To think that the NHS should phone you with a diagnosis before prescribing medication?

[illfallforward]

My mum has just been called to say that a prescription is ready for her. Turns out it’s a chemotherapy cream for skin cancer. Now fair enough it’s not the worst diagnosis to have, but surely someone should speak to her before she finds this out?! I’m just flabbergasted

Was she referred to dermatology? My mum went for suspected skin cancer and they removed a lump but then noticed a red patch on her face which they said was skin cancer and would give her some cream for it.

I’ve just spoken to her and she’s really upset bless her. Is this something you can complain about?

Yes, she had biopsies but was told 8 weeks for results. She’s had this call today, picked up the prescription and it’s a chemotherapy cream! She had to find out via google.

Who has prescribed it? Are you sure she hasn’t attended an appointment that she’s forgotten about?? Do you go with her? Or a phone consultation that she’s not really understood?

It’s dermatology who have prescribed it.

Yes I am sure. She’s 63, not old! She has full capacity. She attended for biopsies two and a half weeks ago. She was told it would be eight weeks for results, and then today the pharmacy called her to collect it

Did they tell her how she would get the results? Who phoned her, was it her GP or dermatology?

The pharmacy called her. No contact from her GP or the hospital apart from this call.

Could they have sent a letter which has been delayed in the post or does she have the NHS app or email. When I was referred to dermatology I got my results via email.

I can see why this seems a bit harsh but in our straightened times I’d be glad someone had acted so quickly to get her the treatment she needs. Better than waiting another 5-6 weeks for the appointment?

Please don’t complain. Use the time you would have spent complaining to ask a GP to contact you to go over things?

No, nothing on the app.

I understand that it’s good to get treatment, but it just takes a phone call. She doesn’t know what type of skin cancer it is, what the next steps are, side effects of the treatment etc.

It sounds as though the Pharmacy was working quicker than her GP who hasn't yet given her the results.

I'd advise her to download the NHS app as I get my test results through on that, before hearing from my GP surgery.

ETA: I see she has the app.

This treatment is under the hospital, not the GP.

She has the hospital app. This isn’t through the GP.

I'd complain in this situation. It seems that someone isn't doing their job.
Yes, its fab that she's getting quick treatment, however the core of health care isn't the medication, its the person.
And someone has forgotten that your mum is a person and not just another patient.

There are no medications licensed for autism. If you're going to make outlandish claims then please be accurate. My autism assessment was conducted by 2 clinicians over 2 half-days, including the use of a highly regarded diagnostic instrument, and did not and will not result in a prescription. My seronegative autoimmune disease was diagnosed by one clinician in half an hour, with negative bloods and scans, and will require a lifetime of potentially ever increasingly costly medications. Clinical expertise is often the most important factor in accurate diagnostics, not everything can be diagnosed with a blood test or biopsy or scan.

@illfallforward there's probably a letter in the post with the actual diagnosis, it's not uncommon for the prescription to go through before receiving the letter.

She has the app so all communications are instant and online.

Yes this sounds like something has gone wrong somewhere- she should have been told the diagnosis and given some explanation about treatment before receiving the prescription. Contact them and let them know what has happened- sounds like some sort of admin error and it's possible that she's been missed for a call, or else that she's been given someone else's prescription. I wouldn't start using the treatment until she has spoken to a doctor.

The dermatologist has probably written to her explaining the diagnosis and the treatment, and has done a prescription at the same time. Obviously the pharmacy is quicker than Royal Mail.

No. She has the app. All communications are instant.

What is the cream? I have skin cancer (melanoma) and I cannot think of any topical treatments for skin cancer. Now it may be for BCC, which is basically a nothing burger, it’s like treating a wart. But there are no creams used to treat anything serious.

I’d simply be thrilled to have an answer and a treatment and to not be at risk of death (unlike those of us with incurable cancers).

Give dermatology a ring and explain what has happened. When my mum was given her cream the instructions were written on the box and there was a leaflet that came with it.

I’m very sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

I don’t know the name of the cream. Just that she’s been told to pick it up and when she asked the pharmacist what it is, she was told it’s a chemotherapy cream for “your skin cancer”. Obviously it’s good it’s not serious. But it’s also not a nice thing to be told by a pharmacist with no real discussion with the consultant to know what type, the side effects etc.