CRGH are useless - any experience?

[Mardyoldbitch]

Hi all

Just a rant really. I am waiting to start IVF with PIGD at CRGH - it's about 2 years since our first appointment and I am really at the end of my tether with them.

When we first looked into clinics we were really impressed with CRGH and the facilities and the staff seemed great. Results really good too.

Once we had signed up though it all started to go downhill - they just don't return calls, everyone tells you something different, they never put anything in writing and nobody can explain when or how I am going to get Clomid or for how long I can freeze the embryos or where I have to be or when. I signed all the consent forms months ago, but - surprise surprise! - this morning the receptionist tells me the next step is for me to sign the consent forms, then see a doctor. (Last month I was told I could have my first cycle this month). I am literally sitting here crying with frustration at their utter incompetence and poor communication.

Does anyone have any experience of complaining about CRGH? Where do I start? Are all IVF clinics this bad? Has anyone changed clinics and if so how long did it take?

Sorry for the rant but I am SO frustrated. 2 years of delays and CRGH is acting as though I have all the time in the world - I am 40 next month and I really don't!

The downside is that because of the monitoring and the way they test you for EVERYTHING just to be sure, it costs ££££££

Any update on your IUI outcome Kwik? 16 days past IUI sounds promising, but yet no positive test?!?!

I got my period on Monday - a day after stopping the crinone gel. Apparently the gel was delaying my period. I am on crazy business travel this month... I am hoping I will be in the country the day my lh surges (& day after) and crgh let me do iui without baseline and progressive scans.... I am hoping that if the follicle is big enough and lining thick enough they will let me do this... But I am going to see first if the stars align and I am in the UK when I get the surge.

I would love to hear if anyone has done this?

Unfortunately I can't help Kwik as I went straight to IVF without IUI. Will you speak to the clinic in advance and find out if this is possible?

That is a good question shellster52.... My gut is saying no... Rather go in with a fait accompli...especially as my lh surge may come at time where I will not be able to get back to the uk in time so my plan may not work anywho.

Not sure anyone is watching this thread anymore... I am now just starting cycle 3 - first 2 iuis have not worked.... I will go to 5 and then consider ivf.

We have recently been to this clinic for an initial consultation, £200 charge. At no point during any of the conversations with three of the people who worked there, including the doctor and the finance team, did they mention that the tests the doctor wanted to do cost over £2000. Just got the bill in, when we queried it, basically told tough, you should have asked for a price list, just pay it. This place is a complete disgrace.

