Should I complain about my GP?

[buttonsforbreakfast]

I am 12 weeks pregnant this week, and due to have my scan etc. I found out at 5 weeks, but was told by my surgery that I just needed to make a routine app to confirm with the Dr, so didn't see him until 8 weeks. Saw a new Dr (young, possibly locum? Very nice guy) Had the usual urine test to confirm, then managed to get an appointment with the midwife the next day. Same MW as in my last pregnancy, so happy with that, although as DD was EMC, I was told I would be under consultant care this time round. So far, so normal. However, when 11 weeks arrived and I still had not had my scan appointment, I called the MW who checked with the surgery. Turns out they had no record of my initial confirmation appointment with the Dr, so had not forwarded my scan request. Great. I received my scan app last week, with less than a weeks notice, at a local clinic. I called to rearrange as neither myself or my DH could make the scan date, and I also queried the consultant care as I expected the scan to be at the hospital. It turns out the surgery had forgotten to write on my notes that I have had a CS, and had also ticked the box for midwife led care, which is incorrect. As the app was last minute due to their original error, I now have to wait and see if I can get a last minute scan at the hospital with the consultant, bearing in mind I am already at 12 weeks. Not impressed, but DH reckons it is worth a complaint. I'm less inclined, but what do you reckon?

I would definitely complain they shouldnt be slacking like that as if the first twelve weeks arnt stressful enough without there fuck ups good luck xx

I would complain! Imagine if it were your first pregnancy and you were unaware of procedures or where you might be in you hadnt called.

Thanks guys! Yes I did think if it was my first time, I probably wouldn't think to query the lack of scan app in the first place, let alone whether the consultant led care meant I should be at the hospital rather than the clinic (it was only when a friend flagged it up I thought about it anyway to be honest!) I really rate my GP surgery normally, so feel a bit disappointed too

I wouldn't complain - everyone makes mistakes, even Doctors. It doubt it was malicious. No one has been hurt. How would you benefit from complaining? If the only thing is to try to prevent it happening to someone else, maybe just highlight to the GP that it happened.

Yes I would probably go down the more pleasant 'just flagging this up to you' route rather than a fullscale complaints letter, as firstly I like my surgery so don't want to get kicked out, and secondly the Dr I saw was very nice, which makes me feel bad My main worry is what else has gone awol from my notes, and also if I don't get a scan next week it starts to push the window of opportunity for nuchal scans etc. I think I may mention it to my MW and go from there, see if she thinks it is a major issue worth highlighting or not.

Not sure that consultant led care beds means that you would need a different scan. I had consultant led care but only saw the consultant for the 1st time at about 18weeks when the first scan was already done. It's a radiographer who does the scanning anyway rather than the consultant.

Also you are entitled to getting time off work for your scan even if it is last minute. I think the most important thing is getting your combined test Nt scan and bloods done in the allocated time 11-14 weeks rather than where it is done. Don't cancel the appointment just yet!

Obviously there was a delay getting your appointment but you have got one so you can't really blame the doctor if you can't attend it and cancel it IYSWIM.

See I would put this more on the midwife than the GP, though from the sounds of it my local trust works very differently to yours.

My GP doesn't ask about previous pregnancies with regards to consultant or midwife led care-that's all taken care of by the maternity department. Similarly they arrange all the scans etc.

I would still expect my pregnancy to be noted on the system though. As I said though, I'm sure our local trusts work very differently.

I definitely think its worth mentioning to the relevant people just s that mistakes like this rent common place but perhaps a complaint in this instance would be a bit much, maybe not. It's hard to tell.

Complain so that they review their processes but don't worry about it.
It's the same scan for consultant led and midwife led. In fact, if the only reason you are consultant led is because of previous cs then I doubt there is much benefit to having a consultant's appt until the third trimester anyway.

Although I agree with fobbly too. Here it is the midwife who put through the scan request and organises transfer to consultant care. The gp just makes the initial referral to the midwife. Mine didn't even do a pregnancy test and where I lived in my first pregnancy we didn't see gp at all.

Sorry, I should say that I will have a standard scan (in the usual way) at the hospital rather than the clinic, with a chat with the consultant before/afterwards to discuss pregnancy/birthing options. This is what the clinic told me when I called anyway. The changing of the scan date was just on the off chance and by no means the dr's fault (and the letter stated I could call if I wanted to do this) obviously I would attend that one if no other option was available, and that is what I was planning on doing. It is the clinic who are changing my appointment date/venue as they said I should be at hospital not their clinic. The lady at the clinic did say originally that I probably wouldn't need to see the consultant until 20 weeks (fine with me - I wanted a home birth but it's been vetoed, I'd be much happier under normal midwife care!) but on checking my details decided I should be at the hospital for the scan. Hey ho, I just want the scan done and to know everything is all ok. Just a bit peeved that I've had to do lots of chasing up and making of phone calls for things which really should have been in my notes. I'm sure wherever I end up will be fine Thanks for your thoughts though - the GP is in my DH's bad books for a different issue anyway, which is why I think he feels it's a mistake too far

I did ring the gp in the first place to check whether I actually needed to see them, and was told I did as they won't refer me to a MW until they have done a preg test themselves first. My MW told me that it was the surgery who failed to record my initial appointment (before I saw the MW) and it was them who didn't process the scan request. The woman at the scan clinic also said it was the surgery who had not recorded the whole CS/consultant led issue on my notes, but my MW is based at the surgery, so maybe she was in error in this instance. I guess I'll never know eh! (I'm in West Mids by the way!)

I'd be amazed if it was the doctor not the midwife to blame for your notes being incomplete. That is what the booking in appt is for. Also, surely she would have seen at that point that your notes weren't complete?

Who knows? As they are all based at the same practice I guess it could be ? I'll be even more disappointed if it is the MW though, as she was with me for my first pregnancy, and she's great. As someone else said, everyone makes mistakes, and no real damage has been done, so I'll chalk it up to sods law and maybe mention it next time I see her

The thing is, when she came over and we filled in the green book she knew all about my history, and it was she who told me I'd be under consultant care (cue bottom lip and sad 'what no waterbirth?' face from me ) and she did seem genuinely confused when I called to say I'd not had my scan appointment by 11 weeks - she rang the surgery to check what had happened then called back to say they had no record of my dr appointment in the first place - that is definitely the surgery's fault as surely they should have my appointment and positive test results on file - I watched the gp type it into his computer!! As for the other notes, yes could well be MW not filling in forms properly/in a rush to get a quick appointment I guess! Ah well!