Am I expecting too much?
 

Imagine the situation.

You've got an appointment at the doctor's (difficult enough in itself). You've arranged time off work/finishing work early in order to attend. Doctor's receptionist rings up on day of appointment. Doctor has cancelled as he is going to a funeral. Fair enough but isn't it possible for one of the half dozen or more other doctors to split the patients between them and see a few extra? No, apparently not because they work too hard already. Therefore it is now necessary to arrange alternative time off work. You explain that it's the kind of job which doesn't really lend itself to having odd times off as it involves letting down other people who have hired you. Receptionist says "couldn't you arrange for someone else to cover?" EXACTLY my point!

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

The receptionists at Peel House are about as much use as a chocolate teapot. It amazes me how they manage to keep their jobs - they couldn't run a **** up in a brewery, so is it any wonder that the appointment system is in such a shambles?:rolleyes:

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

Oh willow, if only you knew.

I had to try and get a doctor to come out and visit Daddiboo not long ago, i think the doctor thought something might happen to her if she came out because she really DID'NT want to come out to see him, he had Labrynthitus he laid in bed for a week vomiting everytime he moved he lost over a stone in weight in 4 days she wouldnt come out she said if he comes to the surgery i will see him, I tried to explain that he couldnt get out of bed without being sick she then very rudly said i will leave him a prescription to stop him being sick someone best collect it before 6pm!!!.

The tablets didnt work so i called them back she was very arrogant and said right i will see him sometime today she came and gave him another prescription.

He finally got better 2 weeks later after building himself up. (no thanks to this doc) she wasnt even his doctor she was one of the others from the surgery.

Daddiboo has had the same GP for 22 years and hes never ill.

its nice to know that when you really are ill your GP will be there for you (NOT).

Phew sorry for blethering on abit there but it gets right up my nose.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

That is a typical ludicrous situation. I'm not surprised it gets up your nose. Is there no concept these days of people being too ill to get to the surgery?

There used to be signs up in Peel House saying that home visits were not acceptable and get yourself down to the surgery. It actually said that if you are too ill to drive transport is available by bus, taxi or friends with cars! Bloomin cheek. No acceptance of the fact that somebody could be too ill to travel. I once asked them who would pay to have the car cleaned after a child had thrown up all over it and would they really like the mess on the floor etc down there. The reply to that was "bring a sick bag"

Did you see in the paper this week where an elderly gentleman has now been refused treatment by his GP because he couldn't get there? The sarcasm from the doctor was unbelievable.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

i complained to a doctor at peel house about 18months ago cos an old chap was waiting outside for half hour in the cold n rain the guy was about 75,the doctor told me this was not the place to complain. end of story.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

You can complain to the manager of Peel House (not sure what the fancy job title is) and if you look on your medical card, theres an address in Preston to write to as well. Only problem is that if the staff get to know that you have complained they will be even more obstructive.:rolleyes:

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

the doctor didn't tell me,and i bit my lip,or i would have exploded i was really angry for the poor old git.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

my wife was not well for a while she kept getting sent for tests , but they kept saying there was nothing that they could find. so one day she was bad so i had to take her to the hospital (doctors oncall). this doctor said he send her for more tests. So i said afew words (nothing outragous). about her keep going for these tests & nothing getting done. So the next time i went to the doctors i was told that i was abusive which is now on my records. so at the end of the day they can do as they want if you say anything you are abusive.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

GPs should provide alternative cover when they have personal functions to attend, weddings funerals etc. We have to provide that kind of cover within the hospital so I don't see why they cannot provide the same cover in the community. There are plenty of GPs out there who are more than willing to do locum work to cover such events. The surgery would have to pay them of course..:rolleyes:

If you are rude to the doctors, nurses or staff within hospitals it will go down on your records. This will not stop them from treating you unless you have been violent and then the hospital has every right to terminate your care and send you elsewhere ie, to another health district. This is to make you think twice about violence by making you have to travel to receive care. If you have been violent to a member of staff they may also prosecute. General complaints are followed up so long as you complain in the right way, reasonably, without shouting or swearing and it also helps to put your complaint in writing. Complainig about your care does not affect future care that you may receive, in fact many of the hospital nurses and doctors will be totally unaware that you have complained as this does not go on record and is followed up separately by management. Only the specific staff involved in your complaint will be aware that there is a gripe in about them. I don't know how this works within GP surgeries and can only speak for where I work.