I have endured appalling service over several years at CRGH when having a variety of treatments including an initial frozen egg cycle, to various IUI treatments to finally using the frozen eggs in an IVF cycle. With hindsight, I would never have considered this overpriced but very inadequate (in terms of service) clinic. In effect, my IUI treatments were sabotaged by being made to wait for up to 90 minutes for each scan that I had to undertake - when I had specifically booked the first appointment of the morning at 8am so that I would hopefully be back at my desk in Canary Wharf by latest 9.30am with my manager being none the wiser. I was literally in tears during several of the scans as I knew I was going to be in all sorts of trouble for being late into work - but this seemed so inconsequential to the admin team despite the hefty charges they apply to all their treatments. When I complained to Dr Saab about the unnecessary stress this bad service had subjected me to - he then had the nerve to tell me that this stress would not alter the outcome of the IUI treatment???? According to every other website on fertility that I have ever read, stress is the one of the leading and key factors in IVF and fertility failure. Very unwisely, I decided to go back to them after a break of a year or so, when I decided to use the eggs that I had frozen, however, I did ask to speak to Paul Serhal and his P.A., Dakota, to voice my concerns about the previous level of service and to ask that I was better supported through my treatment. Well that was all to no avail. The delays were even longer than before, though there seems to be a priority service for any ladies who had flown in from Dubai or UAE etc. (I'm not sure that they would be paying any more for this preferential treatment than the exorbitant charges that I was already paying). Once I was told to come in for a scan with a full bladder for a dummy embryo transfer and was told on arrival that I'd only have to wait 10 minutes. After 40 minutes and in severe pain as I still hadn't been scanned nor been to the toilet, so I asked at reception as to what was going on. Someone said that they'd find out but still no updates after another 20 minutes so I went to the loo before I thought I'd rupture myself. After that I was kept waiting for yet another 40 minutes before I finally had my scan because "apparently" the doctor had been called for an emergency, but no one had thought to have the manners to update me. Other issues with the clinic were the rudeness of the embryologist on the day of embryo transfer who was very impatient and brusque to my innocent questions as to the development of the embryo prior to transfer; the disgusting attitude of the finance staff when I had the temerity to suggest that instead of paying for all the medication for the next 3 months upfront equating to several thousand pounds ( with no hope of reimbursement if the treatment wasn't successful), I wanted to pay for the medication up until I had a positive pregnancy result and then pay for the rest subsequently. I literally got treated like a pariah for having the audacity to have asked for that. As it was, the pregnancy was unsuccessful so I would have then been lumbered with medication which cost the earth and for which I had no use. Again - an example of the total lack of empathy of the staff towards patients, particularly the self-funding ones. Final insult when I wanted to discuss the unsuccessful outcome of my IVF treatment with Paul Serhal and was charged £200, made to wait for over 40 minutes and then only granted 20 minutes of his time. Having spent upwards of £17,000 in his clinic with no positive outcomes to have to pay that on top, I thought was a disgusting outrage. There were also incidences of them trying to sneak extra charges on top, even several years later, which were then withdrawn when I was able to provide email evidence that I had specifically not asked for something or alternatively, asked for something to be discarded. This all amounts to an outrageous money-grabbing greed on behalf of the management.

Therefore my advice to anybody contemplating using the CRGH clinic for IVF treatment is DON'T. They may be pioneers in some areas of PGD testing or whatever, but the negatives that you'll encounter with the admin, finance and management teams will cause you undue and unnecessary stress, upset and not to mention financial hardship if these are self-funded IVF attempts and they certainly outweigh any of the positives that this clinic claims. My recommendation is that you consider some of the clinics that operate elsewhere in Europe - Spain or the Czech Republic for example. The costs will not only be much cheaper but also very much more transparent. There is a far higher level of professionalism and you don't get the feeling that you're being just totally ripped off. Please bear in mind that at the CRGH, they don't care about you as a patient who is desperately trying to achieve a dream of pregnancy - you are just merely a cash cow and are treated accordingly. My advice - AVOID CRGH.

We started at CRGH and abandoned ship at the point that we came out of a joint appointment to have our test results discussed and had completely different ideas as to what our prospects of success were. The doctor was incomprehensible (we're not doctors/HCPs, but reasonably intelligent professionals - we usually understand things explained adequately). It wasn't my first doubt about the clinic. On my initial consultation I was kept waiting over an hour and 40 minutes with no explanation or apology or anyone to ask what was going on (I appreciate delays can be unavoidable). I didn't know if I was in the wrong place or had been forgotten. I know it sounds silly but I was really uncomfortable (fertility treatment being such a comfortable thing to go through anyway). I also hated how utterly commercial and non-patient focussed it felt. Totally appreciate they are businesses but really felt like they were looking right through you to your bank balance.

We thought about going abroad but then found a clinic I felt might be worth a try here. We took our results from CRGH, because they were relatively recent the new clinic didn't want to test again and developed a treatment plan based on them. On our first appointment we met the nurse who has been with us through our first cycle, the doctor and two embryologists. They took time to explain everything, address our concerns and explain what was likely to happen.

