The endless NHS wild goose chase to get a blood test

[frankiesamson]

I dread becoming ill enough to need the NHS in any way, because I've never had a good service from them, and neither have any of my family or friends. My grandfather died because the GP refused to give him the needed blood test. My DH almost died a few years ago because our GP refused to give him a simple blood test- it took a huge effort to find a GP willing to do it, he finally got diagnosed & given the needed treatment just in time. My mother also almost lost decades off her life because she struggled to persuade her GP to do a specific test for a serious condition- which turned out to be positive, but only after months of fighting with her GP to get this 1 minute blood test done.

Something as simple as a vitamin deficiency can become life threatening when your GP refuses to test.

Sadly, now is one of those times again. Myself & DH stripped our staircase & skirting boards recently without realising they had lead paint on them & that you're not supposed to strip lead paint using a heat gun.

Naturally, we now need a lead blood test to ensure we're okay. Waiting for lead poisoning symptoms is a bad idea & could be fatal, it's best to get it done without delay.

And here ensues the NHS wild goose chase...

I delayed addressing this issue because I knew it'd drive me up the wall trying to find anyone in the NHS to see at short notice let alone persuade them to give us the needed blood test.

I took a deep breath & decided today to make a concerted effort to get this simple blood test done.

We've just moved house & not only have we not yet registered at the new GP but are presently away from home for several weeks in Manchester, which has only made things even worse.

The GP receptionists in Manchester refused to register us even as temporary patients, saying "WE DON'T DO TEMPORARY PATIENTS 'ERE UNLESS YOU GOT A PERMANENT ADDRESS 'ERE"... trying to reason or use logic with them proved futile. I explained we're here for a couple of weeks and asked "Any resident in England can see a GP whilst on holiday or visiting friends in a different area.. this is everyone's right on the NHS." They looked at me incredulously... as if I'd just spoken new words to them.

I went on: "Why would a temporary patient have a permanent address here? That makes no sense."... but it fell on deaf ears.. they just looked completely confused.

In the end, after an age of trying to negotiate with these stubborn receptionists, they finally allowed us to register as temporary patients (filling out the forms) only to then announce to us that they had no appointments available EVER. (seriously!)

And another heated discussion ensued... they then insisted on knowing what the emergency was, so I explained it to them. They glazed over & had no clue what I was talking about but the buzz words "lead poisoning" seemed to have a small effect. They insisted we go to A & E instead of the GP.

So, I went to A & E (knowing this would also be a wild goose chase), and when I got there, the receptionist turned us away & told us unless we have a broken leg or arm, this isn't a job for A & E. We were told to head back to the GP for a blood test!

After more heated discussions, I managed to persuade the GP to see us that day. He saw us but then it turned out to be futile as at our appointment, he simply insisted we go to A & E "because you need to get this tested & if positive, get the therapy for it straight away, without delay"....then what was the point in the appointment with him?!!

It seemed more like a fob-off as he seemed impatient to get rid of us. I explained how useless A & E had been to us, but he insisted we try again.

So, back we went.. this is now the better half of 7 hours in total we've spent trying to get this simple 1 minute blood test.

... and back at A & E, I got past stage 1 hurdle: The receptionist.. only to reach stage 2 hurdle: The Nurse.. who insisted there's no such thing as a lead blood test.. I had to politely correct her on that, but she was adamant it did not exist, at least "not at A & E" and that we have to go back to the GP (which by now was closed).

I managed to beg her to please double check to see if there's a blood test there for it on their system as it's quite simple. She said she'd check & let me know- but insisted we wait in the waiting room while she checks.

This seemingly 2 minute wait turned into 30 minutes, which then turned into hours. Each time I asked her if she had checked yet, she had some excuse why she hadn't. I explained that if they truly don't and can't do the blood test then it's pointless us waiting there wasting ours & their time, so could she just please let me know.

... an age later, I checked with her again to find out what's going on, and she gruffly said quickly "press the buzzer and go in there & they'll do an ECG on you!!".... then she vanished.

ECG?! For testing lead level in the blood? Curious but I'm no doctor.. so ok.

I searched for this elusive buzzer she spoke of.. I found one, but the door remained locked. Complete chaos!

Eventually someone else walked through, so I followed them. I asked a nurse if we were in the right place, but he looked at us, muffled something under his breath & walked off. (not kidding!)

He then came back so I asked him again.. he looked at his paperwork, looked back at us, then once again walked off leaving us standing there clueless.

I then waited at a reception desk in there for an age, in the hope someone would turn up- a woman sat down at reception & looked at me with a slightly vacant face "HUH? " she said to me. I replied "sorry, we were told to come in here for an ECG. Are we in the right place?" - she said "I DUNNO". Then she disappeared.

