Should this be the District Nurse or Practice Nurse??

WhiteHorse

Mrs Manda:

Yes, it's true. I took professional advice before making a complaint. The regulations preclude upward referral.

That only refers to a complaint of course, not to legal action. No-one can stop you doing that.

You must speak to the GP in the meantime. Bear in mind that a stroppy or obstructive receptionist can be the basis of a complaint in itself. Nor does anyone have any right to know what you want to speak about.

Beware of any attempt to divert you to the practice manager for a 'chat'. That could be construed later as a complaint, and your rights forfeit.

VfM4meplse

This is definitely down to the DN. The attitude came free of charge.

First google "NHS (the name of your borough / county)". Start with the PCT PALS dept and ask them who to write to.

WhiteHorse

homeworkgirl wrote:

If I weren't worried about possible repercussions I would

The louder your complaint and the harder you press it, the less likely there are to be repercussions. What you must not do is hesitate or allow yourself to be intimidated.

The NHS is a political animal. Managers fear publicity.

You can get a great deal of assistance in the making of a complaint from ICAS (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service). Contact them via the Carers Federation. There is a website.

homeworkgirl

A bit of an update...

Dad took Mum back to the surgery today for re-dressing. Saw different practice nurse, very nice. Said no sign of infection now after antibiotics so doesn't need referring to the GP. Dad told her what happened with the DN team and she told him the same as a previous poster...that the DN had no right to take the decision to take her off her books and tell her she had to go to the surgery instead....she said it is quite a common occurrence though to offload cases onto the practice nurses. Her words were "we are here to treat the walking wounded" and the DN's treat people who find it physically challenging to get to the surgery." Anyway, Dad being Dad won't take it any further and complain and said that he would rather get Mum round to the surgery again, difficult as it is. Mum has also been getting worked up at the thought of seeing the "horrible" DN again. It really makes me mad to think that she had that effect on her. I still feel like complaining but won't as I promised Dad....but I said if it happens again then I will.

Thank you all for your helpful posts.

vikki_louise

Hi, I'm glad there is no sign of infection. Im having the same problems, my consultant wrote to my gp saying i needed injections from the community nurse as i was unable to travel for them (traveling causes my health to get worse), they are point blank refusing because the "nurses are busy with old people" (I'm 25 but its not my choice to be bedbound/housebound this age instead of 105). They seem a law to themselves (most cases its the people in charge rather than the actual nurses though)

VfM4meplse

homeworkgirl wrote: »

Mum has also been getting worked up at the thought of seeing the "horrible" DN again. It really makes me mad to think that she had that effect on her. I still feel like complaining but won't as I promised Dad....but I said if it happens again then I will.

I have to stress tha it is your duty to complain, once someone has go away with this kind of behaviour it quickly turns into the norm. Healthcare professionals that don't treat their patients with respect make me really cross, the DN's manager can't do anything with them unless evidence is received through a formal route. So the chances are the DN team leader and higher management think all is fine and dandy when there's a group of patients being made to feel like a nuisance. This is not the ethos of the NHS and the behaviour needs to be stamped out.

WhiteHorse

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I have to stress tha it is your duty to complain, once someone has go away with this kind of behaviour it quickly turns into the norm. Healthcare professionals that don't treat their patients with respect make me really cross, the DN's manager can't do anything with them unless evidence is received through a formal route. So the chances are the DN team leader and higher management think all is fine and dandy when there's a group of patients being made to feel like a nuisance. This is not the ethos of the NHS and the behaviour needs to be stamped out.

Exactly. These miserable creatures rely on their victims being too busy, too ill, etcetera. If they get away with it, things only get worse.

clairec79

vikki_louise wrote: »

Hi, I'm glad there is no sign of infection. Im having the same problems, my consultant wrote to my gp saying i needed injections from the community nurse as i was unable to travel for them (traveling causes my health to get worse), they are point blank refusing because the "nurses are busy with old people" (I'm 25 but its not my choice to be bedbound/housebound this age instead of 105). They seem a law to themselves (most cases its the people in charge rather than the actual nurses though)

Have to say when I had district nurses come out to do my injections the only comment was 'wow, you're young we normally only end up with old people'. I think the only thing that was changed due to my age (and more the fact I had 3 young kids) was she asked if she could come early (8.30) on her way to work. I think after 2 visits I offered to go to the clinic as I was a lot better by then, then after that I started not bothering and getting colleagues to inject me instead