To complain about my Doctors

[LondonLassInTheCountry]

Long thread:
Sorry in advance.

I was diagnosed in December with Chronic Kidney disease, IGAn, FSGS and Nephrotic syndrome.

I have been getting infection after infection for years, literally, 14 years, always tired, and general feeling of illness.

Would go to the gp, they would often do blood tests and sometimes give antibiotics, always said blood tests were ok.

Well iv moved areas and changed doctors, on a new system online with my new surgery you can have a look at my medical notes. As far back as 15 years ago, ALL my bloods are clearly marked as Abnormal, not one of them is normal. Looking back as the years go by, My kidney function, crantine, and FGR (all kidney markers) have all got worse...
AIBU to think that if this was actually picked up on years ago, i could of been put on meficine and i would now be stable.

Im on disabliity benefit and unable to work. My kidneys have failed twice this year and iv been admitted into hospital 5 times.

I currently live my life one day at a time, as no two days are the same. I currently am unable to wear shoes some days because of the swelling.
My meds are always changing at the moment and im still unstable.

But if a doctor had actually looked more closly they could of seen ehat was happening and i could of been treated quicker.

My partner doesnt think i should complain as it will get me nowhere, but im angry

Sorry for long post

Complain. It might not get anything for you, but it might save someone else's life. Pals can help.

Thank you.
Was hoping for more responses.

www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-complain-if-youre-unhappy-with-your-gp-or-gp-surgery

You should definitely complain. That's completely unacceptable. Their negligence has seriously impacted on your health and quality of life and unless they review their processes others will suffer too.

Definitely complain op, that's appalling. Surely responding appropriately to blood test results is a basic requirement if the job??? I would definitely report this, it sounds negligent to me. Sorry you've been so unwell

Yes complain, what was the point in them running those blood tests if they didn't then pick up on the abnormalities and investigate them further?

YANBU to complain and ask why abnormal results weren't acted on.

However, YABU to think there is any medicine they could have given earlier which would have you stable now. IgA nephropathy is a difficult disease and there's nothing they can do except watch and wait. Some people get gradually worse over time, some people stay moderately renally impaired and some people crash into nephrotic syndrome and acute renal failure. You would have been counselled in all the usual delay deterioration strategies - lose weight, give up smoking, don't take anti inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen or diclofenac, control blood pressure and cholesterol if needed. There is no medicine for slowly progressive renal failure due to IgAN.

I would write a letter of complaint about their failure to treat abnormal results and give you appropriate counselling on lifestyle modification / BP and cholesterol control. But don't go in with the "if you'd picked it up earlier I would have been treated for it and not be this sick now" because the reality is - you probably couldn't have been and you still would be.

I'd look for a medical negligence solicitor & take some legal advice. Most firms will assess a potential claim at little or no cost. If you've not been able to work & suffered physically & financially due to your doctor's negligence you may have a claim x

It could be they were watching and waiting? I would take care with being on good terms with the doctors for the future, but maybe yes a polite comment would be welcomed, or even go in and speak to them.

For negligence it needs to be something no other doc would do in the same situation, and that itself needs to have caused harm. So not sure in this case that would be correct if a watch and wait response is all they can do.

What they usually do for abnormal renal function is urinary tests (either 24h collection which really isn't fun, or a urinary protein/creatinine ratio). They may turn do a renal biopsy for tissue diagnosis. I'm assuming OP has now had this for her to state FGS/IgAN.

This is followed up with lifestyle modification advice, BP & cholesterol control, and regular blood tests. 3 monthly to 6 monthly to yearly, to monitor the rate of deterioration. What they can't do is give you any medicine to stop it getting worse.

I would definitely complain about failure to get initial abnormal results acted on. That needs addressing, as an educational awareness exercise or to highlight a systems failure if there is a problem with results reporting that means the GP isn't always made aware of abnormal ones.

I am not so sure about a legal case but you are of course within your rights to explore that option.