My Complaint About Consultant

elainebadknee
elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
edited 8. Jun 2011, 07:30 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hiya

Im currently making a complaint about the consultant at my local hopsital who would not consider me for TKR and only offered to take out my kneecap, no queries, no advice, take it or leave it...I am 42 and do carry some weight but have sought 2nd opinion and they told me if lost 2 stone will do TKR, something never offered by local man...
I sought help from ICAS and they were helpful. We sent off letter of complaint in march and got a response from them on 7th April 2011 saying they would reply to me within a month. Now its nearly 2 months on and havent heard a dicky bird. ICAS man has been in contact and told me to chase it up. Herein lies a worry...
First time i phoned couldnt get hold of customer care person named in reply. Finally did and when i spoke to her wasnt convinced was speaking to right person as had spoken to this person a while ago and she was very sympathetic and understanding. This time it was responses such as "Yup", "what do you want" and was told letter was in a pile waiting to be drafted and one of many.....Also told that there was staff shortages....So was advised by ICAS man to give it two weeks and rung up again today and again this woman's tone is as if "what do you want me to do about it" - in short its not a helpful tone and i dont like phoning her now.....
Now i dont know if this has any weight as the consultant is regarded as one of the top dogs at my hospital. But he was awful towards me, i have a witness to state that he was obstructive and unhelpful. I kind of feel just now as if this woman who was helpful before is being obstructive now..I dont know, her tone isnt good.....I want to see my complaint through and want to feel as if i have a valid case but dont want to be treated as if im nothing more than an annoyance.....

Grr...NHS

Elainex

Comments

  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    it is awfull how slow they can be when they want to but do not let them wear you down he is in the wrong and must know it can not give advice on what you should do but do hope it gets sorted soon and you manage to loose the weight needed for op val
    val
  • daylily
    daylily Member Posts: 619
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Elaine, This is about par for the course unfortunately.
    The NHS do not like being complained about and put as many obstacles in the way as possible, this starts with unhelpful people on the phone.
    If you want to carry on you will have to develop a tough hide!!!!!
    Next step is probably being passed from pillar to post and not getting any answers.
    Round and round in circles you will go- hope you have a strong stomach and don't get dizzy.
    I gave up after 18 months as I found it too stressful with having to care for hubby, I made the complaint on his behalf.
    I wish you good luck and sincerely hope you do carry on. The NHS has to be answerable to the public.
    xx
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Elaine
    Sorry I know nothing about complaining about NHS but i do hope you have some success.
    Love
    hileena
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI Val

    I think they do use delaying tactics but i also think persistence pays off...

    Elainex
    valval wrote:
    it is awfull how slow they can be when they want to but do not let them wear you down he is in the wrong and must know it can not give advice on what you should do but do hope it gets sorted soon and you manage to loose the weight needed for op val
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi to Daylily and Hileena

    I have responded to the two of you together as have had a phone call from the woman in customer care just a min ago...She says my letter has been done, has to get approval from chief executive and will have it by the end of this week...Im not saying i will like whats in this letter but at least ive annoyed them a bit and got a response, onto next step...
    I dont think in any job this kind of behaviour is acceptable...We need healthcare so why treat these people as tin gods?? If i did a job badly id get reprimanded and so should they...We all bleed red blood when we are cut after all, not blue blood, ie we are all humans...I dont think we should accept it as par for the course, if so the cycle goes on...I do know how stressful it is however and appreciate some people dont need that in their lives too..

    Elainex
    daylily wrote:
    Hi Elaine, This is about par for the course unfortunately.
    The NHS do not like being complained about and put as many obstacles in the way as possible, this starts with unhelpful people on the phone.
    If you want to carry on you will have to develop a tough hide!!!!!
    Next step is probably being passed from pillar to post and not getting any answers.
    Round and round in circles you will go- hope you have a strong stomach and don't get dizzy.
    I gave up after 18 months as I found it too stressful with having to care for hubby, I made the complaint on his behalf.
    I wish you good luck and sincerely hope you do carry on. The NHS has to be answerable to the public.
    xx
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    just want to wish you luck elaine as i wouldn't have a clue how to complain.

    hope you hear something soon

    juliepf x
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Yes good luck Elaine. Hope you get some joy from the contents of the letter. You are made of stern stuff and will see it through to the end.

    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • constable
    constable Member Posts: 2,115
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good for you that you had the guts to make a complaint. Hope the letter you are due to receive has some good news for you

    Karen xx
    Karen xx
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well done Elaine.......I'm not one that believes the medical profession is little gods and that anything they say goes.....far from it...but I have never had to complain....not a real complaint....so well done
    Love
    Hileena
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi To Julie Elizabeth & Karen

    Well I know when i get this letter it will be a pack of lies and I wont be happy but I have a weapon I can use against him - I have a witness as to his behaviour that day, someone who had never met him before but he made a lasting impression upon....He had no nurse to back him up even though he is top dog.....
    Its not going to get much easier but Im determined to see this through as I dont think it matters who you are from a cleaner to a top consultant of CE you should always do your job accordngly and not make your customers/patients feel as if they are wasting your time...

    elainex
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI Hileena

    Well Ive never had to take things this far before but think i was frightened before...Im not so much now.....Whatever the outcome...

    Elainex
    hileena111 wrote:
    Well done Elaine.......I'm not one that believes the medical profession is little gods and that anything they say goes.....far from it...but I have never had to complain....not a real complaint....so well done
    Love
    Hileena
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good on you Elaine like you say whatever job you do , you should do it to the best of your ability, for some reason some of the consultants seem to think that the patient dosnt matter....no patients no job i say.
    I must say at the very beginning of arthur I had such a lovely consultant I wrote him a letter telling him out much it meant to me.
    Good luck with it all.
    Love
    Barbara
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Barbara

    Yes i mean when ive worked in shops or offices and people havent liked some things ive done and beleive me some where petty such as working in WH Smith and not folding a paper a certain way into a bag for one man and in Booths closing the shop 5 mins before we closed as we had enough customers in who would keep us well after 4pm closing time, ive been told off.....Other times ive deserved it when ive been a bit off with someone but overall i tried my hardest to serve everone to the best of my ability...The days i got to hating my job, i knew i was in the woring profession....and moved on and retrained...
    I see no reason to talk down to someone and not offer help and information when its an important part of their life, an operation tbat may pr may not help me...Who are they to play god with my health and body?

    Like i said my blood will be boiling reading his account and i will most likely be on here next week moaning about it..But in a way im expecting him to completely contradict me but as ive said i got a witness who can back me up...

    Elainex
    barbara12 wrote:
    Good on you Elaine like you say whatever job you do , you should do it to the best of your ability, for some reason some of the consultants seem to think that the patient dosnt matter....no patients no job i say.
    I must say at the very beginning of arthur I had such a lovely consultant I wrote him a letter telling him out much it meant to me.
    Good luck with it all.

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