Hi have just lost my mum which is bad enough but we have also had to put up with miss diagnosis after miss diagnosis and appalling care from almost everyone except Hospice at Home (who were fantastic) We don't suppose we'll get anywhere with the NHS but the one thing none of us can forget is the way her GP knelt in front of a women who was fighting like hell and said " Your going to die, it will be very soon probably within the week, and if it was me.. Thank God it's not!! i would want to know' We weren't consulted at all she just BRUTALLY did it!! Then continued to describe exactly what would happen... We all still find this totally unacceptable, it was as if she was in a rush and needed to get to her lunch or something... is there anywhere we can complain?? Thank youFriday, December 23, 2011
How Do I Complain About A Doctor?
Hi have just lost my mum which is bad enough but we have also had to put up with miss diagnosis after miss diagnosis and appalling care from almost everyone except Hospice at Home (who were fantastic) We don't suppose we'll get anywhere with the NHS but the one thing none of us can forget is the way her GP knelt in front of a women who was fighting like hell and said " Your going to die, it will be very soon probably within the week, and if it was me.. Thank God it's not!! i would want to know' We weren't consulted at all she just BRUTALLY did it!! Then continued to describe exactly what would happen... We all still find this totally unacceptable, it was as if she was in a rush and needed to get to her lunch or something... is there anywhere we can complain?? Thank you
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bambamitsdead - Start with the General Medical Council. But be prepared, doctors protect doctors so it will be hard.
ReplyDeleteELLEN - This is awful. and yes unacceptable..
ReplyDeleteNHS choices has a good section on it, look at the link I added. . But yes it may be a lengthy, frustrating and upsetting process.
misscacazzy - not acceptable, but are you certain your grief is not clouding this,i wanted to lash out when my dad died the dr was awful but looking back it could been my anger
ReplyDeleteOzgirl - IF your GP behaved in the manner described, then I would agree that it was quite unacceptable. There is a skill in breaking bad news, but even when done with sensitivity, distressing news remains just that. I wonder if your lovely Mum asked the Doctor, "How long have I got?" as I find it hard to believe that any heath care professional simply volunteered such devastating news. If someone has the courage to ask me that question, I always answer as honestly as I can.
ReplyDeleteHowever, even if on reflection, you still feel that you wish to make a formal complaint, then I would suggest that your first port of call should be the Practice Manager, by letter. You should then be invited to attend the surgery to discuss your feelings and distress with the Manager and the Doctor concerned. Don't be intimidated by this, and take someone with you, even if it is someone who didn't witness the event. They can take notes for you and remain objective. You will be able to make your feelings known and be offered an explanation and an apology. The Doctor may not have realised the effect her approach had on the family and might change her manner in the future.
If you go all guns blazing to the GMC, they will - in the first instance - contact the Pracice to find out what they have to say, so you might as well start there yourself. I do hope this helps and I'm sad that you're facing Christmas without your Mum.