To consider reporting this doctor to the GMC?

[Rawrster]

Short version of the story. I have had anaphylaxis on and off for the last few years and have just been diagnosed with an extremely rare allergen.

Six months ago I collapsed and had to be intubated by the air ambulance. Spent four days unconscious in ITU on life support at a major hospital. A week after coming out of hospital I used an epi pen due to facial swelling and went to my local hospital where a doctor told me they had done allergy tests on me, all were negative and that they wouldn’t prescribe me an epi pen to take home.

Turns out no allergy tests had actually been done and that I do have a severe, all be it, very rare allergy.

As this is my local hospital and the one I’m most likely to be taken to for treatment I am wondering how best to proceed. I’m also pretty peed off a doctor could be so incompetent (I had actually reacted to a medicine in that hospital just the month before so it was well and truly documented on my notes).

Before you complain, get the facts.

Maybe, when you spoke to the doctor, the rare allergy results test hadn’t come back, so the information the doctor gave you was correct. The tests results he saw were all negative, hence an epi pen wasn’t needed.

Allergy testing is done via IgE medicated blood tests if you are too allergic to have skin prick tests (I’ve been intubated six times). I did have a small set of skin prick tests about four years ago.

The GMC won't be remotely interested. This isn't anywhere near their threshold for investigation.

Do you not know yourself if you have had allergy tests...usually this involves going to the Allergy Clinic where you have loads of skin tests, blood tests and breathing tests...ive never just had a blood test

Depends on your IgE level, ds couldn’t have some skin tests as it would be too dangerous for him to have them.

I don’t quite understand. If you had epipen prescriptions before now why on earth won’t they just renew it? Of course you should have them. I can only assume it’s some error with your medical notes. Can’t you just ask your GP for them? There is a shortage but that doesn’t mean doctors would try to cut back prescriptions at random, it’s not really something you can get along without. I would find out the facts and complain through PALS 1st.

Yep Haud that’s what I was told.

Why don’t you make a subject access request for your medical records?

Thanks everyone. Honestly not so keen to go to PALS within the local hospital but that seems to be the majority vote.

Reading the reports of MPTS tribunal hearings suggests that the GMC take dishonesty very seriously.

I’m sorry OP, but you’ve been incubated 6 times, and never in all those previous 5 periods have you been tested or been given prescribed an Epipen

None of this is making any sense or is following the allergy guidelines and procedures.

@Rawrster

You do not have to do that. You can complain to NHS England

The GMC won't be remotely interested. This isn't anywhere near their threshold for investigation.

Would they really not be interested in a doctor lying to a patient about tests and sending them home without potentially life-saving medication that they may well need before they can get it prescribed elsewhere?

Ignore the Epi Pen, as I’ve seen it was one A&E doctor who refused you.

Still tho you’ve never been tested?

Hi,

So I did have allergy testing and was prescribed epi pens on all occasions. Can’t name the allergy because it’s incredibly outing but I was only diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. I’ve spent over 50 days in intensive care in the last 18 months and lost a job.

At the moment my ambulance notes state do not take me to local hospital however for less severe reactions it would be good to know that’s an option.

I’m on first name terms with our paramedics unfortunately.

Local hospital did no allergy testing at all from what I’ve been told, I was never referred to an allergy clinic through them either. The tertiary hospital have done it all and tested me for everything under the sun and more because it was literally wrecking my life (not trying to be over dramatic here, it’s been horrific).

Sorry I had allergy testing when I was intubated, NOT at local hospital as the doctor claimed.

Thanks for the comments on NHS England.

My concern is not necessarily the lack of testing they claimed to have done - it’s the two days without epi pens.

Really appreciating everyone’s feedback - thank you!

First request access to the medical notes from the incident you are not satisfied with, you may have questions to ask having seen them, so do that too.

Then would come a complaint to the hospital itself.

I don't think you would get anywhere with the GMC, if there is a fault it lies with the hospital.

I'm not sure you will find sufficient proof of any lies or cover-up.

If your condition is rare you may need special warnings on all your medical notes- that at least is something positive you could achieve- though making any doctor actually read notes is another matter.

You need to actually find out what happened. Otherwise you are sending a vague accusation to the GMC with no facts!

If he’s reading your notes tho, then he will be able to see your previous medical record so may have went in those blood tests.

*by

We’re the local hospital reacting to the immediate situation? Was there anything on the discharge letter advising you to have a follow up appointment? If so, maybe they expected the gp tondo an allergy referral.

Do you not know yourself if you have had allergy tests...usually this involves going to the Allergy Clinic where you have loads of skin tests, blood tests and breathing tests...ive never just had a blood test

Mine have always just been blood tests, too, as said by PP.

Would they really not be interested in a doctor lying to a patient about tests and sending them home without potentially life-saving medication that they may well need before they can get it prescribed elsewhere?

It's not been established yet whether the doctor lied or whether there's an error in the notes / patient mix up. And they wouldn't carry out an investigation to find that out. They'd tell the OP to complain to the hospital first. If it was then found out he was lying they can contact the GMC or the OP can.

Before you complain, get the facts.

Maybe, when you spoke to the doctor, the rare allergy results test hadn’t come back, so the information the doctor gave you was correct. The tests results he saw were all negative, hence an epi pen wasn’t needed.

Or maybe he just didn’t read the notes ...

A doctor discharged my dd from hospital after a liver biopsy. He told us the condition that was dx ... but literally scoffed at me when I mentioned dd’s glandular fever being the initial problem and her original inflamed liver - he denied point blank these 2 issues had ever been the case - yet for 2 months they were exactly the case, he just didn’t read her back notes AT ALL.