Where do I start

[plums77]

hfqwouehdmou oueh ;o`kJZHs ;or

[craigwalsh]

Hi, Plums77 ---

Thank you for taking the time to register on the NHS Sucks forum, and thank you for posting your recent experience with the NHS. It sounds awful to me. They should be ashamed.

From my standpoint, I would request (under the provisions of the Data Protection Act) a copy of my complete notes --- paper and those on computer --- from my GP and from Stoke Mandeville Hospital (http://www.buckshospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/hospitals/hospitals.asp#stoke). I predict, based upon my own experience, that if you're steaming now --- just wait until you see what the doctors have written in your notes.

I'd then file a formal, written complaint about the consultant with the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The procedure is described on their website (http://www.buckshospitals.nhs.uk/patient/complaints/complaints.asp). Again, based only on my experience, don't expect much from this process. The NHS seems to be drowning in complaints as well, and seem to handle them with incredible inefficiency. Hopefully, however, a formal complaint will be counted, and the government Mandarins in Whitehall seem to pour over these statistics.

I also received an e-mail this evening from a TV production company. They'd read postings in the forum, and were looking for folks to share their experiences with the NHS in an upcoming programme. They will (I believe) be posting their details in the near future.

I would also politely (but firmly) demand that my GP refer me to another specialist, without the frustration of more waiting time. I would also insist upon a copy of the letter of referral.

Failing all of that, it may be worth paying to be seen privately. I've said it elsewhere on this forum: the specialists at the Cromwell Hospital seem to be able to see people within days. And how much is your health worth? The cost of a private consultation seems to be about £250. I'm sure there are private consultants near you who will see you quickly as well. I just happened to find this website (http://www.gynaecologist.org.uk/about.html) when looking on Google for the correct spelling of gynaecologist. I don't know anything about Mr. Thonet except what I just read on his website. He apparently does not insist upon a referral from your GP (if you have private medical insurance, they will undoubtedly insist upon the referral). And he says:

http://www.gynaecologist.org.uk/images/quote.gif

Please let us know how this all turns out. My thoughts are with you . . . nobody in a First World country should go through what you went through. But you have illustrated why this website is called NHS Sucks.

P.S. You may also consider posting the name of the gynaecologist involved here on this website. The site is visited by Google every day or two, so this posting will appear in the Google search engine fairly quickly.

[craigwalsh]

Hi,

I did a Google search to see if I could find out anything more about Geraldine Lynn Tasker, but came up with essentially nothing.

A search of the List of Registered Medical Practitioners of the General Medical Council shows that she is on the specialist register (in OB/GYN) as of July 14, 2004 --- so not that long ago in the overall scheme of things.

Her primary medical qualification is an MB ChB 1992 from Cape Town. Dr. Geraldine Tasker was provisionally registered in the UK in November 1993, and fully registered in January 1994 (GMC reference number 4063432).

[plums77]

mmm interesting.. complaint letter sent to Cheif Exec of Amersham hospital recorded delivery on weds .

Thanks again for your help..

[craigwalsh]

Hi, plums77 ---

I'll be very interested to hear what happens with your complaint. I have personally found the complaint procedure to be as bad, or worse, as the medical treatment I received from the NHS. I don't know if my experience is typical or not, so please let us know what happens.

Remember by their own rules they have 25 business days to send you a complete reply, or to ask you for an extension in this deadline. In my experience they've completely ignored their own deadline --- but I suspect this is a result of understaffing. And I would guess that they are drowning in complaints.

[Chicken-licken]

UNBELIEVABLE!:eek:

As a woman, I feel really angry that you were treated this way - such delicate examinations need extra care and respect.

Maybe this Miss Tasker hasn't realised that most of us ladies tidy up a bit down there...hee hee, bet she's a bit of a bush monkey ;)

[NHS Cyborg]

Hello Plums,
I have a differing perspective because womans health is my nursing specialism. I am sorry that you had a traumatic time.
Some tips: Firstly, next visit you should politely make it clear at the beginning that you would prefer not to have students involved, although usually there will be a chaperone in the room with you to protect both parties from a legal viewpoint. Your gynaecologist seemed fairly dismissive of your anatomical problem - you would be surprised how often we see women concerned about their anatomy which when we look is perfectly normal ie, asymmetrical labia or normal clitoris. It sounds as though she was teaching her colleague how to conduct gynae examinations! Corrective procedures on the vulva are indeed considered to be cosmetic, and it is not her fault that the local PCT will not fund them - that is a symptom of NHS financial troubles. I suggest that you write a letter to her, telling her how distressed you felt because it will influence her practice in the future. A complaint to the Chief Exec will of course be discussed with her, but it would be better going to her first in my opinion. You could also contact PALS (Patient Advisory and Liason Service) who are your advocates within the hospital - they will listen to your worries and investigate as a 'middle man'. It sounds as though your consultation was quite dysfunctional and maybe as people you just didnt hit it off from first meeting. Your hair loss, tummy pains, PMT all sound like a hormonal problem to be honest - if I were you I'd want a pelvic ultrasound to exclude ovarian cysts , blood tests for hormones and then would avoid gynaecologists if the results were all normal.

[plums77]

UNBELIEVABLE!:eek:

As a woman, I feel really angry that you were treated this way - such delicate examinations need extra care and respect.

Maybe this Miss Tasker hasn't realised that most of us ladies tidy up a bit down there...hee hee, bet she's a bit of a bush monkey ;)


He He that made me laugh !!! Imagine if we didnt have a tidy up - jeeees !!!! :D

[plums77]

[QUOTE=NHS Cyborg;196]Hello Plums,
ldnt go through any further examination as she made me feel so very uncomfortable.

[NHS Cyborg]

Hello again Plums!

Any lump 'down below' that causes pain during sex could be removed ( if possible) under the NHS and would not be regarded as cosmetic surgery. An ultrasound scan might demonstrate ovarian cysts which were not picked up on blood tests. Women's hormone levels fluctuate all through the month as they ovulate , then shed the womb lining if the egg isn't fertilised, so a one-off blood test for hormone level abnormality is nigh on impossible. Serial tests are necessary. Ovarian problems are usually spotted by scanning - ultrasound or more expensively CT scans.
I hope your second opinion is helpful.
Cyborg