We're in the course of our first cycle (ICSI, PICSI and f'ing Father Christmas as well FAIK) now (embryo transfer tomorrow). This was on my second cycle after the appointment (couldn't do it on the first one because I was working away). They have been unbelievably kind, patient and professional. The receptionists are friendly helpful and know who you are. Our nurse spent 20 minutes doing period maths with me after my usually reliable periods decided to crap out at the wrong moment and I had to go on the pill. I have had the same nurse throughout, have spoken to the embryologist on three or four occasions and have never felt awkward, stupid or a nuisance asking questions (hopefully I don't ask too many). When I was a bit unsure about cetrotide even though I said it was fine, the nurse took me through how to inject it again. Apart from not being IVF, it couldn't have been a better experience.

While your circumstances are not mine, we didn't have a problem switching quickly. I can't recommend them enough - even though I'm realistic about the prospects of ending up with a baby. I'm not going to say which clinic here, as I can't take hearing any horror stories at the moment (in addition to progesterone, which my body hates, I have gastroenteritis - my timing's impeccable ), but if you want to know private message me and I will let you know.

Good luck with everything. It fucking sucks going through it with nice, professional people. So much worse where you feel like you are solely a resource to be tapped for profit and can't get anywhere.

Sorry - just noticed this is a zombie. Still - enjoyed slagging off rubbish service from CRGH!

DO NOT USE CRGH

Myself and my husband had an appointment with CRGH on the 24th January 2017 with intention to discuss surrogacy.

Upon entering the room our previous 5 failed IVF attempts were discussed to gain background information on ourselves.
Our sole intention of this meeting was to discuss surrogacy which myself and husband stated numerous points throughout the consultation and when booking the appointment, this was totally dismissed.

The consultant advised we had to have PGS/ chromosome, numerous other testing on top of another round of IVF before we could contemplate surrogacy. We advised we were not willing to go ahead with further testing and did not have the £12,000 required. In addition to the funds I also advised I was not willing to put myself through the emotional rollercoaster again. This was dismissed and the hard sell on the above products continued. After this I stated I was not willing to proceed as I have seen the panorama programme with no evidence or backing behind these "investigations" and also done lots of research myself but according to CRGH we are unable to proceed with surrogacy until all these further tests are done, the only way to go ahead without these tests is if I had a medical issue such as born without a womb!

Since leaving the clinic I have called numerous surrogacy agencies who have advised the above is incorrect and I can go through surrogacy at any point I feel ready.

The clinic made myself and husband feel very vulnerable in the consultation (which I burst into tears) and I came out feeling incredibly down and upset. We have been through 4 years of hell and finally had some good news of my sister offering to be a surrogate enabling us to move on and you dismissed it. We trusted in CRGH as “doctors” for guidance and FACTUAL advice not their in-house protocols. I feel hurt and disgusted.

I will be taking the a lot further to prevent this from happening to anyone else

Myself and my husband had an appointment with CRGH on the 24th January 2017 with intention to discuss surrogacy.

Upon entering the room our previous 5 failed IVF attempts were discussed to gain background information on ourselves.
Our sole intention of this meeting was to discuss surrogacy which myself and husband stated numerous points throughout the consultation and when booking the appointment, this was totally dismissed.

The consultant advised we had to have PGS/ chromosome, numerous other testing on top of another round of IVF before we could contemplate surrogacy. We advised we were not willing to go ahead with further testing and did not have the £12,000 required. In addition to the funds I also advised I was not willing to put myself through the emotional rollercoaster again. This was dismissed and the hard sell on the above products continued. After this I stated I was not willing to proceed as I have seen the panorama programme with no evidence or backing behind these "investigations" and also done lots of research myself but according to CRGH we are unable to proceed with surrogacy until all these further tests are done, the only way to go ahead without these tests is if I had a medical issue such as born without a womb!

Since leaving the clinic I have called numerous surrogacy agencies who have advised the above is incorrect and I can go through surrogacy at any point I feel ready.

The clinic made myself and husband feel very vulnerable in the consultation (which I burst into tears) and I came out feeling incredibly down and upset. We have been through 4 years of hell and finally had some good news of my sister offering to be a surrogate enabling us to move on and you dismissed it. We trusted in CRGH as “doctors” for guidance and FACTUAL advice not their in-house protocols. I feel hurt and disgusted.

