Communication

[Saddo]

As a GP, it saddens me to see such venom in this forum. There are a lot of very angry people who feel aggrieved, let down or just do not feel that they have been listened to.

Venting is healthy. It might not solve the problem, but it feels good and can go some way to resolving issues within oneself. Causing harm by venting (emotional or otherwise) is not productive. I would urge restraint with people's names and practices. The false publication of remarks that state that someone has committed a crime or malpractice in a public forum, is unethical, unfair and potentially cause for legal action.

Writing accusations about someone in an arena in which they cannot respond (often for the reasons of confidentially that are so often flaunted by posters) or which they have no knowledge of could be said to be cowardly and childish. How would anyone like me to take their name and place of work and publish it alongside allegations of paedophilia all over the net? Sadly, most people now do not question sources and are happy to believe anything that is in print.

Most patient complaints come down to one simple error. This is that there has been a communication breakdown. It can often be due to the medical staff, but it's a two way street and patient's (shock, horror) can also be to blame. "Treat others as you might wish to be treated," is a good moto.

(NB I haven't published my name as I realise that my comments will offend some people who fail to listen to any voice but their own)

[sanity]

I agree wholeheartedly with much that Saddo says above - there are posts on this forum from people who, regardless of the veracity of their version of events, feel as aggrieved as they do because of lousy communication.

There are also a lot of truly unpleasant and very 'person identifiable' statements from people who, quite simply, come across as lazy, sponging, malingering, professional moaners who feel that life 'owes them' for some reason... when it simply does not. No one is 'owed' a living.

Reading this there will undoubtedly be a number of people who are sitting there wearing tinted spectacles... or a soft neck collar... or wrist splints on one or both wrists... or have a diagnosis of 'ME'. I predict that people who are described thus are likely to be hugely over-represented reading this message board. Such people very much do do need to see a GP - but need to LISTEN to them instead of deciding the doctor is 'wrong' simply because they don't like what their GP says (eg unpalatable suggestions that they work towards returning to work etc).

It is my view that those people reading this board who seriously believe that doctors deliberately do a bad job and then make strenuous efforts to 'cover it up' are, quite simply, deluded. Yes, medical errors happen... but I really do not believe that the cover ups alleged in some of the threads on here happen at all. It really does come down to communication failures.

Finally... if you really feel justified in doing so, sue the NHS by all means. Indeed, if a patient needs funding for care as a result of a medical error, it may be the only way for this to be sorted out properly. But if you simply want to win money as a 'punishment' for the NHS, bear in mind that the only people who suffer from less funds in the NHS are the other patients of the NHS.

[craigwalsh]

First of all, thank you both for taking the time to register on this website and for posting your well-reasoned and eloquent comments.

There is no question that this website will appeal to disgruntled NHS patients, so the comments here are merely anecdotal rather than any sort of statistically significant survey. Having said that, there is a section for NHS compliments, and there are a few postings there.

There is also no question that many of the folks visiting this site are angry. They, or their loved ones, have been treated in an appallingly horrible fashion by the NHS, and they have --- by any reasonable standard --- every right to be truly furious. Others are angry but perhaps they're being unreasonable in their expectations.

Anyone familiar with forums will understand that the postings here are the responsibility of their author. It's not my role, nor do I have the ability if were, to verify complaints and accusations made on this site. Comments made are the responsibility of their author --- and everyone should be aware (in general) of the principles of libel.

I happily will delete postings if the author changes his or her mind, and have done so on several occasions.

There are comments here that I find distressing and some rather distasteful. But I don't want to be acting like some sort of governmental bureaucrat --- like someone from Health & Safety --- saying "tisk, tisk, you can't say that."

In my own case I have named names. I have also attached scanned copies of documents, and have tried to be as factual as possible. Libel is only a problem if you are untruthful --- I stand by the statements I've made. I was treated poorly by the NHS, and when I took the time to submit a reasoned, factual complaint using their system, they acknowledged its safe receipt, and then "lost" it. I provided them with the web links so they could download a replacement, but they did nothing.

If they really "lost" my original complaint --- shame on them. Did they leave it on a train with a CD-ROM containing the details of a thousand patients? And why didn't they simply download a fresh copy and handle it in accordance with their complaints procedure? My assumption --- and it's only an assumption --- is that it was easier to "lose" the complaint rather than answer it.

If John Rostill at the Worcestershire Royal Infirmary has something to say about my comments, he knows where to find me. But so far, like Brear Rabbit, "he lay low."

Which is why I created this forum.

As for the point that this isn't a two-way street --- that doctors and other health professionals can't complain about specific patients because of issues of confidentiality --- I can only say "too bad." Life isn't fair. Deal with it.

I don't have bats in the house --- but nonetheless I don't like the idea that the bat police can enter my house without a warrant. But I guess I just have to live with that. As I said, life isn't fair.

There is certainly nothing preventing doctors and other health care professionals from posting their complaints about patients here --- you just can't name names. But perhaps your views from the other side of the scalpel or stethoscope will help us to understand why you do and say the things you do.

Again, thanks for visiting. Your comments are truly welcome, and we look forward to hearing from y'all again.