Doctors - how to deal with them?

LegacyUser

I posted here hoping that some people here would have some experience of dealing with Doctors/Consultants and may be able to give me some advice. If it's in the wrong forum Mods please feel free to move.

I had what should have been a pretty routine operation several weeks ago to remove an ovarian cyst. Unfortunately for me the cyst was cancerous. Next step is to stage the cancer & see what treatment I need... that was two months ago and still nothing has moved on at all - I still don't know what stage cancer I have or what treatment I need.

I was referred to another dr in another hospital for these tests (to stage the cancer). Initially I was told his secretary would ring me the following week & arrange an appointment. When she didn't call - I rang and she told me she'd never heard of me? So I went back to the original dr & he admitted his secretary had misplaced my referral letter & it hadn't been sent - but not to worry it was going that day & I had to recover from the first operation anyway before they could do the tests, so the letter not being sent wouldn't delay things.

Two more weeks went by & still the secretary was saying she hadn't heard of me - eventually after I literally sat on the phone for one full day ringing between the two hospitals she said she had the letter. (I was later told there were two letters sent one from the gyne & one from the oncologist in the first hospital - can't figure out how two letters go astray like that).

Then finally she agreed to make an appointment with the dr I'd been referred to - a month later!

So finally last week I saw him. Despite the first dr telling me these tests would be done 6 weeks after my first op, last week was 8 weeks after & I was only meeting the new dr. So, into his private clinic I go at 7.30am - and he leave me sitting there till 8.30am... finally when I got in he opens my referral letter & reads it for the very first time! Then proceeds to tell me that he has to get charts over from the other hospital & that will take a few days & after that he'll have to discuss me with other dr's in the hospital to decide what to do & that he'll ring me this Wednesday. But... no phone call - I've been ringing all day & left messages but they haven't returned them!

I'm so mad at this stage. It's 8 weeks since they told me I have cancer & still I don't know what stage cancer it is, or when the tests will be done to find out - never mind treatment! The thing is I'm paying for all of this as a private patient as I thought it would be quicker than public but still they don't even ring you when they said they would or even make appointments for you at at time they said they would.

I'm so sorry for ranting - I just don't know what to do next. The cancer could be spreading through my body all this time & they won't even return a call. I'm so angry & I don't know who to go to or how to deal with this. I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks for your help.

Dizzyblonde

That sounds like a nightmare! The best advice I can give you is to go to your GP and tell him/her about this. If he/she is any good at all they'll get this sorted out for you quickly.
Good luck

graflynn

I can't imagine what you are going through at the moment but I'm sending a hug your way - for starters

As said above it is a good idea to contact your GP, sometimes they have ways to move things along. And the speak the close to the same language as the consultant.

And in the meantime, the Irish Cancer society might have some practical advise too. They might be worth a phonecall too. They (I assume) would have a good knowledge as to how the system works and therefore can give you some pointers.

Good luck and keep on their backs.

GER12

You have enough of things to be dealing with in respect to being the optimum for recovery without this sort of crap. My intuition would be if they are treating you like this at this stage - do you have full faith in these people to get you over the post to recovery. I dont know whether you are going public or private - but maybe you should talk to your GP and see whether you interests are continued to be served within that institution or whether you should get a referral to another hospital and consultant. I do hope everything will go ok for you - and chin up! If you've got any probs or need advice on hospitals pm me.

LegacyUser

I am so very sorry to hear that you are going through that. It's an absolute nightmare for you and a disgraceful reflection on the medical services that you're dealing with. I think if I was you I'd take advice from other people here and make my GP the first port of call. If things do not move very speedily after that I would advise you not to be afraid to start making some demands and making some noise about how poorly you are being treated. Tell the secretary that if you don't hear from her within X amount of time that you'll go on Joe Duffy/call a newspaper or do something to draw public attention to their behaviour. I say this as I was in a similar position myself not so long ago. I spent along time going down the very polite route as is more natural to me but it got me nowhere. Then one day I was extremely ill and I was extremely blunt to my doctor about what I thought of the nature of my care. I wasn't rude but I was extremely assertive and obviously very annoyed. I presumed that it would ruin my relationship with him but it's done the complete opposite. He is much nicer to me now. He apologised for the way I was treated and has offered me all sorts of extra support services where this time last year I was hardly given the time of day. My friends who are nurses had encouraged me to speak up for myself and make a fuss before I actually did it. They told me that in their experience that the annoying denmanding patients might be disliked but often got better treatment. I'm not suggesting you be "annoying" here but you do have a case to make a loud angry insistance that you be heard , listened to and taken care of very very soon. Do not be afraid of rocking the boat or fearing that you'll jeporodise things for yourself by taking a very assertive role here.

