"Let down by treatment"

I had a consult with my Rheumatologist last week. To say I left said appointment in disbelief is one way to put it. It was put off to a bad start when I presented to the consultation room and there was another individual alongside the Rheumatologist sitting down also. On no occasion did the Rheumatologist introduce said individual to myself. In previous scenarios this would have been the case but this consultant failed to do so. I had to go out of my way to ask the individual their name and who they were. This was then followed by myself, again, having to ask said individual to leave the room for the duration of my appointment. This put me in an extremely uncomfortable situation which I should never have been put into in the 1st place if the consultant would have done their job right. All at the fault of the doctor whom sat staring at their computer with what I feel was a demeaning snigger. I don’t have to explain why I don’t want another trainee or individual in the consultation room to anyone, however the Consultant should have asked myself for permission prior to beginning the consult. If anything, it is good practice. To add, this is actually noted on my file, which they would have noticed if they would’ve took adequate time to read over my medical notes.

I suffer from multiple chronic illnesses and have been experiencing a flare up of existing symptoms, but also have produced new symptoms in recent months. Long story short, back & forth to my GP, multiple tests done, I urged for my GP to get in contact with my rheumatologist as I had not seen them in some time and over increasing concern over new issues. I went into the consultation, raised my issues, made the consultant aware. However, yet again, I feel I was let down by the medical system of the NHS. I feel that the NHS, consultants and this rheumatologist in particular, do not strive to get to the root cause of one’s issues/symptoms. They are in no way or form capable of treating a whole body disease on their own, in my opinion.

I think the services & treatment are in dire states. I don't think they are ever going to improve for patients, especially those suffering from chronic, invisible illnesses. Consultants, especially in Altnagelvin alone, are too quick to direct said patients to another department. Dare I use the term specialty, as I believe consultants in this country are definitely lacking in their own areas. During the consultation, the Doctor in question, when referring to a particular organ which I have been having issues with, their answer was that it was not their area of specialty and that I would need to see an Endocrinologist.

The main chronic Illness which I suffer from is a systemic inflammatory  full body disease, hence the said organ can obviously be impacted by said disease. However the consultant never looked at my new symptoms as a bigger picture, as a whole. They just immediately thought that’s not my department and fobbed me off to another specialist. This is the issue with consultants in this country, in my view. I don't think they strive to improve a patient's symptoms, let alone quality of life. They fail to take the bigger picture into account. It is their responsibility.

It felt to me as though the consultant simply did not want to be bothered looking into my symptoms any further and decided to fob me off yet again, not taking into account how this could impact my ongoing health issues - eg putting me onto another lengthy waiting list and letting my condition and symptoms deteriorate in the interim. After reiterating numerous times during the appointment, the consultant said I need to go back to my GP and get them to refer me to Endocrinology. Again, I’m sure the vicious circle is apparent - GP referred myself to rheumatology, rheumatology advised go back to GP when questioned will they send of the referral.

I voiced my concerns over the consultant being in a higher position than the GP but the response remained the same. It feels to me as though consultants nowadays want to do the bare minimum in this country, they take the easiest way out. They don’t cater for patients' needs at all. They simply offer medication/refer to another dept and wash their hands of them. An electronic referral to endocrinology from said rheumatologist would have only took a few minutes, simple as. Yet the same consultant in question reassured me at the end of the consult that they would refer myself to numerous physio departments and imaging depts. What was the difference when it came to a CCG referral to endocrinology? Astounded is one way to put it.

Also, during discussion, the rheumatologist, when prompted, stated that they would not be mentioning my new ongoing symptoms on the letter to my GP solely because again it wasn’t their area of specialty. I couldn’t get over this and still can’t. Again, back to having a chronic whole body disease and the consultant thinks it’s in good practice to leave out valuable medical information completely relevant to my ongoing medical needs. All because it’s not their area of specialty. Flabbergasted. Simple as, I believe the consultant in question should not be practicing as a Rheumatologist. It is very clear to me that they need adequate training within this department and in regards to Chronic Full body diseases. Complete gaslighter, in my opinion.