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Voice loss, being ignored

Posted By Fed up.

"Voice loss, being ignored"

About: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary / Ear, Nose & Throat / Audiology Dr Gray's Hospital / Ear, Nose & Throat General Practices in Grampian

(as the patient),

I have spent the majority of the last 2 years having lost my voice (not hoarse, it is barely a whisper). I have been trying and trying to get help with this and feel I have been completely ignored and actually been made to feel like I am a nuisance for wanting it sorted. 

My GP has sporadically done some bloods, felt my throat etc, then after my family getting involved they referred me to ears, nose and throat and SALT. 

By the time I actually was seen by ENT my voice had returned (I got about 8 weeks with a voice before it went again) so ENT said there was nothing they could do but they would leave it open so if my voice went again I could be seen without the huge wait.

When I did loose my voice again, I got back in touch and the woman from SALT who works alongside the ENT consultant has decided that ENT won’t see me because the speech therapy isn’t working so it must be caused by stress.

I contacted my GP to ask for some help with this, explaining how not having a voice is taking its toll on me and was very bluntly told they could do no more. I asked them for something to help with the ‘stress’ they are so sure is causing my issues and they won’t see me. I would like to add the only thing causing me stress is the fact I have no voice. It is affecting me socially, emotionally and mentally. It also has meant a lot of time off work. 

How can anybody say this is caused by stress when nobody has properly looked at my voice box, larynx, pharynx etc. 

Surely a Laryngoscopy when I have no voice is a standard diagnostic procedure? 

I have found the dismissal of me from my GP is shocking. Would they be able to continue normal life with no voice? 

I have gone along with everything they have suggested but I just feel so disheartened now. I’m actually considering the fact I might have to go private (at a huge, unaffordable expense) just so somebody will listen to me.

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Responses

Response from Kirsten Dickson, Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team, NHS Grampian about a year and a half ago
Kirsten Dickson
Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team,
NHS Grampian

Submitted on 11/12/2023 at 14:17
Published on Care Opinion at 14:17

picture of Kirsten Dickson

Hello Fed Up,

I’m so sorry to hear about the struggles you've been having with your voice. Having your ability to communicate verbally limited, must be so frustrating. Talking – whether chatting with friends, sharing information with colleagues or just for a good old vent - is so important for our mental health. It sounds like it’s not just your main way of communication that hasn’t working as it should be though.

I’m not linked to any of the services you have visited during your journey, I work in the Quality Improvement Team at NHS Grampian and have the job of making sure the feedback shared on Care Opinion reaches the teams it was intended for. Unfortunately, the GP Practices don’t have responding access on Care Opinion, in fact most of the GP Practices in Grampian are independently run and have their own complaints and feedback processes, and they won’t see this post with it being shared with them directly. I’m also responding because it sounds like you are stuck in limbo between the hospital and the GP and I’d like to try to get you some advice on what to do next (so you don't have to consider going private). In the meantime, some of my colleagues from the services you have tagged may respond and offer help too.

Would you mind getting in touch with me directly? I know this would mean breaking your anonymity, which you might not feel comfortable doing, so it’s completely up to you. I can be contacted on email: kirsten.dickson@nhs.scot or telephone / text: 07885720267

Take care,

Kirsten

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