How to complain about a private consulation I had (medical)

[girlfriend44]

Please help what is the right channel if anyone knows?

Dont want to say too much as outing but something crazy happened. I went to see a private doctor/consultant a few weeks ago, as I didnt want to wait on the NHS.
All good and I paid at the time. I was told that a report would be typed up and sent on by email, when the secretary had done the notes. Seemed Ok.They said the next few days.

Nothing came so I emailed, they fobbed me off and its quite obvious they cant be bothered to write it up for me. I need it and I paid for it and they also said I could show the report to my employer (health matters).
They now wont answer emails.

How do i report them? Can I get my money back I paid on debit card for the appointment. Should I tell them Im going to report them and levave bad reviews. New to me, so how to handle. Paid but got nothing in writing to say ive been and what the findings and recommendations were?
Feeling Crazy. How do i take it further. I know you can complain about NHS but where do i go now as its a private practice!!

A lot of private consultants have several clinics a week in various locations , private and nhs, so it possible letters from each are processed accordingly. Was this a one off appointment or first of perhaps several? How long have you been you waiting? Have you paid in full?

I agree with this. Sometimes they're very quick but often they can be weeks, if not months.

Yes paid in full
Initial consultation at their clinic.

Private consultants are generally self employed and have their own complaints procedure. Send an email stating that it's an official complaint. If they don't respond, you can complain to the gmc.

Thanks and what do the GMC do?
Yes they have their own practice self employed there's three of them working under one roof but it's all under one company name.
Like a dentist they have a house which they've turned into a practice.

I think you will find that you haven't left enough time - the doctor will dictate the letter and then the secretaries have to type it; plus they also need to wait for any investigations. You seem keen to get a refund, but to be honest, unless you are over the three month mark I really wouldn't complain just yet.

Secondly, as you have said you would show your employer, there may be medico-legal aspects that are delaying it - and they may be getting a legal person to check the letter as if it did impact your employment (they are not allowed to do anything that will harm you) you could come back to them - and from your post it sounds like you may be the type of person to do this.

If you say how long it has been perhaps people will provide better advice. The GMC will not give two craps about a delayed letter - they deal with safety of patients, of which a letter being delayed is not one of the issues they will cover, plus you need to go through a long process before they will take it up.

Without knowing how long it's been or what they did when you chased we can't help much

This would be far more appropriate than the GMC, HOWEVER, you should still follow the internal complaints procedure iscas.cedr.com/

a few weeks ago

Do we mean two weeks, or ten weeks?

@girlfriend44 Hi, I've used private medical cover for over 35 years.

TBH you are jumping the gun by assuming no letter will come.

How long ago exactly was your appt?

I don't know what you mean by 'fobbed off'.
What were you told?

I'd assume it was ' The letter will be sent in due course.'

That (IME) can be anything from a week to a month depending on the dr's PA and her workload.

You cannot get a refund, so forget that. You had a consultation and the payment is for that.

Your private consultant may write to your GP with their diagnosis.
Did you need a GP referral (Many consultants now don't want that) but if you did, then your GP is the person to contact as well as the consultant's PA.

You won't get anywhere by being unpleasant to them.

If you need the letter for your employer, go back to the PA and explain.

You cannot 'report' a consultant for failing to provide a letter after your consultation. It's not a medical issue.

This is an admin issue and you need to speak to his PA.

TBH if you start making a formal complaint over a later letter, you will look deranged!

You sound very unreasonable.

My consultant who I have seen regularly for years can take anything from 2 weeks to 4 weeks to write a letter.

The important thing is did the consultation help you?
Are you now diagnosed? Do you need treatment with drugs or surgery? has it speeded up whatever you weren't getting via the NHS?

And who needs to see the diagnosis? You, your GP or your employer or all of these?

@girlfriend44 Is this the podiatrist you were hoping to find?

Yes they have their own practice self employed there's three of them working under one roof but it's all under one company name.Like a dentist they have a house which they've turned into a practice.

So what is the specialism?

Is it gynaecology, dermatology, gastro, cardio, etc?

Or is this feet? I know you were looking for a podiatrist. They are not doctors.

It may not be the secretary's fault. I once word or a consultant who only dictated once a month. Also many medical secretaries work for multiple consultants.

Don't start complaining, just give her a call and ask when the report will be ready.

Worked not word

Yes feet.

Ok so it's a podiatrist you've seen.

Any update on the timescales here like others have asked?

You do know that a podiatrist isn't a doctor?

Is this the 'doctor' you say isn't sending you a letter?

You were had an appt 3 days ago according to your thread asking for advice where to find one.

3 days? Jesus, give them a chance!

I would just ring the secretary and ask when they think it will be done, politely say you need it urgently.
If you really aren't getting what you paid for, you could raise a dispute via the bank..
But give them a bit of time, remember the entire health service is on its knees right now.. the private hospitals are really just nhs workers doing overtime, so probably have a big backlog too.

No wonder @girlfriend44 doesn’t want to actual give any details 🤣

3 days?! Fuck me if that is it you need to give them a bit more time

It’s not even been 3 days 🙄

I used to work in a private hospital (with doctors not podiatrists) letters still take weeks. They usually work for a 2 week turn around but presume it’s longer with covid now.
each letter is both written and dictated by the doc, sent to secretary for typing, sec sends back to the consultant for checking and signing, and that’s if they’re not waiting any results. Then will need to be electronically officially signed off then it can be sent out.

clinics usually have at least 10 patients, that would take at least half a day just to type most likely. If his secretary is off on leave for a week or so that will delay things, they don’t cross cover.

i think you’re being unreasonable in expecting a response in 3 days in my experience. But if that’s what you were told that understandably frustrating. Often docs do say one thing when the admin reality is quite different.

if you want to die on this hill, you can email the head of the practise with your complaint. Someone suggested Gmc which will be useless if they are not a medical professional. But even if they were a medic gmc would not get involeved in the fact your letter took >3 days to type!

I went to one and would advise against.Go NHS if you can wait.

It's a racket. Expensive for 30 mins felt all rushed. You could tell he was rushing onto the next patient.

Quoted me 370 pounds for some insoles . I mean come on how does it cost that much?

They just want to pull you in.

Then it was several hundred for laser treatment which wouldn't necessarily work.
Avoid.