Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Should i make a fuss with my GP surgery??

28 replies

SarahBeara1 · 09/10/2023 04:13

Back in 2019 I was having lots of pain in my side...long story short a 'mass' was found and i was sent for an urgent scan.

It was found that i had two cysts, one on each ovary. The right one being larger but okay, the one on the left was 'one to watch' and that i should be rescanned in 6-8 weeks.... That NEVER happened.

I am now presenting with a definite bulge i want to call it, on my left side.

I don't want to be fobbed off with some stupid reasons why they didn't do it cause it clearly states on the bottom of the letter that i needed a repeat test..

What should i do?

OP posts:

Spencer0220 · 09/10/2023 04:16

Ring gp. Make urgent appointment. Don't tell receptionist why.

PriOn1 · 09/10/2023 04:18

I’d be in a hurry to get it rechecked, if I were you. Presumably the recheck didn’t happen because of Covid, but you probably should have chased it up before now. Not sure what kind of fuss you want to make, but personally, being seen promptly now would be my focus.

Tilllly · 09/10/2023 04:24

Focus on getting an appointment, that's your priority

In the meantime, you can write to the practice manager and explain your concerns
I've found them to be very effective with all sorts of queries

Photio · 09/10/2023 05:06

Get an appointment as soon as possible to get it looked at.
Do you have a copy of the letter? Why didn't you contact the GP at the time when no appointment was sent out? You do have to look out for yourself too as things do get missed, letters lost in post, booking system failures etc.
Was it just before covid?

Treelesschristmas · 09/10/2023 05:11

What have they said so far in the past when you have been requesting this?

debka · 09/10/2023 05:25

Why didn't you request the repeat scan after 6-8 weeks? 2019 is a long time ago!

Original poster

SarahBeara1 · 09/10/2023 05:28

It was a bit of a mess to be honest. When i had the scan and the results obviously back to the doctor, i was referred to a gynaecologist at the hospital. When i saw him all the computers were down so he didn't have a record in front of him of why i was even there, i said had been scanned and he said i was perimenopausal and that was it.

I haven't made any requests 'cause i've only just been able to get access to my records online and i was browsing through all my previous test results and saw the ultrasound letter.

What makes it worse is that i have been to the doctors over the last year with terrible lower back pain, unexplained bloating and lack periods/irregular bleeding which of course has all been put down to my age and being perimenopausal (which of course it could well be).

I can put in a request online but doesn't mean they will see it as anything that can't wait. My surgery is well known for being not great.

OP posts:

Tilllly · 12/10/2023 03:39

@SarahBeara1 have you got an appt yet?

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 12/10/2023 03:46

Go private if you have to. I have 3 monthly scans (abroad) and am perimenopausal. Last week the left ovary showed projections in the scan. Meaning it has become malignant. I had an MRI on Monday and am having it removed in theater tomorrow morning. My CA125 is also checked every 3 months and I am lucky it hasn't elevated yet so there's every chance I will survive. Please, please get a lawyer in case you need to sue them and go private for a scan. Bloodyhell, I would even give you the money if you needed it. X

Chestnutz · 12/10/2023 03:51

Focus on getting that appointment urgently now. What happened when you requested the rescan previously?

Chestnutz · 12/10/2023 03:52

I see you’ve been to the doctors over the last year for other things - did you not take the opportunity to discuss the mass then as well?

ThreeLeggedKitten · 12/10/2023 03:55

Email the practice manager and explain that you want them to look into why the GP never followed up as directed by consultant on x date. Also ask why your GP failed to refer you on to consultants this last year in light of previous cysts, ongoing health symptoms and the follow appointment recommendation. Explain you now have a bulge so suspect another cyst but have concerns about not receiving appropriate health care. Ask what their complaints procedure is while you’re at it.

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 12/10/2023 03:56

Any GP who had any brains would investigate the symptoms reported even if they were too thick to look at the medical records. Are you suggesting that the OP is at fault? I'm really sad if you are, just admit the NHS has fucked up in this case and show some compassion.

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 12/10/2023 03:57

That's @Chestnutz

ThreeLeggedKitten · 12/10/2023 03:57

So yes write to practice manager and see a GP urgently. Can you see someone else within the practice? Can you change practice?

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 12/10/2023 03:58

And get a CA125 privately. Ffs the NHS is mad. I could walk into any polyclinic and get one done any time I wanted. It costs £46 for CA125 and CEA here.

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 12/10/2023 03:59

I wouldn't bother with GPs. They aren't much good. Present to a and e with pain and get a scan.

Chestnutz · 12/10/2023 04:29

Sorry - definitely didn’t mean to come across blaming OP. Our system is quite broken and while HCP are doing their best, I’ve learned that it really is necessary to advocate for yourself as much as possible. OP needs to be seen quickly and I was asking about what had happened previously in case there was a way of suggesting a different approach. I too found a letter which said I should have been re-xrayed after a certain time and wasn’t. It was also 5 years after being told I didn’t have a blood cancer that I was also finally diagnosed with blood cancer. So the questions were coming from a place of understanding and concern - even if they didn’t come across that way.

Pacificisolated · 12/10/2023 05:34

Oh god, this sounds terrible. Would it be worth just going along to A&E and waiting however long you have to wait?

HollyFern1110 · 12/10/2023 05:50

I understand OP. There's a letter on my medical file from 2001 noting small cysts on my ovaries & recommending 2 yearly scans to monitor. 22 years later I still haven't had another scan. I don't have the symptoms you do however so have never chased it for myself.

As others have said, book an appointment today & actually ask the Dr you see about the previous cyst & missing scan. My guess is you'll be referred urgently for it. Ignore the ridiculous advice about refusing to tell the Receptionist why you need the appointment. They won't be able to give you an emergency appointment without that info, so telling them is helpful. They are not attempting to diagnose or treat, simply gathering info for the Dr as per their job description.

Tilllly · 12/10/2023 06:44

@Valerianandfoxglovesoup
Best of luck for your surgery and recovery

Bearcub101 · 12/10/2023 06:54

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 12/10/2023 03:46

Best of luck for your surgery and recovery x

sunshineandtea · 12/10/2023 06:58

Definitely needs following up to see what the lump you can feel is.

yikesanotherbooboo · 12/10/2023 07:11

You need an urgent scan and to be examined;the best way of achieving this is through your GP. Ring your surgery and explain to the receptionist that you have found a mass.Accept a phone or triage appointment if this is what is offered.If no appointment forthcoming speak to the PM. This is your priority. As far as why you weren't scanned again you can ask your doctor or the pm to investigate down the line.

ActDottie · 12/10/2023 07:15

debka · 09/10/2023 05:25

Why didn't you request the repeat scan after 6-8 weeks? 2019 is a long time ago!

This

Id have requested it myself

Flip

1 2