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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to email my consultant?

29 replies

Labrat72 · 30/09/2014 18:07

I've been waiting and waiting and bloody waiting for a follow up appointment after a hospital admittance, tests, scans etc, I saw a consultant over 2 weeks ago & he referred me to another hospital (still seeing him). The new hospital needs a letter from the old hospital to set up an appointment.
I have been told several times that it'd been done but yet again I phoned today & it hasn't. The secretary, for some reason, hasn't done it yet.
I'm at my wits end. It took 10 weeks to see the doctor originally, despite being told my referral was 'urgent'.
I'm in pain, I can't work, I've been promised that things are moving but they never seem to.
I work in the same trust that I saw the doctor in & have therefore been able to find out his email address. Would it be horribly stalkerish to email him & let him know what's going on & ask if he can get a follow up set up?
I know medical staff don't do the paperwork but I'm banging my head against a wall trying to go the 'proper' route.
I've spoken to PALS & today spoke to an nhs complaints advocacy service. I don't want to complain, I love the nhs & defend it to the hilt but I've had enough.

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Mouthfulofquiz · 30/09/2014 18:08

I would pop down and see the secretary in person!

Mouthfulofquiz · 30/09/2014 18:09

Sorry, pressed post to soon.
Pop down and see the secretary and then ask for her to email you a copy of the letter once it's done, for your records. If you don't get anything in a week then go via pals. Or find out the name of the manager of the department and make a complaint...

Original poster
Labrat72 · 30/09/2014 18:10

I've thought of that. Maybe I should. But they're not accessible are they? They're hidden away.
I offered (in a fit of desperation) to go in & type the letter myself but she just told me not to be rude. Grin

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Original poster
Labrat72 · 30/09/2014 18:12

That's a good idea (I also posted too soon!). I will call tomorrow & ask. If that gets no joy I will go & find her.
Trouble is, I feel so rough, I can't drive, I'm on loads of painkillers & feel sick & woozy all the time.
I spoke to my gp about it today, so they're on the case too.
It's just very very frustrating.

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MadisonMontgomery · 30/09/2014 19:00

I can beat that - was once in a meeting that my GP attended, we were the first there & I got him to look at my dodgy knee whilst we were waiting! I would prob just go down & be really nice to his secretary - she'll most likely deal with most of his emails anyway.

Original poster
Labrat72 · 30/09/2014 19:05

I've tried being nice. I've tried being grumpy. I've tried begging her to do it. I've tried demanding it's done. All to no avail. The secretary isn't the consultants sec, she's a general urology sec. The doctor I saw works at Guys hospital but does a satellite clinic at my local hospital. I want to bypass my local hospital completely they seem incapable of doing the simplest thing.
My care has now been referred to Guys, I just have this last remaining stumbling block.
It really isnt as easy as just turning up in her office. You just can't do that in hospitals.

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mellicauli · 30/09/2014 19:36

Why don't you get your husband to ring in on your behalf? I am not saying it's right , but you are in pain and I bet it works.

bbcessex · 30/09/2014 19:43

I would certainly send a very polite but 'desperate' email. No harm in it, as long as you've been able to find his email address through 'normal' means.

And in the meantime; see you current consultant or GP to see if you can upgrade your pain medication. There may be something you can take to make you more comfortable while you wait.

nothankyoufeckoffplease · 30/09/2014 19:46

Not sure that it would help mellicauli. My dbil is having almost exactly the same problem, waiting and waiting for results, appointments and a diagnosis and at the same time becoming more and more disabled. He has gone down the PALS route, has no success at all in ringing the consultant or her secretary (answerphone and calls rarely returned) and we have resorted to emailing in desperation. He has an appointment now in 7 weeks time by which time he will probably be significantly worse. Seems to be par for the course in the NHS these days.

SauvignonBlanche · 30/09/2014 19:46

Just do it!

Original poster
Labrat72 · 30/09/2014 20:15

I will Sauv (I'm Germgirl)
How are you?
I saw my GP today, I've been referred to the pain clinic as well as urology so the GP doesn't want to prescribe anything else.
I'm already on 4 different painkillers. Dihydrocodeine, Tramadol, Naproxen and Diclofenac suppositories. They're fun!

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Original poster
Labrat72 · 30/09/2014 20:18

Thank you everyone. Your opinions are very much appreciated

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MerryInthechelseahotel · 30/09/2014 20:22

I would not hesitate to email your consultant. I've done this too.

