Thank-you Ariel, After the upset end of last week, I had a few days out as I didn’t want my BP to soar (it’s a bit high).
Today however, I am ready to fight and so is the the patient advocate who I met online and who works in that hospital. They have officially addressed this situation. Would you believe, the excuse that nasty medic gave for sending me away rudely with a chest infection on treatment etc etc was that although I had all the correct forms for bloods signed by GP etc, He hadn’t written an actual letter – Unreal!

Why take it out on the patient? A simple request to GP to fax said letter would have done it. Apparently it seems I am entitled to these bloods with or without letter, it also appears that it is a rule she has made up herself – Disgusting.

Her manner is what got to me, when I asked incredulously was she refusing to take my bloods, she barked ‘Yes’ and then loudly ‘Next’ to the next person in the queue in an aggressive manner. Remember I had got out of bed with a fever to get there and paid for a taxi so as not to walk in wind and rain with a chest infection – Jeez, what is wrong with these people You know?!
Now I wont get blood test results until next week, by which time I will be due for more!

Some people say we shoukdn’t feel ‘entitled ‘ to NHS care, I disagree. We, the public, have paid into the NHS out of our wages for years! Free at point if entry is what it’s supposed to be and until that changes, that should be what it is!
Fuming. If anyone is reading this from the south of England, I bet you know just which hospital I am talking about. I will go through the correct complaints procedures, but will not hold back on naming and shaming one way or another.

LG xxx

The secret to finding a good Hep GP is to look for a gay HIV expert.

Others are 'Gastroenterology'. I'm taking a guess here based on my own limited experience
but I think that the Infectious Diseases departments might be better with bloods and also at
dealing with the stigma attached to HIV and HCV.
So possibly a less harrowing experience. Worth a try anyway.
dt


You were spot on here DT. Can’t write too much, just thought I’d let you know

Yes, it is a relief, I don’t know how strong you can keep being when these things keep happening though, you know? especially when you’re feeling ill.

There are patients advocates around within hospitals, my one (as I call him) is very pro-active on behalf of patients, but as he says, he is just following the code of conduct.

I also thought about others DT as when I was first diagnosed I was a weepy, fragile and helpless one and didn’t know how to address things, it’s amazing what I have learned throughtout all this, much on forums, so I feel it’s good to share these experiences for others to read. I said I wanted to help others by becoming an advocate when I was better and was told ‘you already are’. It is true that you have to really fight your corner as a patient in many hospitals these days it seems, whereas other hospitals have patient centred care at their heart. It is not by accident though, there is usually a medic at the heart if that working hard to ensure this happens, I hsve seen the excellent results of this in another hospital and always respond with a positive review if I’ve had good treatment, I think this is important and something we can all do easily online. Just as important, or rather more, is raising concerns with PALS, how can things improve if you don’t report them? I hsd never heard if PALS until the diabolical treatment I have experienced sinced I was diagnosed with HepC, I bet it’s right up there at the top of complaints in the UK, sadly. The PALS lady was very nice and I didn’t find it stressful at all. Patients need to know PALS exists, that info needs to be made very available and info in all waiting rooms clearly in view.

Yes, you need to be strong, I ignored it all weekend as I didn’t want my BP to go up, I didn’t feel strong at all when that jobsworth treated me like she did in her little world of powertripping, just upset, tearful and exhausted by it. I think there is a patient advocate in most hospitals, patients should be told how to seek them out.

(edit) The other thing I ‘ve learned, is it’s helpful to lear some ‘medic speak’ – A few handy phrases from the code of conduct can go a long way .