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Not being honest about me having rare cancer

Posted By disinfectantjq95

"Not being honest about me having rare cancer"

About: Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford) / End of life care

(as a service user),

An awful time in here. Staff discussing me on the ward. The fact that I have a rare cancer and I'm not being told as I wouldn't cope. Doctor discussing with a member of staff what a horrible, horrible cancer it was that I had and the worst type of cancer you can get. My name is mentioned.

Member of staff on the phone to dietician saying I have a rare  tumour and need to be seen. Next thing the dieticians are here weighing me and telling me what to eat.

Dr on the ward saying I am not going to be told. Other doctor asking what the legalities are of not telling me. The doctor replies I don't know the legalities, but that's what's been decided. We are not telling her or her husband. She will eventually come in with a bleed. We can't operate as this cancer becomes savage in the body when operated on.

What can I do, nobody believes me what I heard. 

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Responses

Response from Lisa Townsend, Patient Feedback Lead, Patient Experience Team, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust last week
Lisa Townsend
Patient Feedback Lead, Patient Experience Team,
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

I take patient feedback and work with all departments at Royal Devon University Hospital NHS Trust to implement service change and improve the patient experience.

Submitted on 09/04/2025 at 15:33
Published on Care Opinion at 15:33

picture of Lisa Townsend

Dear Disinfectantjq95

Thank you for your feedback, I would like to address the issues that you have raised as soon as possible.

I understand from your feedback that you are currently an inpatient. Please can I ask you to raise your concerns with the ward manager or nurse in charge in the first instance. If you would prefer, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team via rduh.pals@nhs.net who will be able to contact the ward manager on your behalf. We would appreciate the opportunity to resolve your concerns as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Lisa

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Update posted by disinfectantjq95 (a service user)

I am not currently an inpatient. I tried to raise my concerns when I was on Abbey ward and AMU and Exe ward. The sister would not take my calls at the time and neither would the consultants concerned. When I spoke to the consultants secretary, I was told the consultant would definitely phone me back. There was no call, and when I phoned to see why, the secretary was surprised as they said they had never known this consultant not phone a patient back who had concerns.

Errors were made on the ward and I feel they were then not honest in their findings.

Response from Lisa Townsend, Patient Feedback Lead, Patient Experience Team, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust last week
Lisa Townsend
Patient Feedback Lead, Patient Experience Team,
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

I take patient feedback and work with all departments at Royal Devon University Hospital NHS Trust to implement service change and improve the patient experience.

Submitted on 11/04/2025 at 15:07
Published on Care Opinion at 15:07

picture of Lisa Townsend

Dear Disingectantjq95

Thank you for getting back to me.

Due to the confidential nature of Care Opinion I am unable to resolve your concerns via this forum but please can I ask you to contact the complaints team who will be able to look into the issues you are raising and provide you with a response. Here is a link to information on our formal complaint process including the contact details. https://www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/media/z3knjqhp/rd-23-026-003-help-us-to-get-better-at-what-we-do-975-v3.pdf

Kind regards

Lisa

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
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