Really hate the NHS at the moment.

[AKMD]

Basic background: A large tumour was picked up on by an out-of-hours GP in April this year. I got told I probably had cancer. It took me 15 weeks to see a consultant, after being referred to the wrong consultant who promptly lost my notes. I got given 3 different diagnoses, one of which gave me less than a year to live. It took until September to actually have the operation, after which I didn't have adequate pain relief and got sent home with an insufficient supply to last me until the follow-up appointment. I didn't get a full diagnosis until 3 weeks after the appointment. I got referred on to another consultant after I had complications post-surgery. Hospital lost my notes but they were subsequently found. I asked for a second opinion, which I've had today, only to find that the hospital didn't pass on my test results or my notes so the consultant I saw didn't have enough information to make a diagnosis. I now have to wait 6 weeks for another appointment while they find my notes and test results. The second opinion consultant does surgery at the other consultant's hospital so she said she will consult with the first one about my case history the original diagnosis of the cause of the complication, which I've challenged.

So I've complained that the second opinion is clearly not going to be independent, will complain about them not being prepared for the consultation today, will complain that these constant mess-ups are seriously affecting my quality of life and mental health, am seeing my GP today about being referred to someone who is actually going to give me an independent 2nd opinion and am generally so angry that I feel like hitting something.

DH says I should be grateful that I'm alive. AIBU?

It wasn't a brain tumour thankfully. Basically I had a fit after surgery, so I was referred to the neuro team.

I'm sure the consultants do all know eachother but I still expect an independent second opinion to be exactly that: independent. Starting from scratch in exactly the same way as they would had it been the original consultation, with access to test results and other relevant clinical information, not the other consultant's opinions. I also expect a consultant to be prepared for an appointment, not to wait 6 weeks for an appointment just to be told that they need another 6 weeks to prepare.

Hi there. We've moved this to 'General Health', as we think it's the best place for it.

ok

Actually I wouldnt dismiss the importance of administrators and pen pushers too quickly.

WIthout them you cannot run a hospital. Drs and Nurses and other medical staff cannot be expected to undertake the vast amounts of administration required to make a hospital work.

Medics already complain about the amount of forms etc they have to fill in.

Yet if mistakes are made people complain that adequate checks are not made.

I think a lot of the problems come down to moral and lack of ownership. Too many agency staff and locums from the 'top' to the 'bottom' (my '' because I dont actually think that cleaners are an inferior species).

Staff being moved around, hot desking etc.

If peope dont feel they belong or the ward/dept doesnt belong to them and their contract is only for 6 mths anyway - why should they care?

The thing is with hospitals is that they are massive, clunking machines and they always will be. You cannot streamline them, make them 'value for money' because they exist to serve human beings - sick human beings.

The NHS is a wonder. It happens to have some people in it who dont care and/or make mistakes.

I dont think there is an answer to that. We all have to be vigilent when we have any sort of medical care - private or NHS.

I am very glad to hear it isnt a BT AMKD
I hope you get the answers you need from the NHS and are able to move on from this horrible time.

AKMD I agree that the consultant should be prepared but in reality, they don't normally have the time to read huge files of notes before each appt so they only look at the files etc that morning. If the files aren't there, they're stuck. It's normally the clinic staff/secretaries job to make sure all the necessary info is there, so it sounds like they've failed you.

So what was the point of me going to the appointment today just to be told that it would take her another 6 weeks to prepare and have a chat with her bezzie mate consultant 1? I think it's appalling in itself, forgetting the rest of what has happened.

Trills it's far better than not having the NHS

Well that entirely depends on what is there in its place. If it was a superior system similar to the sort in place in many European countries, then it would be far better.

OP Some people on here can't bear to hear bad about the NHS (despite its many failings) and would prefer to keep it as it is rather than acknowledge that there is room for improvement in many many areas.

Best of luck to you.

AKMD, don't dismiss the second consultant too quick!

I had a mc last year and my hcg did not fall after the erpc. My consultant was completely confused by this and we agreed to wait and see. The next week I saw a collegue of my consultants for a completely different reason and he told me he had discussed my case with the other consultant and disagreed with his recommendation and thought I should have surgery right away. Which I did. Point being that even though they are collegues it doesn't mean that they will agree.

Yabu you should not hate the nhs.

However how you were treated was awful, yes you should complain.

I would not go private as I've seen the private patients wheeled over to a and e and at the brink of death, just left in the door way.

Lw

AKMD not sure if your last comment was in response to mine, but would just point out I'm not (and wasn't) defending anything that's happened to you. I can totally understand why you're angry, anyone in your situation would be.

In your OP you indicated that the second opinion consultant couldn't help becasue she hadn't had all the test results etc (which should ahve been got ready for her by clinic/admin staff) in time for your appt. Sorry if I misunderstood. No idea why it'll take another 6 weeks before she can see you. Like I said, I'd get a copy of your notes/scans/results etc so you don't have this problem at the next appt.

It's a good idea and definitely something I'll sort out. I am just so, so angry that I have been messed around yet again and nobody seems to care. I saw my GP this afternoon and their response was that they feel sorry for me but their hands are tied. I have been crying for most of the day because I feel like I can't take any more but hey, it's free so I should shut up and be grateful.

My friend was a nursing sister who left the NHS as she was so horrified by bad practice she saw developing over her 20+ years service. She told me she's not surprised that people die because of it, only that more people don't die because of it.

And that's the problem here. If things go wrong, the consequences are far greater than in any other "service", and most people have no choice. I am with all the posters who say just because its free it doesn't mean we should put up and shut up. Have a look at the website medicalharm.org/ and the work done by Private Eye and Dr Phil Hammond to expose malpractice. The NHS does have some fantastic dedicated individuals, but I am not sure its the majority.

OP my heart goes out to you.

BTW OP as Maxpower said, definitely get your notes and chase everything up - if you are due an appointment with Dr x ring their secretary a couple of days before to check they have the notes. Good luck.

No, I'm a NHS front line staff member, and yes, we're all shit.

Better now?

Yup, much, thanks.

If I turned up to chair a crucial meeting at work that I had had over a month to prepare for and told the rest of the attendees that I needed another month and a half to prepare, I would expect to be fired.

OP

Just picking up on qa coupl of the points mentione in your posts.

You said that you were sent home from hospital without enough pain relief to last you till the next appointment. That isnt what the aim is, people tend to get about a weeks worth on medication from hospital with the expectation that they will go to their GP for longer term prescriptions.

It would be odd for a 2nd opinion doctor to not speak to the original doctor. Not because they want to automatically agree with the first doctor, but to know what led the first doctor to their opinion.

It might be worth trying to address why with 6 weeks notice of the apointment your notes and test results couldnt be found. Possibly the reason that you have to wait another 6 weeks for the next appointment is that the clinic is fully booked up until that point.