My repeat prescription of slow release morphine-based medication was abruptly cancelled, this being the day it is usually prescribed for the week. I have multiple medical conditions that combined cause chronic pain and also acute pain in the event of a flare of one of the conditions, or if I’m experiencing stress & anxiety, and also whenever I become unwell….as I currently am with the flu.
My carer went to my pharmacy to collect my weekly prescription, only to be advised that I wouldn’t be getting anymore of my usual pain meds & that they had been advised that I, as the patient, had been involved in a discussion about this and was fully aware that it would be stopped. This is factually incorrect and can be corroborated by my phone records and also theirs as all calls are recorded.
When I called the surgery to speak to a GP as a matter of urgency to try and find out why my primary pain medication has been stopped, I was advised that I would get a call back from my GP. Unfortunately there was no triage GP available to speak to me, so I was only able to speak with reception staff. I was told repeatedly by a member of the reception staff that I hadn’t been prescribed that medication since August, however upon me advising that I still have the last box from the previous week & that my pharmacist also has full records to disprove that claim, the staff member then decided that I had been prescribed that medication and obviously had been taking the medication up to that day.
I haven’t been given any explanation by the Surgery (despite them having advised my pharmacist that I was fully aware of the medication being stopped as it was done via communication between the Surgery GPs and myself - which is not the case), or an alternative option of medication to manage my pain. I haven’t had a medication review recently, although I have had 1 mid-year in which I queried why they hadn’t reinstated meds. (My GP previously removed 2 x 10mg tabs of the exact same medication so that they could take a blood test but I was assured that it wasn’t permanent). During that review I was advised that they would replace those 2 x 10mg tabs with a different medication, which I agreed to as I had no choice. I received 1 day’s medication of the alternative before that was also stopped abruptly without any notification or explanation).
I advised the member of staff I spoke to of this and was assured that they would speak to the GP and that I would get a call from the GP that day. Very shockingly, I was again called by a member of staff who advised that the GP couldn’t call me but wanted to make an appointment for me to be seen that week. I advised the member of staff that I was housebound even with the pain relieving properties of my 2 tabs that I had been taking as prescribed, therefore I advised them that with all the will in the world (and support from my carer) I most definitely won’t manage to get to the surgery while withdrawing from that medication, but unsurprisingly they simply said - so you don’t want to see the Doctor? I advised them that I need to see the Doctor but now it was made impossible for me.
To the best of my knowledge, my GP shouldn’t be completely removing such a strong medication (and my primary source of pain relief) in the way they have. It is my understanding that they should refer me to the pain management clinic if they feel that I no longer need such medication- although that is far from the case as at least 3 of the conditions I have are progressive degenerative and already effect my cervical, lumbar & thoracic spine including my pelvis, along with all main joints, ligaments tendons, muscles and also nerves.
I have requested home visits as I am housebound but have been told they don't do home visits. Looking at their charter, they do offer home visits, therefore I feel I have been lied to, and it is also extremely evident to me that they are failing to comply with their charter and in doing so they are completely failing me as a patient. This has effected my physical and mental health, in addition it effects my home life in so many ways and leaves me literally begging my GP to carry out their job and also their duty of care towards me as a patient.
What they have done is leave me in severe pain for an undetermined period of time which has caused me so much stress & anxiety which exacerbates my physical and mental health. I feel traumatised just at the thought of them removing my medication which is fundamental to my day to day existence. I hate having to rely upon medication just to get through a day but to literally have to beg my GP and also find the words to explain how severely I am effected by them removing my primary pain medication, it’s humiliating and degrading.
I am confined to my bed as a result of the acute pain I'm in as a result of this unfathomable decision and the stress & anxiety of knowing that the pain is going to get so much worse and that I’m not going to get any sleep for days as a result of no adequate pain relief and also the fear of withdrawal symptoms that they must realise shall occur. I cannot begin to understand how they can be allowed to do this to anyone.
Staff attitude
Staff skills
Seeing the whole me
Treatment
Medication
Pain relief
Being listened to
Involved in decisions
Being given time
Doctor
Manager
Other staff
Responses
See more responses from Kirsten Dickson