Is it too late to contact PALS?

[TerfranosaurusVagina]

Copied my post from another chat as it got me thinking. This was all about 11 years ago now...

For my 1st ever gynaecological appointment, I was a naive virgin and so asked for a woman because no way was I comfortable having a man seeing me half naked. She was the head Gynae of that hospital and she was utterly vile and sadistic. I needed a hymenectomy and after bringing me in 3 times, once when I was on my period, she forced her little finger up my foof until I was bathed in sweat from the pain and gritting my teeth to stop me from screaming. All the meanwhile, the other nurse in the room had a good old look everytime she went past which just added to my humiliation. After which she told me I'd be fine, and when I tried to have sex, it would all stretch and loosen up by itself; and if it didnt, then come back to her. I couldn't even fit the tiniest of lillet tampons up there at the time. I went home in tears and vowed never to have sex.

I went back to my GP who was clearly horrified, though unable to outright criticise a fellow HCP to the public. She asked me if I wanted to make a PALS complaint but I was so upset I just wanted to put it behind me. At her encouragement, I ended up asking for a 2nd opinion, and being referred to the head Gynae of another local hospital who was a man. I was absolutely mortified and cringing at the thought and about to cancel but made myself go with it after being told that women asked for him specifically because he was so good.
I was so uncomfortable but he took one look, and told me I'd be having an operation. The hymen was as thick as the webbing between my fingers and no way was it going to break naturally. He was so kind, gentle and respectful to a young, embarrassed 20 year old, and he ensured all the pre-ops were done that same day, and within 3 weeks I'd had the op.

Years later, when pregnant, I found out the 1st Gynae had falsified my records to show I'd had an ultrasound and on the basis of that, not gone ahead with the op. She'd even refused to use a speculum on me because I was a virgin, and didn't want to break my hymen accidentally. Then just to add insult to injury, I made sure that my maternity notes recorded that I didn't want to be seen by her, so after the birth, when I was helpless in bed with sepsis, who should come to examine me, complete with headtorch, but her! I don't know if its too late to make a PALS complaint about her but I think I am finally ready to.

Is it too late to do something about this?

You would have to Google your local hospital, I know in our area it’s 12 months but that’s because you are generally still under, or are still awaiting, treatment when you get the patient advice and liaison service involved.

Medical negligence claims are, I think, only 3 years.

I’m sorry you had such awful treatment, I’ve put off a complaint and buried what I went through for too long, only in the last couple of years have I felt traumatised by it when it has resurfaced, and now I can’t seem to get past it.

Some people shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near patients and be allowed to examine them intimately. I’m glad the second gynae was a lot more sympathetic and understanding

Thanks for your reply.
What annoys me is many people, especially younger or more vulnerable ones wont feel able to report it immediately- I know I didn't either time- so the bad apple gets no checks or anything and can carry on treating other people in the same way.
I was horrified to find out years later that my records had been falsified to make it look like they'd done due diligence when clearly they hadn't. And then to be examined by the same cow when I was so vulnerable and ill post partum and I'd specifically requested not to see her!
Perhaps I could ask for my records and ask why this had been recorded falsely. But who would I even ask?!?

What an appalling experience! If you look on the hospital website, they should have details for their information governance department- you can make a Subject Access Request and ask for a copy of your records. I would also make a complaint via PALS. The harder thing to complain about is being seen postnatally by her as they may argue in an emergency you need to see who is on call- but this still should have been explained to you and you could have decided for yourself. I hope you can achieve some resolution, but it can be had to get clear answers from hospitals sometimes

Thanks Tremaine. I'll do that.
It wasn't an emergency at the time, they were baffled where my sepsis stemmed from and I think my consultant wanted another pair of eyes.

I did have a birth debrief afterwards with the consultant as I was very traumatised by the whole shitshow but that felt more like an arse covering exercise than me gaining any answers