Cancer diagnosis after gp took 3 months to send referral to specialist

[rebel11]

Hi gem

 

This isn't great, I hope your OH recovers fully. It sounds like your GP / surgery has made errors. You clearly need answers as to why it's taken so long for diagnosis to take place. You need to write to the surgery asking for an explanation as to why he was not referred sooner.

 

Send the letter Recorded Delivery. If they call you in for a face to face conversation, explain that is unacceptable and you prefer to communicate in writing. If they have been negligent then you have documented evidence to help your case.

 

http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/AboutNHScomplaints.aspx

 

http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/NHScomplaints.aspx

[rebel11]

Hi gem

 

Thank you both for your replies and well wishes. I shall do as you suggest. Would it have to come from my OH or would they deal with me over it? Don't think he is really upto it right now and definatly won't be after the op.

 

You can write it, just get you HO to sign the letter.

 

How should I word the letter?

 

Mark it as, Formal Letter of Complaint. In your orginial post you have a very good understanding of what's happened, ask open ended questions, so you actually get proper answers. Keep it relevant and concise.

 

You could possibly start off with, 'I was diagnosed with stomach cancer on xx/xx/xxxx'.

 

Then the background with all the relevant facts including dates that led to the lengthy diagnosies, pretty much what's in your first post with more detail.

 

Then go on to ask the questions that you want answers to.

 

Then ask them to provide documents you want, i.e. reposts, results, admin notes etc. You will know what you want to see.

 

Thank them for their co-operation in this matter.

 

Send it Recorded Delivery. Also, at this stage you are not blaming them, but want the relevant facts from them in writing.

The consultant is also submitting a complaint against the surgery so I guess that will help back my complaint.

 

Ask him for a copy of it.

Thank you once again for you help at this very worrying time.

[rebel11]

Doctors need to admitt to making mistakes.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10896387/Doctors-told-to-apologise-to-patients-when-they-make-mistakes.html

[rebel11]

Hi gem77

 

If your GP won't help move the appointment, contact PALS at your local hospital with regards the appointment and the urgent need to bring it forward?

 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1082.aspx?CategoryID=68

 

http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Patient%20advice%20and%20liaison%20services%20%28PALS%29/LocationSearch/363

[rebel11]

Well Done Gem.

 

Well that wasn't too bad not as much of a fight as I thought. I kept my cool moved it forward to 31st October. Amazing how they go from no appointments to suddenly oh there is one as soon as you show a little bit of persistence think when we said the word cancer that helped she seemed to go a bit panicky.