"Ineffective Patient Responses or Action"

Unfortunately, there are very few positives to record to my recent treatment and interaction with the Barnsley PCT. From referral from my GP to a clinic and hospital with non-complicated toe and knee problems, after 18 months I am little further forward in terms of effective treatment or recovery. From the double misplacing of my medical records, I experienced regular appointment cancellations across most of their services and being passed from one department to another with no overall agreed treatment pathway. Recently, part of my treatment was outsourced to another hospital. Complaint procedures, letters to the Stategic Health Authourity and MP yielded little further progress and access to my medical records remains outstanding after 6 months. As such I have moved my care to another local provider.

To improve the PCT needs to become a lot more patient focussed and co-ordinated. There seems to be little waiting list management or honesty with defining agreed and time-bound treatment pathways for patients. Compliance with complaint and data protection act / freedom information act guidelines requires much further investigation.