Not happy

[alisonhyslop]

really pissed off with my GI Dr, last time I seen him was in July was meant to have an appointment in in November but got cancelled, had another appointment for next week. come home from college and there is a letter from the hospital saying that this appointment has been cancelled and my next one is not for another 2 and a half months, thank you very much NHS Scotland another happy patient NOT..... has this ever happened to anyone else in the UK......

 

[Grumbletum]

:-( That's no use. Which hospital do you go to? Are you flaring at the moment?

 

[UnXmas]

Actually this is quite typical for the NHS. The worst thing is when it's a surgery that they get you in for and then, after prepping you with enemas, etc., send you home again.

It will happen to anyone using the NHS regularly at some time or other. Just don't take it personally. If you have concerns about your health that need addressing soon, get on the phone to your consultant's secretary and say you need to be seen quickly. Or ask your GP to chase it up for you. Phone calls do get you in quicker sometimes, just because it sometimes take reminding them you're waiting for them to act.

If you don't have anything urgent to address and it's only annoying because you'd planned for an appointment, you just have to be philosophical about it and unfortunately learn to accept the NHS's massive organisational problems.

 

[alisonhyslop]

I'm at queen Margaret hosp in dunfermline Scotland, I had operation last may and still need to talk to my gi about a few thing as I'm still having a lot of bm movements a day, need to talk to him about my iron levels also.

 

[Hope345]

No it hasnt but if it did, I would make sure my daughter saw a doctor right away if she was flaring.

I have learned to be very assertive. You have to be your own advocate. They (most doctors) have so many patients that they really do not keep track of each person.

Our GI sees hundreds of patients in between our visits, so I usually start off the conversation with a quick rundown of our daughters history: she has Crohns colitis, had 6 treatments of Remicade, still bleeding, doesnt have diarrhea.... that way we dont spend our 1/2 hour back tracking and missing something. I was surprised at first, but then just accepted it and moved on. I expected the GI to know everything about my daughter. But they do not.

If you need to go to the doctors, dont wait. Either see a different one, or call them back and tell them how urgent it is.

Let us know how you are doing, what meds you are on and what are your current symptoms.
take care

 

[CeeCeeGo]

Hello Alison
I totally agree that you need to be assertive. Become friendly with your GI's secretary. I have got to know mine pretty well and she has been really helpful in getting me in to see my GI quickly. Also do you have an IBD nurse at your hospital? They often are available on the phone or email and can respond quickly.
I hope you manage to get seen quickly.
Take care.

 

[furiousfunker]

I had this before with the NHS, constantly messing me around... Especially not being able to diagnose crohns for 17 years!.. I'm now lucky enough to have private medical insurance, although they postponed my abscess drain yesterday for another 2 weeks time, 4 hours before I was meant to have it, starved myself for nothing!

If I was you, I would contact someone and demand to see your GI, saying you feel really ill.. The squeaky wheel gets the oil!

I hope you get something sorted

 

[alisonhyslop]

thanks for all your comments I will get in touch with my gi's Secretary tomorrow x

 

[JennaRae]

I agree, getting in good with the secretary is usually the best way to go. When I didn't have any insurance and went to the county hospital, JPS I used to buy her small gifts like candy a d what not lol. She would always insure that I got what I needed. It's terrible that it comes to that to get treated properly.

 

[Sunshine Cat]

Sometimes a small gift makes them fell better about a job that deals with people who are in alot of pain. :thumright: