Experience with PALS

[cornwallia]

Does anyone have any experience with PALS?

I have a meeting with S&LT and have raised lots of questions about the way they operate and they have suggested PALS be there.

In light of our exchanges, they cannot for one minute think that I need hand holding, so I wondered what is in it for them?

Hmm, it could be because they want to be conciliatory or it could be because they want to be seen as conciliatory. Cynical me reckons on the latter. Arse coverage.

I'm gettin ready to make a complaint about generic Community Paediatric services in my area and I will go through PALS as that's the procedure. However, I don't intend on meeting anyone as it's a bit late for that.........I will just write a letter.

I hope you don't mind my input, I'm not on the S&N boards but I saw this in active convos.

My sister used to work at our local hospital and she loved PALS as they used to go on the warpath and get things done. I got the impression they could be very effective in fighting the patients corner.

Thanks both of you. That's helpful.

mmm i used pals when a hospital porter ran into my daughter who is in a wheelchair and damaged her chair he never even appologised just continued on his journey.Pals were not brilliant.They did not keep to time schedules and they didn't resolve the situation and we still never had an appology.

Yes, I can't help wondering what is in it for the service to offer it to me. It is not as if they are doing it because I don't look like I know what I'm doing. Quite the opposite in fact as I've got them completely on the backfoot. And they're suggesting the meeting happen at school after my son's S&LT visit which is odd.

Initially, they suggested the LA attend until I pointed out that they were supposed to be an independent service.

I haven't even lodged a formal complaint yet and had said I was holding it in abeyance so that we could concentrate on sorting out my son's provision.

PALs are run by volunteers and I have had both good and bad experience with them.

When ds2 was seriously ill and I was 8 1/2 months pregnant the consultant was basically and rude and arrogant bully and dh went to the PALs office to ask for advice. They were brilliant, talked it all through with him, explained our rights and helped us to get it clear in our heads exactly where/how this consultant had crossed the line.

More recently, I contacted them by phone to ask if it would be possible to change ds's consultant. (We had been treated extremely rudely and accusatorily on two separate appointments within one month by her.) I explained that it was just an initial enquiry to find out if changing consultants was even an option and I that didn't want to lodge a complaint or cause any fuss. In fact I said outright that I wanted the phonecall to be confidential and didn't want the relevant department involved, I simply didn't want to have see that particularly consultant ever again. They assured me that they are bound by they regulations to keep all enquiries completely confidential, then told me they'd find out what I would need to do to change consultants and call me back.

Within ten minutes the patient liaison officer for the relevant department called me - she knew everything, my name, my son's details and the name of the consultant concerned and was pushing form more information. It was all highly embarrassing and I was more than a little bit cross. The end result was that I told the patient liason lady that I didn't want to make a complaint and didn't want the person ds had seen to know about my enquiry (it turns out we had been seeing a registrar - but were unaware as she'd never introduced herself) again - she assured me that the patient liason service was completely confidential. We were back there yesterday and were able to see the actual consultant (who was in fact lovely) and it was obvious from the looks I was getting off the registrar while we were in the waiting room, that she was fully aware of what had gone on and also from the conversation with the real consultant, that she was aware of what the registrar had said to me that was rude and accusatory.

I think it can be hit and miss depending on which member of PALs you are dealing with.

Thanks. What's in it for the service though? I can't understand why they would suggest it unless it helps them.

They cvan be very good.
I'd go to the meeting with a list of questions I wanted answers to.

(Did you go to EABG today?)

As justabout said, it could just be standard policy. Or it could be that they want to be seen to be being honest and transparent and having someone independent to either party there would support that?

Thanks. That makes sense. Don't you just doubt everything anyone ever does these days? What a horrible way to be. But when you have been lied to so many times, you suspect every move made.

Moondog - DH couldn't work from home so I couldn't get there. I was so disappointed as I'd emailed Carl Hughes and everything and he sounded really welcoming. Hope Star went. Would love to hear about it

Oh what a shame.
You missed a real opportunity there.

i have used pals a few times and found them just placating - never got to the bottom of the issue - friend told me that they are employed by the nhs and funded by them.

would not bother