I've been in many medical tight spots.
If you have a rare and complicated condition that requires lots of surgical intervention and drugs so hardcore they come with a health warning, you will have faced some pretty momentus battles.
Battles for the right treatment or timely treatment or a new referral or a not-yet-quite-licensed-for-your-condition medication.
The bit most people won't know is that not only are the battles often life or death (and I use not a jot of hyperbole here) but that you face a surreal system that seems designed by a malicious sprite in partnership with Freud and Castro.
You can just hit an NHS brick wall where you know you need a certain thing to happen, but you just can't achieve it. You can pull strings, you can beg, you can provide evidence. Nothing. If you hit The Wall there is no way under through or around it.
You might think I mean for a new hip or a quick nip and tuck, but no, I actually do mean when you're critically ill.
You say something hurts, they reply "that's not possible"
You say you need help soon, they reply "We've got nothing til September"
You explain all the reason's they should, but "computer says no"
You try to get letters or referrals but they make no difference.
Oh boy, have I been there. More times than I can remember.
Now, however, suddenly it would seem that I have a "Good GP".
Blinking into the light, I am starting to see what a vaaaaast difference it can make. She writes stuff for me and listens and "get's it" and she's in my corner, and she even makes jokes and.......
I can hardly bring myself to write any more. I've had so many bad experiences, I can hardly begin to believe I might have found a good one.
But certainly, for the moment, she kicks-ass like a ninja and it's come at a time where a ninja GP is very, very, helpful.
She may yet restore my faith in the whole lot of 'em.
I've only ever had one "good GP" and sadly he passed away a few years ago. Damn, how I miss him. He would never have allowed you to suffer if he could help it.
ReplyDeleteMy GP now is not even worth the trouble talking to.
So "congratulations" on having a sympathetic GP, it makes all the difference between life and death, and just some peace of mind.
my GP is fabulous - I wish they were all like him :-) Been fortunate and had the shame Dr 28 years, we share interests too and he has an allotment by mine. Village community living at its best.
ReplyDeleteOooh, very promising! I've just got a new GP too and am experiencing the same tentative hope that things are going to improve. It makes such a difference to be believed, even you can't get answers per se.
ReplyDeleteHere's to the good 'uns!
A good GP? I've heard they exist but always assumed it was a legend. It certainly is here in Wirral, based on my experience.
ReplyDeleteTake my GP - please! (Sorry, old joke). I faxed a repeat scrip request on July 2. To date I've had precisely sod all.
Today, being so much of a basket case that I can barely get to the bathroom (to which not having the drugs I asked for has contributed), about 8 paces away, my chances of being able to use the phone coherently are zero (that I'm in such dire straits is also my GP's fault - a tale too long for here), I've sent another fax chasing up the first one.
I'd actually pass on a"good" GP and settle for one who simply did his job properly and ensured his staff did theirs too.
Know that it's nigh impossible to find a non-homophobic G.P. in Altrincham: gay friends have had problems in three local practices including my own. I have been very lucky indeed to have an accepting G.P. Only problem: she is part-time and always off school holidays... %S
ReplyDeleteShame that a suburb of Manchester, with the gay quarter close by. cannot provide more gay good and friendly GPs.
DeleteI have a non Homophobic Asian Dr here in Baguley just down the road..and he has been very very supportive in dealing with my various ailments and getting tests done on my behalf and doing unlimited amounts of work to discover cuases and solutions...as was my previous Scottish GP when I lived in North Manchester...maybe I've just been lucky??
DeleteAs a fellow disabled-through-a-medical-condition person I know what you mean.
DeleteI have been conclusively turned down by my PCT for treatment which might actually SAVE them money (by meaning I only have to get something down once every couple of years instead of 3-4 times every year).
The lovely -and world renowned - consultant (who the nurse-led panel on the PCT decided was wrong about what treatment I need) has now offered to do some tests in his private clinic for free so we can see if the treatment will work. It is so kind of him that it made me cry.
Nice doctors are amazing.
I've had horrible ones, lovely ones, but never a good one.
ReplyDeleteI've come across a couple of truly homophobic nurses and consultants.
