Useless GP

WHA

Had some blood tests a couple of weeks ago. Phoned for the results - receptionist says "the doctor needs to see you", so I make an appointment. After a 20 minute drive and 30 minute wait (she was running late), got to see the doctor, who "only works here on Wednesdays".

She asked me what the problem was! I said, "you asked to see me". Oh!! she says - do you know why? Yes, some problem with a blood test. So she starts looking at the blood test results. Absolutely clear, she didn't look at my notes beforehand since she had no idea what medication I was on, what diagnoses previous doctors had given etc.

After waffling on for a few minutes whilst frantically trying to work out why I had been called in, she had to admit she didn't know. I had to prompt her to check a couple of things that had previously been mentioned and then she "noticed" a higher than average reading on a particular test for liver function. She said she didn't want to change any of my current medication, and that it was "important" that I was aware of the problem. I asked what I could do to improve things, and she said, basically nothing, just wait and see, but it is "OK as long as I am aware of it".

So what was the flaming point of wasting over an hour of my time and 15 minutes of her time???? Medication unchanged, no lifestyle changes recommended.

So this morning, I was so annoyed at wasting my time for no reason, I telephone and insist on speaking to one of the senior doctors to complain about the "wednesday girl", He checks my notes and it turns out the liver problem is quite serious, has probably been caused by some other prescribed medicines, and does need medication, not to mention a change in the current medication. Whilst checking the results, he "noticed" that I am now also diabetic so I do need to go back to see him for review of current treatment and new treatment for diabetes.

So, how could "wednesday girl" not notice I was diabetic, and not realise the possible causes and implications of the Liver problem? She was quite happy to send me away with a "pat on the back" with no mention of when to return for a review etc.

There is absolutely no way I am letting this go. Formal complaints are on their way. After the GPs nearly killed my father in law last year due to poor diagnosis of something obvious, this is the last straw.

Doubling the money for the NHS - what a joke, they need to give some of the staff a kick out of the door!

webmasterpolo

That's a very harrowing tale, well done for pursuing your complaint this type of situation would probably be interesting to the papers if you felt they needed a push to help you or maybe you are not happy with the complaint outcome.

At the minimum they should sack the girl, beyond that l'm not sure whether there are compensation schemes in play for financial rewards, maybe a call to CAB would help get you some info, quoting legal terms and relevant laws will get your complaint taken seriously. Maybe even a no win no fee company, they are always advisertising medical mispractise claims wanted.

Hope you get some satisfaction. I'm certainly taking this as a warning not to take the receptionists word for anything, and only talk to the GP.

Queenie

:eek:
Thank goodness you were switched on enough to phone the Senior GP.

No advice ... just a ((hug)) (you'll have high blood pressure after that palava!)

Good luck with your complaint

Becles

Try talking to the Patient Advisory Liaison Service (PALS) at your local NHS trust. I found they were really helpful and sympathetic when I felt I had to make a complaint.

I had a distressed toddler with severe earache, and the surgery wanted me to wait two weeks for an appointment with the GP! After PALS were involved, the GP magically found a cancellation appointment and my son was seen that afternoon and given antibiotics for an ear infection.

Benuk73

When my Father was in hospital, a doctor came to see him, and didnt even know what was wrong with him and wasn’t aware of any of his other medical problems! He was dealing with a very sick man and the consequences could have been fatal! Thats our faith in Doctors !!

jazzyjustlaw

I hope you have plenty of money to sue a G.P. as you are going to need it in my opinion.

WHA

A quick update.

Just been to the doctors again. It turns out I'm not diabetic after all and don't have a liver problem. I researched my prescribed medication on the internet (mainly via the manufacturers own website!) and found that one of the tablets I am on has known side effects of elevating blood sugar levels (that determine diabetes) and impaired liver function. It is called a statin and is potentially very dangerous (it has been proved to have killed at least one person in USA due to muscle deterioration). Doctor quickly realised all this once I'd mentioned it and reversed the earlier diagnosis.

I asked why I was being prescribed a Statin - doctor said it was because I had high cholesterol. I asked for the actual "score" and he "ummed and aahd" a bit and then admitted that the numbers were'nt actually high at all and the statin was being prescribed only as a preventative measure and not actually needed! So I'm off the statin as well!

So, it turns out that I've been wrongly diagnosed as diabetic (with all sorts of financial and legal implications), un-necessarily been on diabetic control drugs and statins (both of which have other side effects), not to mention wasted an awful lot of time at the doctors and hospitals for one thing or another.

Please, everyone, don't take your GPs word for anything. All the information is on the internet, from Authoritative research, manufacturers websites, health websites, etc. Do some research yourself and question everything you are told by the so-called medical experts!

(By the way, I'm not interested in "suing" them, I instigated the formal complaint because I want to help change their attitudes. Not everyone complains for financial gain!)

Bossyboots

WHA wrote:

Please, everyone, don't take your GPs word for anything. All the information is on the internet, from Authoritative research, manufacturers websites, health websites, etc. Do some research yourself and question everything you are told by the so-called medical experts!

I know what you mean! My GP told me specifically that I did not have a particular problem with my feet. Five months later an orthopaedic consultant told me that in fact I did have that very problem which has been treated.

My follow up consultant then considered there was another problem with my foot and sent me for an ultrasound. I read the referral slip and looked up the condition he was looking for on the internet. It stated catergorically on several sites that there was only a 1 in 100 chance of picking it up on ultrasound. Needless to say I was one of the other 99. I was despondent after the ultrasound but then thought to myself that the consultant will surely know that just because it has not shown up, doesn't mean it is not there. No such luck. He simply said my symptoms bear out the condition but the test does not and referred me to a consultant at another hospital because he did not know what else to do. Four months on I have had treatment for the condition he said I did not have. The new consultant agreed that it is rare to pick it up from ultrasound and he sent me for a bone scan. He has treated me as if I did have it as, if the treatment works all well and good and if it doesn't he would know it was ruled out. So far I have quite a lot of relief from the treatment so fingers crossed.

Pennywise

Glad you mentioned the scan. That was the big issue relating to a relative of mine. All his symptoms indicated a particular problem, but because the scan didn't show anything, they decided it wasn't the problem. Days turned into weeks, into months, and FIL became weaker, suffered numerous other problems, (inc collapsed lung, blood clot, numerous infections, pneumonia), and on a ventilator. Eventually, having pillocking about for weeks, looking for other possible causes, they finally operated and found exactly what they thought it was on day-one. Scans are not accurate enough to deserve the amount of trust put in them!