dismissed out of hand, and even if its not *that* it is highly likely to be related to her diabetes.
she is worrying herself sick, and i really want to be able to help her. at least if we know what her rights are, we will know how to proceed.
many thanks
pavlovs
to cut a long story short, future MIL is diabetic (currently controlled by diet and mild medication).
in june this year, she was diagnosed with advanced gum disease, as a result of the diabetes.
recently, she has been feeling under the weather. tests revealed she is struggling to keep her blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol under control, so she has been given stronger medication to try and reign this in.
however she also has other problems/symptoms which cannot be attributed to the blood sugar/blood pressure/cholestrol issue. using diabetic books and websites, she believes she has diagnosed what is wrong with her.
she raised this with the doctor today, who dismissed it out of hand, saying it cant be this otherwise you'd also have x, y and z symptoms. fair enough, he is the medical professional... yet at the same time, neither he (nor the other docs) have shown any interest in diagnosing what IS causing the problem, so that it can be treated/cured :mad:
understandably, MIL is worrying herself...which isnt doing her any good as she is already feeling off colour to begin with, without all this extra stress.
i want to know what are her rights as a patient? normally i would say to demand a second opinion, but none of the other docs seem to care either :rolleyes: ive mentioned to her the possibility of switching docs surgery, which may be a longer term option.
but in the short term, is she entitled to demand a referral to the diabetics clinic, or could she refer herself? the symptoms she is presenting certainly correspond with the issue which the doctor dismissed out of hand, and even if its not *that* it is highly likely to be related to her diabetes.
she is worrying herself sick, and i really want to be able to help her. at least if we know what her rights are, we will know how to proceed.
many thanks
pavlovs