Details wrong in consultant letter

[JumperooToYou]

Last week I had a much awaited first appointment with a consultant and it was a bit of a disaster. The consultant didn’t introduce himself, was completely uninterested, he signed me up for surgery, didn’t let me ask any questions and had me out of the room within 10 minutes.

Today I’ve received a summary of the appointment and it’s factually incorrect, from the onset date and number of attacks, to the symptoms. What is worrying is he’s put patient is not showing any red flag symptoms, patient has denied X, Y, Z. Except I am experiencing these very symptoms daily and they are worrying and debilitating. At no point did he ask me if I was experiencing symptoms X, Y, Z, so I don’t know how he can write that I’ve denied them. Seems a really strange term to use as well?

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how did you go about getting it corrected? Just wondering what is the best and quickest way - through the secretary, the GP, writing a letter?

Going through PALS is probably your best bet

Phone the GP and ask for a copy of your referral letter.
It should have the details of your case. If the detail is per your history the consultant has not got an excuse for the letter.
If you disagree with the GP work with them to correct the referral details.

Assuming the GP referral letter was factual, phone and ask to speak to the consultant directly.
Give the consultant an out, by saying that you think that the letter was a crossover from another file or a miscommunication. Go through the GP letter and correct the errors. Eg "as per the referral Dr X sent symptoms started ..."

If the consultant is insistent that the error originated from you then go the formal route.

Ive had this on a couple of occasions I have written a letter to the consultant setting out the correct information. I think the patient denied wording is just a way of saying there wasnt a problem with something, I had it in my letter.
Make sure youve got it in writing, in my case it would severely have affected my treatment.

patient is not showing any red flag symptoms, patient has denied X, Y, Z. Except I am experiencing these very symptoms daily and they are worrying and debilitating. At no point did he ask me if I was experiencing symptoms X, Y, Z

This is unusual. As you probably know, "denies" is routine medical speak for "I asked the patient if they had [chest] pain and they said they didn't but I can't write down they have no pain because I have no proof".

What is worrying in your situation is that you weren't asked.

You need to challenge this either via GP or PALs as suggested, but personally, I would try the consultant's secretary first. The secretary will have typed the letter and can discuss your concerns with the consultant, setting up another appointment if the consultant thinks it's indicated.

You may need to be persistent to get hold of them though! If you're feeling tenacious phone the hospital and ask to be put through to Mr X's medical secretary. If you can get their name, you may be able to email them.