Is it ever worth complaining about a doctor?

Melonade

Afternoon all,

I'm seriously annoyed right now... I could scream :mad: This might be long!!

The doctor has yet again proved himself a total idiot (thankfully he's no longer my doctor anymore)

My uncle had an appointment on Monday, bad chest and difficulty breathing. Doctor said what ever he had seems to have broken and sent him home. No antibiotics.

My Dad had to take him to the local walk in this morning, he could barely stand/walk and still had problems breathing. They were more concerened about his blood pressure so rang the doctor who didn't want to see him (half day) They told him they could not let my uncle leave until the doctor agreed to see him... he eventually agreed. (doctor told the nurse at walk in he gave him blood pressure tablets on Monday... a lie)

They get there (2 minute drive) and the doctor has already gone but left a prescription for AB's.

I will ring tomorrow and let them know I'm not happy but this is not the first time we've had problems with this doctor :mad:

The first... My Dad was very ill, vomitting, coughing up phlem (sp) and in bed for 2 weeks. Doctor gave him some tablets (can't remember what for now) Anyway long story short... a few days later he was in an ambulance on his way to hospital with a bad infection that went to his lungs and brain (we thought he'd had a stroke at first) Stayed in for 3 months and had to have a heart valve replacement. He is well now but does have slight speech problems... stuttering mainly.

The seconds was in March this year. My Nan (84 y/o) had flu like symptoms and tried to get an appointment. They wouldn't see her even though my Uncle insisted and made her appointment for the week later. She died 2 days later of a heart attack. The coroner told us this would of happened anyway. I am annoyed as she had cancer, was old and they should of fitted her in.

The day she died the police told us to ring the doctor (half day again) to report it to them. 3 of us tried to get the number from their answer machine message and everytime it was not recognised :mad:

I am so annoyed with it all I want to complain. Who do I complain to? Is it worth it even?

So sorry to vent on here

LisaLou1982

I dont think i can help but just wanted to say *hugs*

I think you would probably need to start by writing a letter of complaint to the surgery.

Hopefully someone else can help more than me x

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Yes. For each occasion. To the PCT.

Because there will have to be an investigation for each, as part of the investigations, his abilities and knowledge may be tested, along with his adherence to regulations and guidelines and if there are actually a number of complaints over a period of years, action can be taken.


http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/NHScomplaints.aspx


And you can look on the BMA website to see if there is anything ongoing regarding complaints. Not always the details, as they may relate to the doctor's medical information, which isn't our business, but it's interesting to see sometimes.

Mindless_Clone

*hugs* sounds like he's a nightmare. Actually sounds a bit like my (and my mum and my brother's) GP who has made similar mistakes. He sits there on the phone or tapping away on his computer instead of examining you, and then can't wait to shove you out the door.

Do you have a practice manager? I think they are supposed to be your first line of complaint but you can go to PALs.

My dad is currently putting in a complaint on behalf of my mum to her GP for his latest idiocy. He was sent a form to complete by PALS I think.

I would be careful in your complaint to keep it concise and focus on what you can complain about. He may well have been right not to prescribe anti bs on the first visit (if your uncle had a virus they would not be effective) but to lie about prescribing him medication for blood pressure and then to chuck a prescription at him for anti bs under duress and without even seeing him is not on. I am assuming your uncle is is compos mentis and not got confused about the medication?

The other incidents, again, you're going to need details; what the GP told your dad was wrong, what he prescribed, what was actually wrong, could he have diagnosed correctly and prevented the extended trauma etc.

End of the day, GPs aren't specialists in anything and are making educated guesses a lot of the time so may not get things right first time and we do need to allow a little leeway for them for that... but they should at least respond when the chosen treatment is not working and show concern for their patients and examine them properly.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Terribly sorry. Not the GMC, the BMA.

http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/a_patients_guide.asp

Melonade

Thanks for the replies

I will check the link and see were to go from there. I have saved it to my favourites for later when I'm a bit calmer.

My Uncle definatley did not get confused about medication, he's all there. He didn't want to see the doctor really anyway because of his history of being totally useless. If nothing else I will complain about leaving a prescription with the receptionist for him. I'm sure that isn't how doctors are suppose to prescribe patients these days... unless it's a repeat which this wasn't. Also about the blatent lies about the blood pressure tablets!!

I'm not even sure my Dad will be able to remember what exactly he was prescribed (6 years ago) as the infection was already spreading round his body and his memory of it is pretty bad. My memory isn't great either, mainly as I was kicking off about the doctor not having a clue and stressing about my Dad needing to go to hospital.

Thanks again for the links and tips. Gonna head out for a walk maybe to clear my head a bit.

DUKE

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1083.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=158

Sorry I didn't see Jojo's post. I complained online after my Dr said that he didn't want to treat me as a cancer patient. When I asked why as he'd treated me before, he told me that my previous HRT cost £10 but the new one was going to cost £90. After slapping the prescription on his desk I walked out of the surgery & never went back. It took a few months for the complaints people to reply to me & nothing was done as they said that my life was not put at risk, however, it will be on record. Also my Oncologist's secretary told me that they'd had complaints about him before. Then a few weeks ago I was sent a letter from the new Dr to get my results, they failed to tell me that this appointment was urgent. I'm so furious! Do go ahead & complain & good luck!

KateLiana27

Yes.

Write, don't phone.

Send a letter to the practice manager in the first instance. If you send it to anyone "higher", they will usually just forward it on to the practice manager if you haven't exhausted this route already. If you aren't satisfied with the response you get, you will then be in a position to escalate it to the PCT etc as necessary.

Keep the letter clear and factual. Leave all emotions and anger out. Explain what you were not satisfied with and where you felt standards fell below acceptable. Be clear about what you want (an apology? an explanation? a review of his practice to make sure it does not happen again?)

And most importantly, MOVE DOCTORS. It amazes me the number of people who complain about their GP but stay with them. They aren't going to magically improve. Most GP surgeries will take new patients; you don't usually have to stick to the closest one, and you certainly don't have to stick with a doctor you are unhappy with.

Mara69

I complained about my local practice (that I have now moved from) - involved the PCT and eventually got an apology.

sleepless_saver

Can the OP complain on behalf of his or her uncle, or does the uncle have to do it himself?

savingmummy

Yes any complaints will be looked into and anyone can complain regarding anyones care.

The patient will also need to either countersign or write a statement too.