Naproxen together with diclofenac sounds unusual but then I am no expert.

Good luck Thanks

SauvignonBlanche · 30/09/2014 20:42

I thought you were but I wasn't going to break your cover Wink.

I mean it though, with the pain you've been suffering you must use your connections and e-mail him. You've nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Pinot4me · 30/09/2014 21:43

I would definitely send an email...I saw a consultant recently and he actually gave me his email address and encouraged contact this way. It was really refreshing and saved loads of time. Go for it! Good luck!

DinoSnores · 30/09/2014 21:49

"I've spoken to PALS & today spoke to an nhs complaints advocacy service. I don't want to complain, I love the nhs & defend it to the hilt but I've had enough."

Please don't feel bad about complaining. If your hospital is anything like ours, management are cutting secretary hours massively, to the frustration of both doctors and secretaries. They don't listen to staff complaints like they do for patient complaints. I positively encourage people to speak to PALS for this precise reason!

Original poster
Labrat72 · 01/10/2014 12:44

Well, I've done it. Spoke to Guys this morning & they've finally received my letter of referral, 2 and a half weeks after I saw the doctor. The lady on reception said I might hear about an appointment in a few weeks!
I can't wait that long.
So I've emailed the doc, told him everything that's happened since I saw him & said I'm available to go & see him at a moment's notice.
Hopefully he'll take pity on me :)

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SauvignonBlanche · 01/10/2014 14:50

Fingers crossed! Smile

Original poster
Labrat72 · 02/10/2014 05:24

Received a reply late last night. It went along the lines of "I don't know who you are, and why are you emailing my personal email account?"
A) I told him who I was, included my full name, hospital no, DOB. I don't expect him to actually remember me, I do understand that he's seen lots of patients since I saw him but I gave him enough info to look me up & remind himself
B) I didn't email his personal account. I emailed his nhs.net account. I sent it from my personal account because I ant remotely access my own nhs email account because the password has expired and it can't be reset from any old computer, only one on nhs premisis, and I haven't been at work for 6 weeks because I'm ILL!
So, I replied, apologising for troubling him, explaining about the email business & re-iterating that I am the patient, whether he'll reply I don't know.
Tell you what though. I've gone right off him. Pompous little so & so.

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Original poster
Labrat72 · 02/10/2014 05:26

And, obviously, I can't spell premises.
It still looks wrong! Smile

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UncleT · 02/10/2014 08:32

Diclofenac and naproxen is indeed somewhat unusual, but that's probably why one is in suppository form - so as not to trash the stomach with both.

Original poster
Labrat72 · 02/10/2014 10:05

I'm on omeprazole too. To avoid the stomach trashing too much.

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SauvignonBlanche · 02/10/2014 16:37

Oh bugger! I don't like him either now. Wink

There are no 'perks' or bonuses in working for the NHS, and now professional curtesy seems to be dying out.

Eggybread00 · 02/10/2014 16:43

If you are on diclofenec there is a more expensive alternative called vimovo with built in stomach protector! Good luck!

Original poster
Labrat72 · 02/10/2014 17:23

Thanks Eggy, I'll mention that one to my GP.
Sauv. I know, I was disappointed, I didn't expect him to fall over himself to help but a snotty email with the gist of 'go away you pleb' was a tad annoying. He hasn't replied to my reply (IYSWIM) yet but he sent his first reply at 11pm last night so maybe he's on some kind of weird late shift.
I wasn't expecting special 'NHS employee' treatment, I think it's wrong for anyone to have to wait for this amount of time and the secretary cock-ups have been too numerous. All I wanted was to alert him to the fact that although he'd assured me I'd be seen urgently,it hadn't happened.
Guys managed to arrange an urgent CT scan for me 4 days after I saw him, but they wasted their time if I can't see anyone to get the results. They may as well have scanned someone else who had a follow up booked, the clerical delays are making a mockery of the departments who do have their act together.
And today, the pain is awful, by 3pm I'd taken more than my whole 24 hours allowance of all my drugs, I may end up going to A&E for IV pain relief later, I don't want to but I may have to.
Can no one see that me having to end up in A&E on a regular basis is a huge waste of time & resources?
It annoys me so much!
Anyway. Rant over Smile how are you getting on Sauv?

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