Medical negligence Solicitor close to Guildford

Poppie68

jack_pott wrote: »

The people you need to speak to are the AvMA, they're a charity set up to provide legal assistance to those who are suing the NHS. They will be able to advise you whether a solicitor is the right course of action and help you find a suitable solicitor.

Don't expect anything from the PALS in a hurry, the NHS complaint system is designed to give people the run around in the hope that they'll give up and go away, the Health Ombudsman has published yet another report this week criticising them for just that. But then, the Ombudsman also gets panned for doing the same: the Rt Hon Quintin Hogg criticised the PHSO in parliament as a "swindle" and a "fraud" for leading patients to believe they're getting a fair investigation when the system is actually rigged against them.

My complaint went in last June, and I still haven't had any reply, but you're not allowed to escalate to the Ombudsman until it's gone six months. There's usomeone else on this forum who has had a complaint running for two years with no resolution, three or four years is not uncommon I gather.

If you decide to go via PALS you have a right to an "independent" advocate to assist you in preparing your complaint, but be very wary, they're not independent. Mine was an ex-NHS employee who was finding excuses to tone down the complaint and throw out as much as possible, the more you concede the more they try it on. I don't know who the advocacy service is for Surrey, it might be Healthwatch, but there are loads of different ones depending on where you are in the country. It took me weeks to find the correct one for my area, again another runaround designed to deter you.

The op hasn't got a complaint at the moment, just the belief that she should have surgery and the professionals believe otherwise.
PALS can speak on her behalf to the relevant people within the hospital and instigate a meeting where they offer support. Nothing the op has posted suggests negligence just a difference of opinion.

Poppie68

OP at this stage you need a second opinion, speak to your GP and see if they will refer you to a different hospital.

Atasas

He, but thanks, seeking as many options and options as possible, and getting depressed as why for such long time I've been so quite and stupid... DUH!

Atasas

Before Monday, hardly I will be able to do much, but would like to address Moderators, if this topic should have rather been discussed in consumer rights forum:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=173
??
With every passing hour, I am getting more and more convinced it is more of an legal issue, than health. Don't get me wrong- Procedure is what I want and need and I do not ignore fact of rare cases where such might be inappropriate, but, I am absolutely certain, consultant has been flobing me of, as lazy or picking on my accent, as I found him most unhelpful, careless already in 7 years of suffering.

Everything points out (so far, with collective help here) for me to:

1- ask GP to be reviewed by different hospital/specialist

2- address either AvMA and /or PALS in relation to records release

3- Depending on "2" consultations/ outcome- seek independent solicitor to undertake case of medical negligence, either the way would "2" recommend or... as stated in my original post- try finding "no win- no fee" solicitor, that would be local to me...

Any more ideas and suggestions please?

Many thanks!

ciderwithrosie_2

It would be pointless going to a solicitor at this stage or somewhere like the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman as they will want to know if all other avenues to resolve this have been explored first, so that would mean things like seeking a second opinion; putting a complaint in writing to the hospital's CEO, so that your case can be investigated formally, but be very clear what it is that you want as an outcome. It sounds to me like a breakdown in communication rather than medical negligence.

You can request a meeting with the Consultant to hopefully answer why you have not received surgery when you believe this would be the solution.

Also if you want copies of your medical notes you will have to ask the hospital (usually the medical records department) to send you a form so that you can apply in the correct way, although PALS may be able to assist with this, the clue is in the name Patient Advice and Liaison Service, they do not handle formal complaints.
There is usually a charge for copies of records.

FBaby

The op hasn't got a complaint at the moment, just the belief that she should have surgery and the professionals believe otherwise.

This is the best advice you've received so far.

With every passing hour, I am getting more and more convinced it is more of an legal issue, than health

How can you believe this is to be the case when the only 'evidence' you have so far that your treatment might not have been appropriate is what your 'friend' doctor has been telling you (assuming not even looking at your notes).

The fact that you have been progressively in pain is NOT evidence that the care you have received so far has been neglectful. The fact that you have not been offered the intervention that you DEMANDED is also not evidence of neglect either.

The fact that you have been seen regularly, received various tests IS evidence that even if you haven't received the most appropriate treatment, your care has not been neglected.

Do go and ask for a second opinion, but until you have done so, and if they are prepared to openly support your claim that the first consultant has been neglectful, then maybe you might have a chance of a successful claim, that is of course if it has been evidenced that the second consultant is right.

Poppie68

Atasas wrote: »

Before Monday, hardly I will be able to do much, but would like to address Moderators, if this topic should have rather been discussed in consumer rights forum:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=173
??
With every passing hour, I am getting more and more convinced it is more of an legal issue, than health. Don't get me wrong- Procedure is what I want and need and I do not ignore fact of rare cases where such might be inappropriate, but, I am absolutely certain, consultant has been flobing me of, as lazy or picking on my accent, as I found him most unhelpful, careless already in 7 years of suffering.

Everything points out (so far, with collective help here) for me to:

1- ask GP to be reviewed by different hospital/specialist

2- address either AvMA and /or PALS in relation to records release

3- Depending on "2" consultations/ outcome- seek independent solicitor to undertake case of medical negligence, either the way would "2" recommend or... as stated in my original post- try finding "no win- no fee" solicitor, that would be local to me...

Any more ideas and suggestions please?

Many thanks!

This is the appropriate forum

The Consumer Rights forum is for people that have problems with a purchase.

ManofLeisure_2

Doctors' do not like complaints. If you feel that your concerns are not being addressed I would advise writing to the Prcatice Manager of your surgery. In the letter you need to explain that you do not feel that your problems have been addressed to your satisfaction. Detail exactly what has happened and see what they say. A reply may clarify matters for you - hope so anyway

Poppie68

ManofLeisure wrote: »

Doctors' do not like complaints. If you feel that your concerns are not being addressed I would advise writing to the Prcatice Manager of your surgery. In the letter you need to explain that you do not feel that your problems have been addressed to your satisfaction. Detail exactly what has happened and see what they say. A reply may clarify matters for you - hope so anyway

She's complaining about the Specialist not her GP.

GP's don't have a problem with complaints because the majority of them are frivolous claims from a disgruntled patient... The more founded complaints are very rare in a GP practice.

ManofLeisure_2

Poppie68 wrote: »

She's complaining about the Specialist not her GP.

I didn't say she was - rather that she express what her concerns were.

GP's don't have a problem with complaints because the majority of them are frivolous claims from a disgruntled patient... The more founded complaints are very rare in a GP practice

GP's do have a problem with complaints - they are taken very seriously.