I tried a 3rd person, who also had no clue- but I insisted "Look, our names are....(so & so) we were told to come through here but I don't know if I'm in the right place. Could you check please?" .. to that she begrudglingly got off her chair, looked on a piece of paper & said with attitude "YES YOU'LL BE NEXT. DON'T WAIT IN HERE GO BACK TO THE WAITING ROOM OK?!!"...

Of course my question then was, "That's fine.. just to check, why were we told to come in here, was it for something else?"

She completely ignored me.

I asked "Approximately how long is the wait--" but before I could even finish my sentence, she disappeared.

We went back to the waiting room..

What seemed like 2 hours later, we had no idea if we'd been forgotten.. our names were called.. we walked up to the lady calling us, and smiled at her with raised eyebrows, making it obvious it was us- and she completely blanked us! Then shouted back into the waiting room our names... again ! Then she looked at my shocked expression & said "ARE YOU SO & SO???", I said "yes", slightly intimidated. She said angrily at me "THEN SAY SO!!! I'M NOT PSYCHIC!!!!"

She then took us into another room & said she was going to give us general blood tests (completely unrelated to lead poisoning!!).. I politely mentioned we were only there for the lead blood test as there's nothing wrong with us, she got extremely angry, made some quite personal insults at me & kicked us out... (with attitude) "IF YOU'RE GONNA BE LIKE THAT LUV THEN YOU CAN JUST LEAVE!" i asked her "like what? I'm just wondering if this has anything to do with the lead blood test, or if not, how much longer until we get the lead blood test as we've been trying to get it for around 8 hours so far today".. she replied (with attitude) "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT!!! I'LL TELL THE DOC YOU DON'T NEED THIS TEST & YOU CAN JUST WAIT FOR THE DOC TO DISCHARGE YOU!".. I asked her how long to see "the doc", and she seemed to enjoy saying "I DON'T KNOW BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE GIVING YOU NOTHIN LUV SO GET OUT" with a smile.

It seemed like she wasn't planning to tell the doctor at all. I have no idea what caused her attitude.

Rather shaken up, we waited outside to catch some air. I then saw her leaving the hospital, she laughed at me & caught a bus. I was so shaken up by the day's ordeal we decided to go home & I'm looking up lead test kits to buy online.

This is the state of our NHS, people, and it has been for decades..

This was all in Manchester. Admittedly, we're from the south and we've noticed people in Manchester lack friendliness & can often be against southerners in general as they seem to think our accents denote us as spoilt millionaires (which we're not!), but anyway it was appalling.

I have no idea what we are going to do now.. go back to the GP tomorrow & explain what happened? It'll just be another wild goose chase all over again.

[frankiesamson]

"Chelation therapy via IV or orally is the treatment. I’ve just had a google and lead poisoning is pretty serious. Hope you are okay OP! Some very unkind comments."

Thanks so much polarbearflavour yes I think we'll be okay. The doctor said we caught it just in time as our lead levels were high enough to be very damaging. I try not to read too many of the unkind comments as there's no point.

[frankiesamson]

Polarbearflavour, also part of the symptoms is that lead poisoning wreaks havoc with one's emotions, which are further exacerbated by the NHS not taking you seriously. Fortunately we got the treatment in time and our family & friends have been so supportive & kind.

[Thisimmortalcurl]

I’m glad you got treatment and hope you are feeling better. I love the NHS and indeed have worked for them for the last 17 years however I do think that there can be very rude people within it ... have worked with quite a few and that people can become defensive when they don’t really know exactly what to do with more unusual requests.

[Delilah21D00LoT]

I cannot stand people like you frankiesamson. You are very unrealistic in what you deem an 'emergency' to be honest.

The GP's Receptionists are doing the job that the GP's pay them to do - they have guidelines which they HAVE to follow and observe.

FYI: Receptionists can NOT just book a patient (Registered or not) without them being ordered by a GP or a Hospital Consultant. If the Hospital Consultant request you go back to your surgery to have a BT done, they will give you a Path form which will clearly state what is being tested for.

If the GP agrees or requests you get a BT done at that surgery they will get you to book an appt with the HCA and they will link them to the online path request forms again stating what is being requested.
And NO the Receptionists do NOT have the authority to order those tests.

You are the rude and intimidating person in this - not the nurses, gp's or receptionists.

You could quite easily have phoned YOUR CURRENT GP practice - they have your records, they know you and they could have advised you - Until you register at a new Practice then you are still registered at your current practice.

You could have phoned the 111 service for advice. You could have gone to a walk in Centre.

Instead you decide to be 'QueenAss' at a new Practice - I'll bet they look forward to you registering with them.

