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Disagreement between GP and consultant

Posted By CMCW

"Disagreement between GP and consultant"

About: General practices in Lanarkshire University Hospital Wishaw / Gynaecology (Ward 13)

(as a service user),

Immersive Reader

I have a condition that has been ongoing for many years but worsening in the last few. 

Two months ago I was finally put on the waiting list for major surgery but as this will be another 18 months I was promised medication to mitigate the worst of the symptoms, allowing me to improve my general fitness in preparation for surgery. 

However my GP and Consultant cannot agree on whether the medication is licensed for my location. Neither is treating this with any urgency at all, both insist the other is wrong and neither is making any progress. Meanwhile I have chronic pain, the symptoms are negatively impacting my work, my home life and mental health - there's no help coming, I can't do anything to sort this mess out. I feel like a football being kicked around between the two departments. I've been given conflicting information and even then only when I've chased things up. 

If the GP and hospital consultant would simply have a telephone conversation they could probably sort this easily, instead the emails bounce back and forth via other members of staff, with me sitting here helplessly asking for answers that aren't being given.

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Responses

Response from Jennifer Montgomery, Improvement Coordinator, Quality Directorate, NHS Lanarkshire last week
Jennifer Montgomery
Improvement Coordinator, Quality Directorate,
NHS Lanarkshire

Operational Lead for Care Opinion in NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 28/03/2025 at 23:03
Published on Care Opinion at 23:03

Immersive Reader
picture of Jennifer Montgomery

Dear CMCW,

Thank you for sharing your experience of your GP and University Hospital Wishaw, Gynaecology.

I am sorry to hear that your GP and Consultant have not been communicating regarding your medication and care. I am hear how frustrating this is for you thought your story and can only apologise this has happened.

For any concerns regarding a GP practice, please could I ask that you contact the practice manager to raise these and they will investigate. With regards to concerns about the consultant and your experience in gynaecology, please could I ask that you contact patientaffairs@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk who will be able to investigate and provide you with a personal response?

Best Wishes,

Jenni

  • 0 people think this response is helpful

Update posted by CMCW (a service user)

Immersive Reader

I have done both of those things and neither has had any effect whatsoever, I feel I wasted my time there.

In fact, the situation actually deteriorated in the ten days that passed between submitting the review above and adding this response.

I have yet to see any indication that steps will be taken to improve communication, or that the prescribing pathway will be fixed so we can avoid having a nine week argument before beginning an approval process that shouldn't even exist.

As a patient I feel totally let down - I'm in pain, I'm angry, frustrated, worried about who I can even trust from here on in. This cannot be allowed to continue.