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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to tell the GP what I want; rather than asking her what can she do?

113 replies

Katymac · 19/05/2010 18:00

There is tonnes of back story to this

But basically DD has gone blind (12 weeks ago) & they won't give her a MRI/CT Scans, do a neural net (whatever that is) or any blood tests

A behavioural ophthalmologist has faxed the GP to arrange these tests; the GP won't

So do I go in telling them what I want or is there a better way?

I rarely (if ever) do AIBU - so be gentle with me; I really am at the end of my patience

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 19/05/2010 18:12

Your DD is blind and they won't perform an MRI/CT scan, blood tests etc?

Get a new GP, she sounds like a twat.

mangoandlime · 19/05/2010 18:13

YANBU.

Time to get tough.

Alouiseg · 19/05/2010 18:13

March into A&E. It is a serious emergency. report that GP and fast!

ajandjjmum · 19/05/2010 18:14

Tell the GP if asking hasn't worked. And don't leave the surgery until you've got what you need - having taken the advice from a professional.

Is it worth getting directly in touch with your PCT?

Dinkytinky · 19/05/2010 18:16

Jesus! What an awful doctor, you must get a second opinion, or march in there and demand them. Unless there's a danger involved in sending your dd fir these tests? Ask whynot and if the reason is not good enough demand it/ get a second opinion- order another doctor that will give the tests!!! I really do wish you lots of luck, and all the best for your dd xxxxx

ArthurPewty · 19/05/2010 18:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Thediaryofanobody · 19/05/2010 18:17

YANBU
I intend to do this tomorrow myself.

CarGirl · 19/05/2010 18:17

I would tell the GP what needs to happen. If GP still refuses then I would suggest that if it turns out that your dd has a medical problem that delaying these tests will have been made worse then the GP will be held personally accountable.

Can you take another adult witness with you because I bet your dds notes are not complete with the facts/referrals/requests etc

IMoveTheStars · 19/05/2010 18:17

Katymac, this is getting ridiculous - is your GP being deliberately obstructive?

I saw the other thread about the BO - can't she refer for the MRI/CT etc?

Have you spoken to your PCT?

pippop1 · 19/05/2010 18:18

Cry in the surgery. It will help.

Chulita · 19/05/2010 18:18

I read your original post months ago and I can't believe this is still going on.

change GP and write a letter of complaint to whoever's in charge of her. And, hassle, hassle, hassle - I'm working out that medical staff listen to the most annoying/noisiest people.

I really hope you get somewhere with this!

IndigoSky · 19/05/2010 18:18

Can the opthalmologist refer you directly?

I read your thread earlier today and was horrified by the appalling treatment you and your dd are getting. Shame on your GP.

The GP has no right to over rule an expert as far as I understand.

How about a word with the practice manager or senior partner?

Has your GP said why she won't do it (other than to save money)?

HonestyBox · 19/05/2010 18:20

Hi Katymac, I have read a few of your other threads and feel really sorry about what is going on for you.

YANBU but I think there are a few things I can share with you as I have been through some neurological stuff myself recently and can understand your frustration. Even ended up sobbing in A&E one night and waiting hours which didn't get me any further.

First thing to do is find a sympathetic GP as this is key to accessing all other services in the NHS. Just change it right now if it is not working out for you.

GPs cannot access MRI scans directly, they can request CT scans but as it is a big dose of radiation it is worth waiting for the MRI, especially for a child. A&E do not have access to MRI either.

As it is to do with eyes you will end up going through ophthalmology as you have found. I don't really know what a behavioral ophthalmologist is. Can you ask to be copied in to all correspondence if you have not done so? It will make everything much clearer. What tests did they do at the eye hospital? I'm assuming you saw the opthalmologist at an eye hospital?

Making the transition to neurology can be tricky if this is what is needed, sometimes the eye hospital can refer to a neuro-ophthalmologist but this can take months if they don't see it as urgent. As mine appeared to be neurological in origin and the neuro-ophthalmologist was going to be too long a wait I was sent back to the GP and then referred to neurology but it took a long time and then I ended up jumping the queue by paying for a consultation with a neurologist recommended by my GP and following this went back into the NHS system.

Ask me any questions you like, I can try to answer.

How did her blindness emerge? Was it sudden or gradual?

piratecat · 19/05/2010 18:22

straight to A+ E

i have had similar shit exp's in the past 2 weeks.