People will complain about anything within the NHS. Some of the complaints are so petty and funny that it beggars belief. I will give you a couple of examples.

When a woman has a baby she is presented with a Bounty Pack. This pack is supplied by a private company and nothing to do with the hospital. The company has an agreement with the hospital that they can work on the premesis and the company often supply photographs. The contents of the pack include lots of advertising bumf for baby stuff, money off vouchers and free samples of various baby products. A couple of years ago we received a written complaint from a lady who said that there wasn't enough free stuff in the pack for her to be able to use on her baby for any length of time!!!!!!!

Now my reply to this would have been "you have had 9 months to prepare and buy stuff for your baby, stop expecting a free ride." It's a damn good job I'm not a manager.

Another example is.....Several years ago a lady came to see one of our medical specialists. Her GP had referred her because she was grossly obese, pregnant and he thought that she had a thyroid problem and had told her that her thyroid wasn't working properly although never started her on any medication. After lots of thyroid function tests, consultations with the dietician, other blood tests and the keeping of a food diary the lady came back for her results. Our specialist told her "you are overweight because you eat too much, there is nothing wrong with your thyroid." The lady complained because she was offended. This specialist is the nicest doctor you could ever meet, but he is honest. Sometimes people complain because they are told what they don't want to hear, ie your condition is your own fault...:)

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

OMG i shudder to think what the notes say about me folly,i'm not exactly tact and diplomacy personified lol

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

Two years ago my partner became ill while visiting me. As he came from another area his doctor wouldn't come to see him. I rang NHS direct who gave me advice on what to do to help him get better I followed the instructions to the letter. 24 hours later he was worse I rang NHS direct again they told me to ring my doctor for my partner as a temporary patient. I did this only to be told they didn't accept temporary patients but if I got him to the surgery she would try to squeeze him in. I explained that he couldn't stand never mind get down stairs to which the reply was 'sorry not my problem'. Having reached the end of my tether I rang for an ambulance He was taken to Blackburn where we found out he had double pneumonia & because of his excessive vomiting was so dehydrated his organs had begun to shut down!!! I rang my doctor to tell her she said 'oh I didn't realise it was that serious.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

But surely in the case of Peel House where they have at least half a dozen other doctors they could have sorted it out between themselves and not had to bring in outside assistance? If hospitals can do it then so should they.

It is very scary when people are being fobbed off and they have a serious problem. I've heard today of a fireman who died in hospital as they never got round to doing an operation and the staff have told his family they are sorry for any distress caused!!!!! Sorry for any distress?????? The man is dead!

Is it any wonder that patients and their families react with what is now being classed as verbal abuse when things like this happen? There is never any excuse for violence towards GP or hospital staff but I can understand how voices end up being raised and a few choice words being used.

I can empathise with the "tests" saga as I'm in the middle of something like that myself. The hospital seemed to think something needs doing and referred me to see my GP to discuss the test results but the GP I saw said it's not serious and they don't need to do anything. I asked why the hospital had said differently and was referred back to the hospital again. That was months ago. My appointment is next week so maybe I'll make progress then.

I know there are people who waste doctors' time with things they can treat themselves, but when they are told that a person is too ill to get to the surgery maybe they should err on the side of caution.

As for the woman and her bounty pack all I can say is that far too many people expect everything for nothing these days. They are really only advertising samples aren't threy?

Just to add to my little episode today I have been down to Peel House to collect a couple of prescriptions and the receptionist said "You haven't collected some previous ones" which I know was nonsense because when you need ongoing medication you just don't happen to forget to collect the prescriptions. She was handing me several stapled together, then looked and said "Oh it looks like this one has been to the chemst and come back to us." I looked at the next one and it was for an entirely different person! They were a batch which the chemist had returned (as they do) and had been stapled together with mine! From that lot I could have had someone else's name, address, date of birth and medication information. (In fact more than one.) Talk about identity theft. :rolleyes:

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

it amazes me when i ring up and ask for an appointment that the next question is what is wrong with you

****** off you nosey sod is usualy my reply as if i am correct whatis wrong with me is between me and my doctor

ahh my doctor

i wish i could say it is possible to see my doctor

my doctoritus - symtoms are never been able to see your own doctor and constantly explaining your symptoms because you see a different doctor each time

