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).

I'm a regular lurker who has never felt the need to respond before. I've made an account to respond to this thread.

I'm a bit worried by this OP. I'm also worried by some of the responses.

OP, if I may,

1. OP or anyone can complain to GMC. The GMC is beholded to consider the complaint - irrespective of any complaints to PALS or any other authority. Or, indeed, if the issue was put to mumsnet and rejected as cfery. It may be more productive or useful (in this case I think so) to pursue other channels first. But GMC is always available and unconditional.

1. OP, you would be wise to pursue this through the hospital management/PALS first. I believe you will be happy with an explanation and assurances that there will be no repeat? The Trust's own procedures are best for this.

1. PPs are criticising you for being excessive or accusing you of wanting to 'end a career'. Do not accept this. You just want resolution and improvement. Human errors are inevitable and human. Errors do need to be recorded in order to reduce their frequency and seriousness. You, as a patient are taking part in governance.

1. The PPs saying that the notes are incomplete or tests results unavailable are missing the point. The patient told the Dr that they had been admitted to icu recently for this. The Dr disregarded this information. If the hospital notes are unreliable, that is more reason for Drs to listen to the patients' accounts! Not to disregard them! Are you all claiming that med notes are unreliable AND that Drs do not know this?

On strength of point 4, you have grounds to complain, OP. The Dr you saw effectively called you a liar (the alternative explanations are even worse). They then left you without lifesaving medication. And no flaws in the medical note sharing systems can account for that.

Ultimately, nobody knows better than medics just how bad med note keeping and sharing is. So, when a patient says (through swollen lips) "I spent X time in ITU at St Elseswhere's due to rare allergy" look into it. Don't dismiss them. Even if you cannot find notes to support their account, ask yourself "is it a drug of abuse?". If the answer is No - Err on caution. Give them one bloody Epipen.

Do hospitals have a stash of epipens to dispense or do they have to follow the same individual ordering process that every other pharmacy has to currently?

If I've understood correctly at least one poster has queried whether you can take an EpiPen/equivalent home from hospital. Partner works in a+e, he prescribes epipens. Can't speak for what is possible in different trusts though.

Hospitals have sufficient of most drugs for their requirements. No single patient is pushing us over the edge with their needs.

That said, a patient uses their emergency Epipen and is admitted. Patient is discharged 2 days before primary care can resupply - there are procedures that can be followed.

Hospital pharmacy can dispense. If it absolutely cannot, the duty pharmacy can.

PPs are criticising you for being excessive or accusing you of wanting to 'end a career'. Do not accept this. You just want resolution and improvement.
Which is why people are pointing out that the OP would be better getting the facts straight before reporting an individual doctor to the GMC without knowing what the issue was.

Nobody is saying that there can't be human error. We are saying that using words suggesting the doctor was deliberately lying and wanting them reporting (whilst not being interested in going to PALS to explore procedural issues too) is more like trying to get someone struck off than actually locating the problem and seeking resolution.

I agree that OP ought go through PALS or Trust complaints as a matter of course.

I fail to see how a Dr disregarding her testimony - to the extent that weeks in ICU is just ignored - as a procedural failure. It is a serious dereliction (at least).

The GMC is not on the side of common sense as recent cases prove. They need to be radically overhauled as they are utterly unfit for purpose. Referring doctors to the GMC results in nothing but misery for everyone concerned - an investigation is needed - contact pals