"It is very hard to access care from my practice"

In January 2023 I first took sick with severe stomach problems. It took me several months to be taken seriously which ended up with me paying to go to a private doctor who advised me to go to the hospital. Whilst I was treated well in hospital and felt like they understood my issues, the aftercare is terrible.

Since I was discharged from hospital, nothing has improved and I still have not had any type of follow up in 7 months, even though I was referred for several tests and scans.

The care from my practice at Mullaghbawn has been poor throughout this year. They do not answer phones, I haven’t been able to see a doctor and it just made me feel completely hopeless. I still am not getting treated, and although I was able to see a doctor they were all giving me conflicting information, whilst my symptoms are getting worse. I eventually was referred back to a hospital in Craigavon, to be told by the doctor there is nothing wrong with me and to eat more fruit.

I feel Southern Trust do not care about me, my experiences or my mental health. Imagine being sick for going on 1 year, symptoms getting worse, having significant changes in your way of life because you are too uncomfortable to leave your house for prolonged periods of time to be told there is nothing wrong with you, when there clearly is.

Each day I have to ring to speak to a doctor at the practice, I have been making 50-60 calls over the space of an hour to be told that the list is full, call back tomorrow, and then I go through the exact same thing the following day. I feel zero empathy or understanding from the receptionists, it feels like they just want you off the phone. I find them  rude, condescending. I am blamed for not getting through to them quick enough.

The same receptionists don't ring you to give you test results, you have to ring them. But I have found the information they provide contradicts what the doctors say. Why would a receptionists with no medical experience be allowed to tell me my test results? This should be coming from a medical professional.

Southern Trust needs to take a look into the practices within Mullaghbawn and consider the lack of care the patients within this area are getting. I have had the most terrible experience the past year. It is unprofessional, unethical and someday someone is going to die from undiagnosed issues.