Doctor's surgery wasting my time... AGAIN

bc3000

Hi everyone,

I've just come back from the Dr's surgery to pick up a prescription. I called earlier to check it was ready to save myself a trip if it wasn't, and they said it was there. When I went in they took ages to find it, and then told me I couldn't have it because it wasn't signed by the doctor, who couldn't sign it until this afternoon because he was seeing patients. (Does it really take that long to sign?!?!) So now I have to go AGAIN this afternoon to pick it up. Do they think I have nothing better to do with my life?!:mad::mad::mad:

The last time I went to my Dr was a week or so ago, to get malaria tablets. I totally forgot to ask for my normal dr, and so got a random one who "hadn't taken the travel course" and so would have to get her colleague (my normal doctor!!) to print off a prescription for me.

The time before that, as my Dr had stressed the importance of the rabies vaccine, I had an appointment to have the first injection. I told the lady at reception it was for rabies so I got an appointment with a nurse. No one had ordered it in (how was I to know the procedure for the vaccine!?) and the nurse couldn't help me with anything else, so a third wasted trip.

I'm so angry! Does anyone know where I can make a formal complaint? They've wasted hours and hours of my life, and more than that, I've had to miss work because of appoitments, so I've lost out on money too.

I feel like they're a bit patronizing too, and I'm sure that if I was 10 years older, they'd give me more respect than they do now.

Advice anyone?

ClareEmily

You have my sympathies very frustrating.

I have found this, don't know if a travel clinic in your area
http://www.travelhealth.co.uk/travelclinics/index.htm

To be fair the average doctor will just be dealing with colds and other bugs, and so for example a rabies injection is probably not something they deal with on a regular basis. No excuse for being patronizing to you though.

Clare x

krisskross

Are rabies injections available on the NHS? We had to pay for some travel injections.

bc3000

krisskross wrote: »

Are rabies injections available on the NHS? We had to pay for some travel injections.

No, I was willing to pay the £120 and the nurse got stressy with me on the phone, telling me not to get it, and that she wasn't going to order it in if I wasn't gonna pay for it!

I've always been polite to them, I find it rude who they can't return the favour

Errata

Start by talking to the Practice Manager if you feel staff have been incompetent and rude, there may be a training deficit. Escalate using the practice complaints procedure if you need to.

shellplod

Errata wrote: »

Start by talking to the Practice Manager if you feel staff have been incompetent and rude, there may be a training deficit. Escalate using the practice complaints procedure if you need to.

If u have no joy with doing the above, the next stage is your local PCT (primary care trust) They will independantly check it out. Good luck, hope it doesn't have to go that far tho.

JohalaReewi

Might be worthwhile dropping a letter into the local PCT. We have a local practice who tell the PCT they are meeting all their targets and the PCT think they are the bee's knees. In real life they are like the practice mentioned by the OP and patients get a pretty raw deal. None of the patients complained to the PCT so they were unaware of the situation.

Pink_fluff

The sad truth is that these days, many (not all!) Doctors, Nurses and the reception staff are very rude and treat you like you are stupid. Maybe that's just my surgery.

novamation

Pink_fluff wrote: »

The sad truth is that these days, many (not all!) Doctors, Nurses and the reception staff are very rude and treat you like you are stupid. Maybe that's just my surgery.

No, it's true of mine too.

spider125

PLEASE dont put all staff in that basket!!! I am a very stressed receptionist, but I and my collegues treat patients how we would like to be treated! I get abuse all through my shift but I also get rewards and thank yous, it takes nothing to smile ( even tho it may hurt!) I know there are some rotweillers out there who should try working in a supermarket, the first thing you should do is address the proble with practice manager ask if this can be discussed in practice meeting and can you be informed of the outcome, any good practice will have monthly meetings this can also be classed as a significant event quote wasting nurses time etc as welll as your own if no satisfaction the PCT should have a PALS service contact them, I would advice any one who comes across rudeness from practice staff to report it, after all we have policy to protect us from aggression and verbal abuse why not patients from staff??

cheapandchick

i would make a complaint to the practice manager in writing. These things seem to get ingnored if its over the phone. i had similar problems getting certain travel vaccinations at the doctors (ie anything other than tetanus & polio) - travel is after all a luxury and not a priority (ok i see their point but they could have just told me i need to go private instead of being so funny about it!)
i was in superdrug the following day and found that they had a travel clinic right in the centre of town, fully stocked, no issues - problem sorted! and i got 10% off afetr doing a customer satisfaction survey!