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AIBU?

AIBU to be pissed of at GP Surgery

12 replies

EliseC1965 · 30/11/2017 12:03

I’ve been to the gp a bit during the last year for various things. I’m 5 years post bc so am a bit over cautious now. Anyway, I had some blood tests in June and July as I had a wrist thing that wasn’t getting better. I also went back in October to get a private referral for physio as the nhs one was taking forever and it’s only £40 a time. (Not essential information) Anyway I had to go in as I needed to remind them about my bone scan for osteoporosis as they lost the referral letters from my oncologist (sigh). GP asks me why I’m not on medication for my Diabetes. What Diabetes says I?
Apparently I was diagnosed in August as part of my blood tests! Bearing in mind I haven’t even been asked to do a fasting blood sugar test.
So I’ve been prescribed metformin, got another appointment to see the nurse and have had to go to get another blood test at the chemist. ( they don’t do them anymore at the surgery).
FFS Diabetes isn’t just something you forget to tell someone about.
Without being a drama llama, this is something that could have killed me, made me blind or caused my toes to fall off. Though it’s the death thing that bothers me more obviously.
So am I AIBU to be peed off, write a complaint to practice manager and look for a new go?

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PinkDaffodil2 · 30/11/2017 12:10

Certainly complain - whatever system they are using to flag and act on abnormal bloods has clearly failed in your case - they need to review to see if anyone else has been missed and change their procedures.

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FroodGloriousFrood · 30/11/2017 12:41

You don't need a fasting blood sugar test to diagnose diabetes. What did they say when you called to ask for your blood test results? Did they tell you they were normal?

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deepestdarkestperu · 30/11/2017 13:04

Did you ring to get the results of your blood test?

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Sirzy · 30/11/2017 13:09

Did you phone for the results? Our surgery make it very clear you have to phone up to get the results of any blood test

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Couchpotato3 · 30/11/2017 13:16

I don't think YABU. That is a serious diagnosis, and to miss the initial abnormal blood test, just write you a prescription and send you to see the nurse is a really crappy level of care IMO. I'd definitely be wanting a chat with the GP, and a repeat blood test before starting down the road of life-long medication.

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witchofzog · 30/11/2017 13:26

This happened to me with a heart condition where the nurse forgot to send my ecg results for analysis. I found out when I was turned down for a minor op at a private hospital who found abnormalities in my blood pressure and insisted on seeing my clear ecg readings which were not clear.

I complained to the practice manager and then the lead GP 4 times. Each time I was robbed off with promises to bring it up at a meeting which never happened.

I wasn't in a great place to keep pursuing it so I didn't and I wish I had to avoid this happening again.

Please complain in writing op. At first to the practice manager as per most practice protocols but escalate if you don't get a good enough response. I wish I had. Yoy are right. Without treatment diabetes can be very serious

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EliseC1965 · 30/11/2017 14:48

They only ring us if blood tests are abnormal. Last week I got a letter through the door with a blood test form stating to get another one done in 2 months! No mention of blood sugar levels at all.

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Iprefercoffeetotea · 30/11/2017 15:01

This doesn't surprise me at all. Years ago I had an ultrasound scan because my GP thought I had gallstones. The person who did the scan said that they thought I had gallstones, too, but they were small ones.

I since think the problems I was having at the time were stress-related anyway, rather than anything to do with the gallstones, as I had a truly awful boss.

Anyway, I didn't hear anything from the GP about the test and didn't think anything of it, as the stones were small and didn't need further action unless they were causing me major hassle which they weren't.

Six months later I got a phone call asking me to go to see the GP about my test result. I asked which test result. The gallstones one. I am a bit confused about this as it was six months before. Well it turned out that the hospital had sent my test results to the wrong GP who hadn't seen fit to forward it on, or send it back to the hospital. It's a good job it was nothing serious, I'd have been dead. I didn't complain but perhaps I should have done.

When you give blood they ask you constantly to confirm your name, address, DOB etc. Why on earth do they not do this in hospitals.

Anyway to cut a long story short - yes, complain - it's really serious. There's no excuse for errors like this. The NHS is wonderful, understaffed, underresourced - and needs to get rid of its witch hunt culture and put patients back at the heart of what it does. If there's an error, sort it out. Don't get all defensive and ignore.

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niccyb · 30/11/2017 19:09

You have certainly grounds for a complaint. To diagnose diabetes you need to have had 2 x hba1c blood tests above 48 or more to confirm diabetes (usually 1 month apart but not always). Check you are definitely diabetic and not borderline. (Which will be a hba1c of 42 or more)

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Ollivander84 · 30/11/2017 19:13

Mine has that I'm asthmatic. I'm not. I turned up to the asthma review appointment and after doing a peak flow they finally removed it
They missed my neutropenia for 8 years when I was so low I would have been in isolation in hospital

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Ttbb · 30/11/2017 19:15

I would complain. That's appalling. If this were a different country your GP would be looking at a lawsuit and most likely getting at least sanctioned of not struck off entirely.

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Cracklesfire · 30/11/2017 19:24

The fault is the GPs but I now ask for my actual blood results when I phone rather than take GPs word that they're okay - the receptionist always huffs and puffs about it but I can't trust them to get it right. My GP keeps telling me my thyroid is okay and to get it checked again in 3 months but they're not taking into account I'm pregnant and that I can't go for months with abnormal blood results. I then have to phone my consultant to flag up the abnormal results and he advises me on changing my dose. If I was to take the surgerys word for it I'd possibly have miscarried by now.

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