BUT my child hasn't gone blind.

when we were in A+E the other day, girl was there, well when we got to the assesment bit of the childrens ward and she had lost sight in one eye. She got an mri that night, and she had a bloody clot onher brain.

sorry op i would be going now. i am not being alrmist, but how the fuck does your gp know what it is. omg

bibbitybobbityhat · 19/05/2010 18:22

What are the GPs arguments? What has she done/is she doing for your dd? What about other GPs within the practice?

Surely this is such a highly unusual case they will have had a case conference about it. Do all the other GPs back up your own GP? If so, any ideas why that might be?

HonestyBox · 19/05/2010 18:31

I am answering the people who say going to A&E is best, I have to offer another opinion as I have been through a similar situation myself.

IME you will end up waiting a long time at A&E and not get anywhere. If you are happy that the situation is stable as it has been for the last how ever many weeks and you don't think it is suddenly getting worse then I would wait and go into an Eye Hospital tomorrow. They will always see emergencies. A&E will only do the very basic tests - following a finger with your eyes etc. - and they do not know enough about eyes to deal with what seems to be going on with your daughter.

Of course, if you think you need to go in to A&E then you must do so. Just in my experience it didn't get me anywhere with an ongoing health situation that was chronic rather than a sudden onset of new symptoms.

choufleur · 19/05/2010 18:47

CHange your GP whatever happens with your DD. Sounds terrible. Why can't the behavioural opthamologist arrange the tests / refer you.

can't you self refer to a consultant if you go private (could you afford the initial consultation - normally around £100 - £150?)

queribus · 19/05/2010 18:52

Most large hospitals will have a specific ophthalmic A&E service. Your nearest hospital website should tell you.

If you have an eye hospital near to you, go straight there.

Then, complain in the strongest possible terms to your practice manager, with copy to PCT.

Finally, get and keep copies of everything - letters, referrals, patient notes - and prepare to plead negligence.

This is outrageous!!

piratecat · 19/05/2010 18:56

yes, when i went into my gp a few yrs ago saying my eyes were bothering me, she reffered me next day to local eye hospital, saying 'we never mess about when it comes to eyes'

ooojimaflip · 19/05/2010 19:00

Go to an eye hospital.

Original poster
Katymac · 19/05/2010 19:19

The GP just rang (6:40)

apparently she spoke to the consultant who says:
*he will stake his reputation on his diagnosis being right (guess what - he just has)

the behavioural opthalmologist has worried* me un-necessarily (like I wasn't worried before I saw her.....I had 11 weeks of total calm then freaked out when someone said 'she should have tests'....NOT!)

I mustn't worry as it will go away (there, there dear, don't worry, everything is fine bullshit)I must realise he is highly trained & will be able to convince me that he is right (by hypnosis? torture? his pretty smile - did I say bullshit already?)

But that IF I don't beleive him I can have a second opinion at Great Ormond Street but we have no idea how long that will take

I am sat here in tears unable to even articulate how unhappy/ineffectual/useless I feel

OP posts:
piratecat · 19/05/2010 19:26

oh god katymac, i am so so sorry you are going thru this shit. i really am, i have come up against some shitty attitudes,and high and mighty 'i am god the doctor' attittudes in the past few days myself.

i am not totally up to date with your story.

what IS the diagnosis?

WHAT will go away?

not shouting just asking what your gp means. x

MegGriffin · 19/05/2010 19:27

Katy, go for the second opinion, you have nothing to lose. If they are right then so be it, at least you will have confirmation. You will not rest until this has been resolved and you get an opinion you trust. I'm so sorry for the pain and anguish you are suffering, you should not have to go through this.

bibbitybobbityhat · 19/05/2010 19:32

Well, it sounds good to me if the consultant is willing to stake his reputation on his diagnosis being right. I don't imagine he would do that lightly. Sounds encouraging from the outside.

xstitch · 19/05/2010 19:32

Katymac, I understand why you are in tearsbut you are not useless and don't let someone tell you otherwise.

Off course the consultant is highly trained but that doesn't give them the excuse to patronise patients and their families. I would do what others have been suggesting, get a new GP, complain to both the practice manager and the PCT and push for a referral to Grt Ormond St. I do hope your DD is ok.

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