I have had a number of problems at my local GP. I know the Nhs are under massive pressure- I am greatful for all my medical care would never dream of missing an appointment or being a difficult patient.
Here’s the thing:
New Doctor’s Surgery - sign up with midwife at 13 weeks pregnant. Told to make appointment for booking bloods. Kept the appointment the practice lost the sample and it had to be done again at the hospital when I had a scan. Fine.
Midwife due to contact me for 16 week appointment. Never heard from her, didn’t get the appointment. Fine. No harm done, pregnancy is fine.
Non-routine blood test needed. Blood test booked. Attended appointment. Nurses assistant wasn’t sure what bloods to take, Googled and rang lab to check. Fine, it was for slapped cheek syndrome (B19?) unusual so fine for her to be unsure and checking with the lab is sensible. Told me results would be back in two days.
Called three days later the receptionist couldn’t find the results. I explained what it was for. They checked with the dr. Definitely lost - can I come in next day to re test. Fine, sort of. I’m 25 weeks pregnant so low risk of problems, but still 6% chance of loosing the baby so concerning that bloods for this have been lost. Attend appointment next day.
More bloods taken by different assistant nurse (AN). She had no clue why bloods were being taken, so had to go through the whole process of finding out what was needed again and obviously got different advice. DIDNT call the lab and took a different blood sample than the first blood test. Shirty because here was no registration form. Not fine really. I would have expected the following:
Someone to tell her ahead of time what was needed, why it was a priority - risk factors and the loss of the first sample by the practice.
I wrote an email to the practice complaints address detailing the issues. I mentioned the difference in the amount of blood taken for the same procedure should probably be a flag for the practice. My understanding is that when a patient consents to a blood test or tissue sample their consent only extends to the amount needed for the procedure. If they have taken more than needed for that purpose they are technically outside the scope of concent for that amount.
In Response to the compliant - I was told that the first sample wasn’t lost the receptionist and dr hadn’t realised it was a non routine blood sample so would take longer to come back. I could not have said slapped check syndrome more times to the two people who took the blood, and the receptionist who was talking to the dr. So essentially the whole second blood test not needed.
The dr called me - didn’t address any of the above apart from the confusion about the first blood test with a defensive response that “they (the people taking the blood test) aren’t nurses! They dont have medical training”. Hmm that seems clear, and it’s kind of the point I’m making. Should they not have enough training to know a non medical blood test takes longer to come back and have a reliable source of information telling them how much blood to take....?
The first AN should have told me that as a non routine sample it would be 1-2 weeks before results where back.
The reception who has to check for blood tests should maybe have a list that shows all the routine reasons for a blood test - then if it not something on the list they know the difference between lost blood test or a non routine that won’t be due back late and not book someone in for another one.
There is a real issue if people front he practice are taking more blood than needed for a procedure - that is a useful thing for a patient to flag and something a practice manager should probably want to do something about - a guidance sheet / direct everyone website that has accurate info on what to take so everyone is doing the same thing? They literally couldn’t care less - is this just a non problem?
am I the dick?