Well Done Sue...And certainly deserved and needed now more than ever. It seems as a mere sick 'mortal' for whom ways under, over and around the wall are not possible..she knows where the secret passages THRU the wall exist that get you to Narnia...:-) Long may it remain so...
ReplyDeleteFantastic Sue, mines good just afraid of giving me stronger dosage of pain med's, I've got one to many problems and take one to many pills, looks like morphine is next in line to try.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad for you!
ReplyDeleteI've gotta' GP like that the other day she asked how my ESA appeal was coming on and I told her I was about to throw in the towel the GP said not bloody likely we can win your appeal.
ReplyDeleteI have a great GP and when you've got that it makes being ill a little easier if theres such a thing.
Mike North East
I agree - one of my greatest assets is a superb GP. His latest project is trying to work out how to persuade the NHS that I really DO need oxygen even though the numbers (computer?) say no. He says he believes in treating the patient not the numbers and he's fab. I don't know what I'd do without him, but we may have to get my MP on side if my GP's enthusiasm and commitment isn't matched with the power to do anything! Unfortunately, even excellent GP's don't have unlimited power, more's the pity...
ReplyDeleteThe short term result of this fiasco is long and complicated conversations with the oxygen provider who ends up being obliged to provide 6 weeks' worth of oxygen for two days away, just because of NHS bureaucracy. Bonkers!
I wish you hadnt spoken lightly of a new hip. I have severe arthritis andneed a new hip. While i recognize that I'm not as ill. as you are. I'm in a lot of pain hhave difficulty getting out of. a chair or bed and walking. I have a very good g p. Am going to hip clinic next week to see specialist
ReplyDeleteHer point is, if you need a new hip, you will GET a new hip. If you're chronically ill more often than not a GP will just shrug their shoulders and do nothing. It's a whole different ballgame. I was just told by my GP I don't really have sero-neg arthritis at all and just need to "lose weight". He took me off my meds. I had to go back to my rheumatologist who was utterly speechless with fury, and he had to put me back on. That's the issue here. It's not a one-up of who-hurts-more, but that there are GPs out there who just don't care. They call us chronically ill folk "heartsink patients". Fun.
DeleteYes or "difficult" patients. As if chronically ill people are stubbornly ill. Not nice.
DeleteYou lucky I get the spawn of Dr Harold Fredrick Shipman and Dr Joseph Mengele
ReplyDeleteCheck out this very, very interesting article and spread the information far and wide.
ReplyDeletehttp://loanwolffe.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/british-government-attempt-at.html
Years ago we used to have a family doctor, many years ago my Mams doctor was Norman Lamonts dad. His name was Lament or similar, the lado changed it to fit south. Since moving to the North West I have a "pool" of doctors, not seen the same one twice yet, I have been very lucky but all have their timers set to 10 minutes and only one complaint to a appointment.
ReplyDeleteJust to show bad doctors have been around for a longtime. In. the.1960s when I was 8 I was very ill with what turned out to be appendicitis. Our excellent family doctor was away for passover holiday. Of two locums 1 said I was sickening for a childish complaint and the other that he didn't know what was wrong but would seek advice. Dad whose only medial training was first aid in army asked if it could be appendicitis doctor said i was too young next thing I was rushed to hospital with apendicitis. Dad told surgeon. what locum had said and he said it was complete rubbish. That hed had toddlers with appendicitis. If it had beenr left any longer i would have died at the age of 8. Our own doctpr had a real go at locum and said if id died and mum and dad had wanted to take locums to court hed have backed them. In those days cases against doctors. were rare but he was so furious .
ReplyDeleteyou do realise that most GP doctors have opted for a quite luxury lifestyle at the expense of the much lower paid and more qualified hospital Doctor so in reality your own GP knows very little and that's why they always have to pass you on to someone else for tests etc as there is no way in a 10 minute consultation can say what is wrong with you that is impossible so therefor there main function is just to monitor your prescriptions
ReplyDeleteI wish someone would tell Tim Mickleburgh to keep quiet, his endless stream of nonsense to various newspapers is giving genuine benefit claimants a bad name. I'm NOT on benefits before you ask but give it a rest Tim.
DeleteAnybody want a laugh on this bright morning?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/11/row-wheelchairs-buses-minister-attitude
Maria Miller calling for a change of attitude towards disabled people .... couldn't make it up!!!