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

Now that is scary!!!! Do you know the circumstances Willow or a link to the story? Believe it or not operations are often cancelled and other things get missed on the wards purely due to lack of staff. None of the staff working there actually want these things to happen, but they are happening all to frequently. The nurse managers (matrons) have no control over the amount of staff that they have and most wards are so short staffed that they are running on danger levels and things are being missed. Medical wards and maternity services are snowed under all year round. I can't see a way past this situation unless the public start to write in and complain. It's no good addressing letters to the individual managers as they cannot do anything about it. I would send a letter to the Chief Exec with a copy to your MP. These are ultimately the peopl who control the purse strings.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

the only way i can see past the situation lettie is if those arrogant sods in power(government)are put in the same position as REAL people and have to deal with the run of the mill type nhs perhaps then they could get a real picture of whats happening.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

Exactly Cashman, that's why I think copies of all complaint letters should go to the MPs. If the country cannot afford to run the healthcare system then it's high time they made some of the services be paid for, either by insurance or credit card. It's all well and good to keep putting new services in ie, one free shot at IVF, but those services have to be properly funded by somebody. It's also time that immigrants started to pay for their care. This could easily be arranged by the taking of credit card details prior to any care being given, just as they do in the States. It would help prevent people receiving care and skipping the country without paying.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

ah but on this point lettie i think you and i are talking sense,that will never do-they won't understand.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

All I can say is that frontline NHS is the most frustrating place to work. You know that people take advantage and there's nothing you can do about it. You constantly strive to give the best care that you can give, but it is never enough because there are too few staff and you end up run ragged and knackered all the time. It's no wonder that nurses and midwives are leaving the NHS in droves. They are either emigrating or just quitting and going to work in jobs outside nursing. Years of experience are lost every year through qualified nurses and midwives quitting. You would think that with the money that the government invested in our training, they would be trying to keep us happy, but evidently not.....

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

you have every sympathy,it was one of the causes i championed in my trade union days,along with many others.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

A certain Doctor in Hyndburn used to tell me exactly how much my prescription was costing his practise,and even went on to tell me ,in a very whingeing voice,how much it cost to have the surgery re-decorated for "the likes of me".Needless to say I swapped Gp's very shortly after that and am more than happy with Dr. Kapenda..

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

The answer to that Willow is.....you can't. I left the NHS almost 3 years ago. I had 25 years of experience in caring for women, but it was the politics and the bureaucracy that finished me off.

I was in the position of dealing with complaints from patients and I can tell you that what Lettie says is absolutely true.
I know the very first complaint letter that I dealt with was returned to me to do again because I had not said 'sorry' enough.......despite the fact that the complaint was bogus and we had nothing to apologise for.

I was glad to get out........and wouldn't go back for all the tea in China.

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

Oh.........I should have said that the complaint was thoroughly investigated......looking at patient notes, taking statements from nursing staff.....etc.
While I was investigating the complaint I couldn't do the job I was being paid to do...... which was look after patients and make sure that the ward ran smoothly.........and while the nurses were writing their statements they were not looking after patients either!

Re: Am I expecting too much?
 

I can see how frustrating it must be working at ground level within the NHS but although that complaint was bogus there are also many that aren't. I can't help feeling that a lot of it comes down to people being overworked and under too much pressure to do things they didn't train to do, by which I mean nurses should be allowed to nurse and not have all the other stuff to deal with but what happened in the olden days when there weren't all these administration staff? Hospitals seemed to be much more efficient when matrons ran the wards.

And to get back to the origins of my frustrations today my Peel House saga gets even better! One prescription I was collecting today was for Busman. The receptionist explained that the particular tablet that had been on the computer was now discontinued and they'd substituted a different one that did exactly the same thing. I looked at the prescription and queried the fact that these were 10mg and the others were 20mg and her reply was that 10mg of the new one equalled 20mg of the old one and therefore one tablet substituted for one tablet.

When Busman looked at the "new" tablets he said he'd had them before and showed me an old packet with the name of the "new" tablets on the packet but the old name on the prescription label thingy. That happens to me sometimes when one is a generic name and one a brand name. BUT, and here's my point, the old pack with the "new" name tablets contained 20mg tablets NOT 10mg. So in actual fact the prescription I collected today was for only HALF the dose! Now I'm not saying it's life threatening but it's not acceptable that's for sure.

Several years ago my late hubby had a prescription referral from the hospital which he collected as a repeat prescription from Peel House and when he looked at the dose it was for 10 times as much as he'd been given by the hospital. He queried it and they checked the hospital letter and found that it had been put on the computer incorrectly. If I know of two such similar cases it makes me wwonder how many more there are and how many of them have led to someone becoming seriously ill as a consequence.