QUOTE "Any resident in England can see a GP whilst on holiday or visiting friends in a different area.. this is everyone's right on the NHS." They looked at me incredulously... as if I'd just spoken new words to them. No, they looked at you like that as you were arrogant and coming across as very condescending.

I can highly recommend you applying for work as a GP Surgery Receptionist - it will be an eye opening experience for you (and yes, I do work in one and have dealt with many 'entitled and demanding people like yourself', you could learn a lot.

The sad thing is that I don't think you have a clue how you come across.

[feesh]

I can get where you’re coming from OP, although I do think you came across as slightly hysterical in the first post.

For future reference, rather than ringing Spire and asking about the test, what you should have done was just call them and make an appointment with a private GP. Then told them what you wanted during the consultation and I’m sure they would have just done the bloods there and then.

I’ve been through similar as I had to have my metal ion levels monitored in my blood to check my hip replacement wasn’t one of the failing ones. I got the bloods done privately using this method.

The NHS is on its knees and if you want something specific like this, you really do just need to pay to see someone privately I’m afraid. It’s sad that the UK is now in this situation but it’s the reality.

[lovelystar]

I thought trying to get out out the bath at 40 weeks pregnant was effort, then attempted to read all of that... unfortunatley it's like this for alot of people even in cases which are alarming to you. It be so much easier to have just booked a private blood test, before you say it, I know that's not the point as you're already paying for NHS etc but it would cause you alot less stress and hassle in the long term

[lovelystar]

Just read the rest of the thread, im glad you're getting the right treatment now. I do feel sorry for you, with a long term health condition and often moving to different parts of the country I feel your frustration regarding GP's and registering and chasing blood test results. I recently got rather ill while pregnant and wasn't until consultant appointment weeks later it was because of low levels of medication in my system. If I had been informed of this soon after the test the whole episode could have been avoided. Luckily baby (fingers crossed) and myself were ok but it could have been worse! Just shows how there simply isn't enough funding and staffing to ensure things run smoothly

[Kaylasmum49]

I'm pleased you're receiving the treatment that you need op.

Some of the replies on here are quite frankly, shocking!

[italiancortado]

Some of the replies on here are quite frankly, shocking!

None so as much as the OP!

[oldbirdy]

It's very strange OP but I have been to Manchester many many times and gave an RP accent and I have never even one time had any negative comment, let alone from "most" of the people.

I'm glad you got your blood tests.

Maybe your problem was compounded by you being away from home. I strongly suggest you never come back to Manchester; best stay in London where everything is nice, eh?

[averylongtimeago]

Hmmm are you advertising here?

[GiraffeObsessedBaby]

Tbh as soon as you started mocking northern accents you lost me. I've never ever had such issues tbh to the point that a blood test is usually a routine event if a doctor is suspicious of an issue or if I'm worried.

Yes the NHS has failings but most of the issues you stated that faced are not due to the staff but due to funding, management and primarily people like you who use and treat the system in ridiculous ways.

[outreach29]

ZOMBIE THREAD

[grenadezombie]

It also didn't happen almost a YEAR ago

[Helloall444]

Horrified to see so many people ganging up on and attacking the original poster.
What is the problem with trying to prèvent a medical emergency to avoid having to deal with one.
A blood test would have put it beyond reasonable doubt. Care is supposed to come first, doctors should err on the side of caution.
Many GP surgeries are private business's who loose money when they issue a referal, save your sympathy for elsewhere.
As for the hospitals, while they certainly have my sympathy, this is care that has been pre-paid on a contractual basis via our N.I. contributions.
Nothing wrong with being made aware of the workload of an a&e department but trying to make an individual trying to access care feel guilty because of the financial state of the NHS and the problems that it creates is utterly shameful in my opinion.
Write to your MP, protest it, demand it become a higher priority but for crying out loud stop attacking people who need help, lest it is you next time.

[Mary3456311]

Hey gosh. These comments are brutal and the ignorance on lead poisoning and its longterm affects are shocking. Your house needs sorting after this. Lead is in everything now and cheap toys and products from chinese sites and even the bigger businesses all have lead in them. Its scary how much. There is no safe level of lead in your blood. That amount of lead you've been exposed to with stripping will cause serious health implications and lead acts like calcium being stored in your bones and teeth and even released later into the bloodstream.
Leadsafe mama on facebook has such a wealth of information. I've just had to get rid of magnetic galvanized steel board a gift for my toddlers as I was unaware it had lead in it and of course the magnets scrape off it so I'm freaking out about it and terrified its already built up in their system as had for a month. I'm gonna ask my doctor this tomorrow. Anyway you were right about getting seen. U hope you are all okay.