To bother NHS about this - and if so, who and how?

[Fangdango]

I have chronic pelvic pain. Had exploratory surgery, minor procedure, and then follow up consultation. Four years from GP referral to surgery.

Pain has mostly subsided (good) but it has only been a couple of months

Consultant letter discharging me, copied to GP, just says I have no more pain and so am being discharged.

I am worried that he doesn't mention his findings from laparoscopy, even though they can / could in future cause pain. I am aware NHS is under pressure. But is it not a problem if I am discharged with no detail of findings?

And what is the lowest resource way to solve this - get GP / nurse to call consultant secretary? Ask them to add note to my record directly on my say so? Or can they see detail I can't see in this letter? (No central record - NHS Wales if that makes a difference).

I'm not sure how much NHS wales varies, but I work for NHS England and there is a central sharing system between GPs and hospitals in most trusts where they can share and see more information. A lot of consultants also write a letter to the patient (copied to the GP) which is generally written in more layman's terms and then another more detailed letter to the GP which includes more information (but not all consultants do this). Are you wanting the laparoscopy findings for yourself? Or do you just want to make sure they're on the system and that your GP can access should they need to refer you again in future? Either way, I think the best way to deal with it is to call the hospital department yourself and just relay your concerns to the admin team and see what they suggest.

That's really helpful, thanks @gentlemum. I can remember what they told me but I don't know if it's written even in my hospital records - consultant pointed it all out to me while showing my photos.

I want to make sure my GP has this info - I'm with a great surgery now and they listen, but what if I move to a computer-says-no type. And yes would like to make sure the info is on my record - it wasn't trivial and would need more tests to diagnose again without that. Thank you - I'll phone the hospital.

Write or phone consultant secretary with your enquiry.

Will do - thank you!