[Disclaimer: I am not advocating violence against healthcare professionals]
DS (8) has chronic constipation and as a result has overflow soiling. He's not been reliably continent with wee or poo since potty training, and as he gets older, the harder it is for him to deal with, and it can be horrible for him at school - bullying, etc.
I've asked at the last two appointments with the consultant whether he can be referred to see a psychologist because, although we're getting the physical problem under control, it will take a long time for the wetting and soiling accidents to stop and his bowel to get back to normal, and DS is struggling emotionally. Its really knocked his confidence, as you'd expect, and he has huge issues with talking to anyone about it, even us. He would rather sit covered in poo than draw attention to himself to go and get changed (which apparently is a normal reaction) but its becoming an issue because poo is leaking out of his trousers and onto chairs, etc which is a major hygiene issue for other children.
The first time we asked for a referral to a psychologist we we told (in front of DS) that he's reacting normally for someone with his condition (fair enough) and we should see some of the other kids who are suicidal - and when DS gets to that stage he'll need a referral 
The next time we asked, she said she would refer him, but nothing happened. And at our last appointment (in Nov) she said, good news, she'll refer him and the waiting time is now down to 18 weeks (which is good apparently) so he'll be seen in Jan/Feb by a child's clinical psychologist.
We hadn't heard anything so I've just chased it up. Turns out a referral was never made!
We can never get hold of the consultant - I leave phone messages, texts and emails but its rare to get a reply. We've had so many mixed messages about what treatment DS needs. And although we've been seeing the consultant for over three years, it was only last year they actually x-rayed DS to see what the problem was in his bowel (and faecal impaction was diagnosed). And we only got that x-ray because of advice I'd read on here and the fact that I broke down in tears in front of the consultant saying, why can't he just have an x-ray???
Sorry for the long rant - I just wanted to get it off my chest. I know the NHS is overstretched and we expect to wait for appointments and things, but being told things will happen and then they just don't, is the final straw. 
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Children's health
I want to storm into the hospital and shove something spiky and painful up the consultant's arse
iwouldgoouttonight · 03/03/2015 11:21
I am bloody shocked at reading this OP!! I don't live in the UK but i am appalled that a medical doctor has taken 2 years to diagnose a child, and with faecal impactment. (my dd has this also when she was younger). Surely an ultrasound would be the first thing to do.... it was for my dd.
An as an aside, one of the triggering factors for the constipation was stress!!
Is going private an option? You absolutely cannot wait any longer to get this sorted out.
I'm so sorry OP, I would be livid!
Can you ask to be referred to another paediatrician,preferably one who specialises in bowel problems?
I would go back to your GP & demand an urgent referral straight away for a second opinion ( still going down the PALS route for a complaint) this consultant is incompetent at best & possibly negligent.
Your poor boy Good for you for going all tiger mama over this.
Argh keep missing pals calls and then when I ring back it goes to voice mail. Just had a letter from them in the past saying they are writing on behalf of the chief exec and they will respond to our complaint in writing within 25 working days. Another month to wait. I'm not at work tomorrow so I'm going be ringing them all day until they answer!
I've spoken to someone this morning, she said there is nothing they can do immediately, it has to go through the complaints system and 25 working days is the maximum it will take. She said there's nothing else they can do quicker because it has to be investigated. So it seems we just have another month of waiting while DS has to live with it poor thing.
Still haven't even had a reply from the consultant from when I emailed, texted and phoned three weeks ago to say DS was struggling with his current movicol dose and what should we change it to.
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