GP service, lazy bastards

[Dallas]

We may end up doing that but trying to get a private GP for the referral letter, don't fancy waiting hours in A&E to see a doc that doesn't have any of the operation records/scans etc. We have been back to the ENT consultant a few times so its best to see him if we can.

Oh we are also trying the route of calling up the GP to make a complaint but on lunch between 12-2!

An A&E Doc can refer you - If I were in pain (and I get tonnes of ear infections) I'd be in that queue already while trying your other options....

All the drunks will be turning up from 5pm..

[sbakoola]

You should try Chelsea & Westminster Casualty or the Western Eye Hospital casualty (only one junior doctor there and 2 nurses after 11pm). It was a shock at the appalling treatment I received after an excruciating pain around my eye. The Chelsea and Westminster didn't even examine me and just misdiagnosed it as a Neuralgia, the neurologists there I went to see weeks after the event never found anything either whilst I was visibly in great pain and discomfort. After 8 weeks of constant pain the pain slowly went away. Then at the tail end of this having to witness my mother suffering an attack and having to wait almost 2 hours for an ambulance to arrive at the village and this was just 18 minutes drive from the City hospital.

After the Western Eye Hospital A&E incident they sent me directly to Paddington alone in pain/suffering in a taxi where the doctors were appalling, one of them walked away from me as I was crying out in pain, once a member of my family arrived at Paddington A&E that same doctor informed my family member that he thought I was a junkie looking for pain killers, I had a very rough night in casualty and I was tired but I had no signs of drug use (I don't take drugs illegal or otherwise and rarely drink) they just attributed it to a very bad migraine and sent me away with a tulip story about the pain being 'imagined' (and my family member witnessed this). This constant pain went on for 7-8 weeks after and it was not imaginary, so much for Paddington hospital, I didn't get the same treatment as our beloved Princess Kate who I believe gave birth at Paddington around the same time.

So in short if you're not Prince William or a V.I.P you are screwed, this has given me a shocking wake up call, you cannot simply afford to become ill. If you are ill and its an emergency and its out of their capabilities or remit they will shove you around from one Hospital (and their different Trusts) to another, especially if you are in London where I was amazed and the lack of professionalism and skill of the staff there.

Not having seen a G.P. or used the NHS for over 12 years before this incident - I feel that I have been a mug paying into the N.H.S all these years for an under par service.

Also the 'private' eye clinic next to Moorfields Eye hospital in London was again something next to useless, they were more concerned about fleecing me for £250.00 and giving me a bultulip story.

This was last year, I've since moved to another country where the standard of health service is much better despite the cuts, here they would have provided me with a hospital bed and performed tests on me to see what was actually wrong with me, rather than turn me away to another hospital with no proper conclusive diagnosis.

[Dallas]

I know a couple of nurses at Chelsea & Westminster. They spend alot of time complaining about patients complainig about them

[Old Greg]

I sympathise. As far as GP services go, the NHS is not fit for purpose any more.
Mainly because of the cushy deal the doctors negotiated with New Labour.

A terrible indictment of private businesses running public services.

And +1 for the GP contract.

[Old Greg]

I know a couple of nurses at Chelsea & Westminster. They spend alot of time complaining about patients complainig about them

They're not really nurses you know. London hospital

[d000hg]

I sympathise. As far as GP services go, the NHS is not fit for purpose any more.
Mainly because of the cushy deal the doctors negotiated with New Labour.

A terrible indictment of private businesses running public services.

And +1 for the GP contract.

Yeah, as OG points out your local surgery is an independent business so they'll vary massively.

[Old Greg]

Yeah, as OG points out your local surgery is an independent business so they'll vary massively.

I hate my GP surgery. My experience of NHS walk in centres has been good. Not sure whether they will refer to secondary care.

[scooterscot]

Move to a proper postcode for better service.

[anonymouse]

Walk in centre

I had a similar problem when trying to getting to see a GP / nurse at the local doctors, wasn't a case for A&E either, so went to the nearest walk in centre. 30 minute wait, saw me, then walked out with a prescription for antibiotics and told see a nurse at the local GP within 48 hours. Mentioned that I had tried that, her reply was "here's my card, any problems get them to phone me". Went to the GP, gave the card and was booked in for the next day.

[woohoo]

That's just the problem. NHS is crap, no-one cares and you're frowned on if you complain because its the "good old nhs".

Tried complaining to hospital once - waste of time. Flowchart for NHS complaints:-

1. Can we deny it? If so, do so, otherwise go to 2.
2. Can we blame lack of funding? If so, do so, otherwise go to 3.
3. Can we blame someone else? If so, do so, otherwise go to 4.
4. Can't get away from it? Say sorry about that but do nothing further.

Funnily enough we received a response to complaints we made for my missus dad's treatment in hospital. Before our complaint was actually recorded as a complaint we where dealt with by their customer liaison team who attempt to sort out the issues before they are recorded as complaints.

Took them two weeks to speak to us, anyway the letter we received today didn't addresses any of the complaints and I can't see how they can improve their service if they don't acknowledge the problems.