To make a complaint about a hcp at my drs?

[PhDPepper]

I can’t decide if it’s just me being petty. I don’t want them to get sacked or anything but I want them to change their systems or practices.

I had a molar pregnancy in April and had to have chemo for it. I actually posted about it on here when I got my bfp. I was due on Christmas Day and frankly it’s been pretty shitty.

I needed an ecg on Monday and I sat down and she said she’d need to do my bp.. the conversation went like this...

Her- ooh are you all excited? I can see you’re on lots of tablets to make you feel better...

Me-... .....

her- are you getting ready?

Me- ready for what?

Her- the baby... you’re having a baby in December aren’t you? You’re all excited right?

Me- I’m not pregnant it was a molar pregnancy- I’m here to have an ecg because of the chemo..

her- oh yes! I can see that now.. oh well at least you know you can get pregnant eh? And at least I didn’t say you looked 7 months! . I had a termination with my last one. Best thing I ever did....

I didn’t have a termination- it was a very wanted pregnancy that went very tits up and if the information is there on the screen do you have to be prompted to read it?

I’m actually really hurt by what she said, my DH isn’t really bothered by it but it’s making me upset to think about it. So please help me settle an argument. Aibu to want to complain over this hcp’s thoughtlessness or am I totally overreacting?

What she said was silly and thoughtless, what happened to you was dreadful, but no I wouldn't make a complaint, she may not have realised what happened, she may have felt stupid and just waffled any old rubbish, whatever happened I'm sure she didn't mean to upset you and I wouldn't get her in trouble at work for it.

Some HCAs are well trained, others aren't. I had an incident where the HCA took my blood and ordered the wrong test. This test is a yearly Tumour marker and when the results came back I was told everything was fine. I like to keep track of my results so I requested a copy. This is when the error came to light.

YANBU.

I would definitely complain.

Btw I know a lot of my med student friends who worked as HCA's over the summer and during the first two years of uni so the whole 'probably doesn't have 2GCSEs to rub together' is bullshit and ignorant.

That’s appalling.

I doubt an HCA would have known what a molar pregnancy is and the treatment for it (many nurses wouldn’t either to be fair, they’re pretty rare) but her comments were thoughtless, tactless, inappropriate and unprofessional.

I would have no hesitation in writing to the practice manager to make them aware so she can receive some training and feedback.

Wtf?! Who says to someone that's lost a baby "I had a termination best thing I ever did" OP please take it further that is beyond unacceptable for you and what you've had to go through

PPs can stop being so bloody precious. Nothing I have said is incorrect: I referred specifically to THIS HCA, HER words and HER manner. Her comments were ignorant, immature and insensitive.

The GMC / NMC would take such a complaint v seriously.

Definitely complain. That was bloody awful

Bloody hell, I'm usually the first to think a person is a little sensitive but in this case, you are far from it. What awful stuff to come out of a professionals mouth.

I think she needs some training to filter herself, nothing she said was appropriate. definitely complain so another patient hopefully doesn't have to experience these awful comments. Sounds like you've had hard time lately without these comments.

HCAs aren't all necessarily stupid/unqualified/insensitive - I worked as one for three years on a neurosurgical ward, I did my 'homework' , attended as much training as possible and also have a degree under my belt (plus numerous school qualifications). Many of my colleagues had worked as auxiliary nurses for years. Goodness , my workplace even let us unqualified lot loose on ITU and critically ill patients!!!

That HCA in particular though does need to be spoken to (aside from anything else, she's obviously giving the rest of us a bad name!) . What she said was dreadful, I would go to the practice manager in the first instance. I don't think the NMC would handle it as she isnt a registered member of staff.

That is dreadful. Sending a letter would definitely be appropriate and employers take these things very seriously nowadays

I don't think the NMC would handle it as she isnt a registered member of staff.

I used this as an example because there is no way it would have come from a medic or nurse.

You would be surprised - I've worked with some absolutely awful registered nurses , and have been cared for by some as well - some people can say horrendous things for no obvious reason other than they don't seem to have a filter or any common sense. Having a degree in nursing - or indeed medicine - does not necessarily make you a saint . If that was the case we would not need the NMC and the GMC.

I've had a lot of medical treatment and I've been spoken to insensitively by everyone from consultants down to cleaners. It's not role specific, anyone can do it! But it does need pointing out so that other patients in future don't have the same experience. Definitely write to the practice manager.

If it were me I would probably speak to the practice manager without naming names or going into specifics. Just say you were a bit upset and explain the general situation. The manager can then look at who has received what training and arrange for suitable training for whoever needs it.

I don't think there's much point faffing about trying to anonymise it - they'll be able to check who OP saw in an instant. And I think she needs to be as specific as possible - if she just says that she was 'a bit upset about some insensitive comments made about her molar pregnancy' that can very easily be dismissed as understandable over-sensitivity. The actual comments make it completely clear that that isn't the case.

No I think you should complain and be specific and who seen to you. They need more training especially in bedside manner.
Empathy goes a long way especially in healthcare.

Regardless of wether this person was a HCA or HCP the way she spoke to you was completley innapropriate and she needs further training and she certainly shouldnt be telling you about having a termination and fwiw as an RMN i have worked with many HCA,s some are brilliant some not so good but the same can be said of many trained nurses too.

Thank you all, I will be emailing the practice manager today. She was a health care assistant but she also told me she was a student nurse and she needs to improve her people skills.

It’s nice to know I’m not overreacting!

koolkoala Your mum sounds wonderful! Most HCA's I've met are, and nurses and Doctors and so on, only met a few awful ones and they sadly come in any profession :( would like to know what highinthesky does for a living that justifies such a comment . .

What she said was silly and thoughtless, what happened to you was dreadful, but no I wouldn't make a complaint, she may not have realised what happened, she may have felt stupid and just waffled any old rubbish, whatever happened I'm sure she didn't mean to upset you and I wouldn't get her in trouble at work for it

Ridiculous. She shouldn't be in that job. Why should OP care about her getting into trouble at work, letting her off so she can upset the next patient? She's an idiot and has no business speaking to people that way.