Examples of Wrongly Being Told There Was Nothing Wrong By The NHS

[Westover]

Interested in examples of this, as it appears to be a growing trend to be fobbed off, sometimes repeatedly by a GP, and told there is nothing seriously wrong when there is an issue requiring treatment. I'm also wondering if it is bad in other countries. In my case:

• Developed what turned out to be pneumonia. 2 initial visits to the GP, first visit told there was nothing wrong and it was just a virus and couldn't be treated, second visit a few days later and was diagnosed with a kidney infection and given antibiotics appropriate to that. Ended up collapsing at home that weekend, ambulance called, taken to hospital, chest x ray and diagnosed with pneumonia. Was given penicillin. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a penicillin-resistant strain and so felt increasingly terrible over the next week. Managed to persuade my GP to give me an emergency appointment (this was pre-Covid), during which he barely looked at me and took a lengthy phone call before dismissing me, telling me that the antibiotics took time to work. Phoned 111 the next day and was given an appointment at a local health clinic who sent me back to hospital, where I was admitted for 4 days and put on intravenous antibiotics.

• Fell while out running and slightly dislocated my kneecap (as diagnosed by my GP). A week later, felt a sharp pain and was unable to bear weight after that. After being phone triaged, eventually got an appointment with NHS physio some weeks later where I was x- rayed, told there was nothing wrong with it and told I was being lazy and there was no reason I couldn't exercise and I should be walking properly and not using crutches (I have never been lazy in my life!). Went back 2 months later as it was worse and was told the same again by a clearly even less interested physio. Refused an MRI scan. Paid for a private MRI scan, which showed a stress fracture. My knee is now severely damaged as a result of not resting it for 5 months after it occurred.

• Fell off my bike and got a bad cut which caused scarring to develop on my face. At A&E where it was initially treated, I was told by the consultant that I should refer for possibly laser treatment or to have the scar revised once a year had passed. GP happily did this and in the consultation, I was told that "the best option" was to have psychiatric counselling to help me "get used to the change in my appearance". I wrote a stinker of a letter back saying that I would not be taking up that option as I wasn't that bothered by it but I had been advised to get further revision surgery by a consultant. I then moved house, got another consultation elsewhere and was given laser treatment to revise it which was successful.

As I understand it, his family set up a charity and that raised money and that money is properly accounted for.

His family also set up a company and registered his name as a trademark and made a lot of money that way. That's the really murky part. The accusation that they didn't object (wearing the charity hat) to them trademarking his image and names (wearing the business hat.)

The whole thing is deeply dodgy and it's clear that they have tried to squeeze every penny they can out of this.

She resigned as trustee but he still is one I believe. They jointly own the company.

There is a massive conflict of interest here

I read they trademarked his name before they set the charity up which leads me to suspect they planned this very well!

I was told I'd had a 'successful pregnancy' when my baby was stillborn. This went on my fucking medical records.

I first went to the GP about my very heavy, painful periods when I was 15 years old. I was told it was normal and "one of those things you just have to put up with". It got worse as I got older and started to interfere with my ability to work and study so I saw a couple of different GP's in my early 20's, one laughed and told me I must have a low pain threshold another seemed annoyed and told me to "be grateful you don't have something serious like cancer".

My symptoms continued to get worse, I was prescribed various painkillers, many different types of hormonal contraception and supplements over the years, none of which even took the edge off, but never referred to a specialist or any investigations until my early 30's when I had a colposcopy for post-coital bleeding that lasted for days. The Consultant couldn't see anything to explain the bleeding but rather than do anymore investigations he concluded it was "probably just break-through bleeding from the pill". I asked if it could be endometriosis and was told this wasn't possible because I had managed to have a child. I told him about my periods but he just shrugged and said "some women do suffer more than others" and discharged me.

Finally, at the age of 35 I saw a wonderful female GP who confirmed that no, it is absolutely NOT normal for your periods to last 10-14 days and be so heavy you bleed through two layers of sanitary protection and have to use maternity pads and to be in so much pain that sometimes you can't even stand. It was such a relief to know I wasn't imagining it or being pathetic.

She referred me to Gynaecology and after several months on a waiting list, appointments being promised and cancelled repeatedly and other delays to numerous to list here I have finally, at the age of 37, been diagnosed with stage 4 (severe) endometriosis. I was told yesterday that I need a total hysterectomy.

Apparently because it went untreated for so long the endo has spread and there is a lot of scar tissue. This means that treating me medically, or even with a less drastic surgery is not an option. I cannot tell you how upset, angry and just utterly disoriented I felt hearing this after 20+ years of being told over and over that I was making a fuss about nothing.

2 private doctors (at a cost of £400) have told me I need a significant operation to deal with my problem (ent related). I can’t get beyond a telephone consultation with my GP.

😲😲😲
How utterly appalling. Just no words. So sorry this has happened to you.

When I was 19 I was told that I had miscarried my 2nd child, 2 months later I was told i was 29 weeks pregnant, must have been carrying twins and only one had miscarried and that my unborn was very ill 😥
I was sent to a bigger hospital for further tests and got told my unborn was flat lining and I had to have an emergency cesarean section.
RIP Nahriah Shanae Blower 💔👼

For four years I was told by my gp that my vertigo and balance issues were an inner ear issue, finally got an ent referral 2 years ago who diagnosed vestibular migraine. Numbness in my right side then started, and again told migraine. Last summer I woke up unable to pass water. Finally after 4 fucking years and 9 gp appointments, 2 ent appointments I finally had an mri.

I have MS. If I'd had the mri 4 years ago I'd have had treatment and possibly not then lost my mobility and have to have a permanent catheter fitted. I'm now dependent on my family for everyday tasks.

Funnily enough my dh went to our gp with a loss of sensation in his thumb (I'd been for numbness and pins and needles and fobbed off with migraine diagnosis again) and he got an emergency MRI!!!!!!

I've been treated like a menopausal neurotic pest