I hope things work out for you with the doctor and that you make a speedy and easy recovery. Good luck.

Sum Sea

i dont understand why they werent able to tell you what stage cancer you have within 2 weeks which is the normal amount of time people have to wait for a histoligy report.I would get in touch with the irish patients assoccation who will sort this out for you very quickly .The operator will give you the number.Dealt with them for a similar problem and they were great good luck

The_Conductor

OP you *need* to have this sorted.
It is madness that you're chasing it yourself- is there a particular reason your GP isn't organising these things?

In the interim I would suggest ringing the Irish Cancer Society- they are not an advocacy group- but are there to listen, and may be able to put your mind at rest somewhat.

I would also suggest going back to the first consultant- until such time as you have been handed over to another consultant- which has not occurred, technically you are still their patient and under their care. Its entirely possible they may not be aware of how their colleagues have failed to follow up on their diagnosis.

opinion guy

I'm sorry you are going thru this.

I think the above suggestions are good.
Irish Cancer Society will be able to tell you what normal is in your situation so talk to them.
Irish Patients Association should help you too. They are there to adovcate for patients.
Your GP should kick up a fuss too.
And yes speak to your original consultant. Kick up a fuss. Talk to him directly. Sometimes these problems are down to the secretaries which sounds possible here.

As someone else said - patients who are prepared to kick up a fuss sometimes get dealt with quicker. Let them know you are pissed off. No need to lose the rag and definitely don't be abusive - but be assertive and clear in what you need done and clear that you won't accept these delays.

There's also the option of getting a second opinion - i.e. going to see someone different altogether.

drzhivago

Firstly should not take this long

Second I apologise on behalf of my profession you are right to be worried but dont stress as that can push you to irrational decisions and poor outcomes

Waiting times like that are not uncommon in a separate letter I would write that you had an appointment at 730 and were not seen until 0830, ask if that is common practice and if so could you have a realistic appointment time in future where the appointment actually takes place at that time in addition I would add that you are still waiting for the follow up call as indicated would happen, hand deliver the letter to the service involved.

Get e-mails for the individuals involved and ask for response to your questions
Send email every odd day or every day until you get a reply, waiting on phone doesnt help you and actually costs you money, make that point clear and often times phone calls are not recorded so "didnt happen"

write to 1st consultant and outline the path your treatment has taken so far, include dates and actions or inactions, ask for notes to be copied immediately to the 2nd consultant and that you want a call to collect the notes so that you can deliver them personally to make sure they don't get lost like the previous two letters previously have, this is your life after all we are talking about

If they misplaced the original letter it is they that need to sort this out for you, write to the patient complaints department of that hospital to get them to assist as well, go in person and ask to speak to them. This is not just an issue of complaining for complaining sake, if cancer is involved it truly is a matter of life and death and you need their help as soon as possible.

There are referral guidelines for cancer within the HSE get on to them to

You dont mention what specialist you were going to see(dont mean a name just is it an oncologist, radiotherapist or further gynae cancer surgeon)

Irish cancer society should help as well

http://www.cancer.ie/

Best wishes for a speedy resolution and recovery

Charisma

Get on to the cancer society immediatley if not sooner. I was very lucky with my cancer . After 2 months of mis diagnosis I then had it diagnosed removed and treatment plan in place within 6 weeks. Id be dead now if it hadnt happened that way
Dont wait anymore. Sit on someones doorstep if you have to. There is no time to wait with this condition- its too serious. You should be priority patient. Good luck to you and hope yiu are sortrd soon. I can give you the name of the cancer nurse co ordinator who is very good at rushing stuff along. PM me.