I will be taking the a lot further to prevent this from happening to anyone else

I have been with crgh for about 2 years and although I have one very lovely success story from the ivf treatment I received, I have found them to be total money grabbers and very rude. It's the only place I know that you have to pay for a service before you've received it. My last dealing with them was yesterday. We are trying to embark on another round of ivf with my stored embryos there. I had a Skype consultation booked as i live 3 hours away and had planned my whole day so that my young son was asleep (rather than screaming the house down) when the Skype call came. As he will not sleep anywhere, apart from on me, I was holding him in one arm with my phone precariously poised in the other waiting for my appointment. 15 minutes past the time I was supposed to be speaking to a doctor, the finance people called to say if I didn't pay now, upfront they would cancel the consultation totally . I explained the situation and asked if I could call back directly after the Skype call. They point blank refused and were so incredibly rude. So I woke my son up to get my credit card, paid and then consequently had a screaming wriggling baby whilst I was trying to have a Skype call. The call lasted 20 mins until I got called back telling me the info I had received was actually incorrect and I couldn't actually have anymore ivf until a year later as I'd had a cesarian. They would not refund me the £200 consultation fee I had just paid, but told me to call back in another 5 months to have exactly the same conversation, pay another £200 and discuss options then.

This is just one small example of what has occurred over the last 2 years. We have spent £25K with them, had a lot of heart break and a lot of hassle. We are now trying to move to another clinic with better results who have said the 'year rule' is total rubbish.

Of course you can change clinic.
I had 3 cycles at my local clinic then switched to a different one.
I was a private patient. You can choose any clinic. Not sure if you are NHS though

Avoid CRGH at all costs unless you are happy to be stressed out and have no other commitments at all. I would recommend CARE LONDON.

@Sarah20015 was it really that bad? I have been impressed by their organisation and have only just booked a consultation. The reason I want to go is for a view on whether I might need immune treatment. A friend recommended them to me too. Thanks xx

I had a very bad experience there. I spent a year at CRGH without starting treatment. (It was stressful and a waist of my time). They are overbooked with no time for you or time to answer your questions. They made me take a day off for an operation which couldn’t be performed because the nurse did not ask me the right questions.
Going through fertility treatment is stressful enough they made it 100x worse.
If you want to make the treatment as least stressful as possible, find another clinic.

Just wanted to say that I had a totally different experience of CRGH. Of course as with any place there were occasional delays in a response to a call or whatever but not about anything important. It was mostly better and certainly no worse no worse than any other health related we've had anywhere (nhs or private). We never had to wait very long for appointments, they pretty much ran to time. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The doctors were clear about our treatment rationale. It was a slog as we were far from the clinic but that wasnt their fault and we knew in advance that we might have to be up there daily.
We had a couple of rounds (NHS funded) and the second one was successful. I did get OHSS but wouldn't consider it a fault of the clinic as you can't predict these things. The first round we had very few embryos so we were glad to have so many from round two and have some frozen still. Maybe my experience was different as an NHS funded patient but I would recommend it based on our experience.
Also they definitely did not have carpet anywhere in the building we went to! ;)

@farfallarocks did Argc force you to do any immune tests?

I thought I’d write back on here as I’ve trawled through these posts the past 8 months and they brought me so much comfort.

I was with Crgh and it took 6 months to finally have my first procedure (IUI). I have cried several times at the reception desk because of the helplessness I felt at the lack of information, nothing was written down, the nurses all said different things. I really felt like I was wasting my time.

However - we did fall pregnant on our first IUI and I’m now 12 weeks. Couldn’t believe it. Once you get to the procedures they’re actually pretty good, it’s just all the admin and faff before.

Tip: they will ask if you or your partner have traveled lately and they won’t treat you if you’ve been to a place that has zika for 6 months after you’ve been. We had recently been to India hence a big delay and then another three months of faffing. So if you want to avoid that you might want to omit that detail