Just back from doctor's and am fuming and livid

[deckofcards]

Before I write a formal letter of complaint, am I being unreasonable?

Went to doctors' before Christmas for a routine appointment and repeat prescription. Needed a blood test and to have ears syringed (have been going deaf). Dr gave me print out and told me to make an appointment with the nurse. Went to reception and asked for an appointment with the nurse which is what I thought I had been given.

Arrived this morning, having fasted. Called in by a sweet enough girl although she wasn't wearing uniform and didn't properly introduce herself as a nurse or anything else. She took my arm and sweetly put it on a pillow, told me I had very deep veins (which I know but it isn't usually a problem but sometimes a doctor has been called), tried the other arm using elasticated cuffs that were clearly broken because they kept popping open and she later said they were no good. She gave me a glass of water to hydrate me better for the veins (which I would have thought would take more than a mintue to work). Still no joy so she went to get a colleague to help her.

The colleague was the receptionist who leaned over me reeking of tobacco and tried to find a vein. I questioned this and was told she was also a trained phlebotomist. The original one then said they would have to give up as the vein wasn't pronounced enough but she would start on my ears. I asked if she was a qualified nurse and she said, no a health care worker.

I declined her offer to deal with my ears and said that I would prefer an appointment with a fully trained practice nurse.

I went out to make another appointment and have been offered one for today with the proper nurse for my ears and have another on Thursday morning for blood tests. I am extremely grumpy that my time has been wasted.

Am I wrong in thinking that if I am told to make an appointment with the nurse and ask for an appointment with the nurse I should be given an appointment with the nurse or advised either when making the appointment that it is not with a nurse. I certainly should not embark on treatment without being appraised of the full facts.

It was clear that the person I saw this morning was not capable or experienced, it did nothing to inspire confidence that she got the girl off the reception desk to help her (and who reeked of tobacco) and I left feeling cross, upset, disrespected and messed about. I would have thought as a minimum of a health care assistant is expected to take blood or syringe ears (and I think the latter is more of an issue actually) then there should be a fully qualified nurse on the premises to supervise, not the stinky girl from reception.

Is this really what healthcare has come to and surely I'm not being unreasonable to expect the tin to contain what it says on the label.

I am minded to make a formal complain to the surgery but needed to get that off my chest first and to take some feedback - hopefully from those who work in surgeries. Oh, and the receptionist/phlebotomist told me it wasn't just my time that was wasted from their side the healthcare assistant now had 30 minutes with no patient because she wasn't doing my ears. My response to that was that had I been told my appointment wasn't being made with the practice nurse in the first place that wouldn't be the case because I wouldn't have made the appointment.

Sorry - very long but I feel better for a rant - and even more that the entire episode was totally out of order. But am I being Unreasonable to think that.

Everybody in uk contributes to the NHS through direct taxes and indirect taxes. The NHS costs a huge amount of money and it is right and proper that procedures are carried out as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. If an HCA is the best person to take bloods that's fine. There is an argument I am sure about pay and status parity but not for now.GP practices are private concerns which undertake NHS work on a contract with NHS. They are a business although each and every one of them would probably earn more money working in the private healthcare system which also provides NHS services under contract (eg surgery for frozen shoulder).

well this is enlightening, I am a HCA, glad to know just how valued I am.

dita as a practice nurse I value you greatly! The HCAs I work with are brilliant and we couldn't function without them

DITA ignore them please! You are absolutely amazing members of staff and we honestly couldn't do our jobs without you. Some people just have little understanding at how experienced and valuable you really are

No way would I let some loose on me that wasn't fully trained in that field.

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Of course she was fully trained tinker

Your veins are the problem I'm afraid. She couldn't do it because your veins are as she said, too deep to get to this morning. Not her fault, not yours, just a fact. She could have gone to the local hospital to get a consultant and it might not have guaranteed blood being taken.

I think you are massively overreacting.

The nhs wouldnt let someone incapable loose on a patient, imagine the lawsuits

dira the people with brains value HCAs

Ears are sensitive, I'd only let a nurse near mine. You weren't unreasonable since you made a nurse appointment. In regards to bloods though, you don't need to be a medicinal profession. I know a scientist who regularly draws blood when the trials unit needs help with staff. He's actually better then the sadistic nurses there.

"Of course if you have it done through BUPA it'll be done by a consultant, it's what you're paying for! It's why consultants do private work!"

You're wrong. It's not what you're paying for. It will be done by an HCA or a nurse.

There is a Health Care Professional at our Doctors Surgery who is trained to take blood and she is bloody marvellous! It never hurts.

I have been a Phlebotomist for 29 years, and probably done literally thousands of blood tests, and I still fail sometimes. We are allowed 2 attempts (arms and hands only) and then pass it on to a colleague. Sometimes it needs just a fresh pair of eyes and fingers.
Sometimes I am presented with a vein no thicker than the width of a single hair, sometimes such deep veins even a green needle won't reach it.
It's luck, experience, condition of patient (physical and emotional) and a wing and a prayer all rolled into one.

I had a blood test done by Bupa and the individual didn't have a clue, she butchered me and ended up in tears and calling a colleague, awful experience. Then the last time I had a blood done at Spire, the individual didn't hold pressure on the wound for long enough and I sprung a leak - blood went everywhere, including all over my clothes....so don't think going private will get you a less traumatic experience.

Neither time did I feel the need to write a stroppy letter.

I have always been very nervous about injections, blood tests etc. Following a miscarriage some years ago I had to have a D&C ( as they were then called) and although I went privately to what was then a BUPA hospital the anaesthetist butchered and jabbed at my hand and arm so much that I ended up with a black hand and arm and cowering in a corner while h shouted at me. I did complain and was told I should not have blood tests on injections if I could avoid it as I was "a danger to myself and others" !!! I ask my GP to do anything of this kind now because I trust her, couldn't allow a stranger or someone whose qualifications and experience I was uncertain of do anything like this to me.