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A terrible legacy to an amazing doctor

Posted By June106

"A terrible legacy to an amazing doctor"

About: Derriford Hospital / Clinical immunology

(as a carer),

One Doctor for over 2,500 patients (POTS and MCAS), stayed on after their wanted retirement date. Now the care of these patients is in the hands of the Devon Medical Care Group, who have had over 2 years to sort out a replacement service. Now there are patients are being discharged as not seen anyone in 2 years. The fact that no clinic has run seems to pass them by. Patients have still been treated / getting medication. It's a terrible legacy to an amazing Dr with years of experience. 

I'm expecting a letter for a family member any day now. We fear without medications they and other patients will end up as lost in the system, going to A&E for treatment as no other options. My family member needs surgery in the coming months. If they are too unwell with MCAS then the surgery will be cancelled, worsening their already poor health. There must be an option. GPs we have seen don't seem to understand the disease and won't prescribe and the hospital is discharging patients. 

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Responses

Response from Alison Stanton, Complaints and PALS Manager, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust 11 months ago
Alison Stanton
Complaints and PALS Manager,
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Submitted on 06/06/2024 at 10:40
Published on Care Opinion at 10:40

picture of Alison Stanton

Thank you for your comments.

Dr Sheridan explained that he is very aware of increasing numbers of concerned patients and relatives contacting us in relation to the PoTS service.

The source of concern is that our consultant is imminently fully retiring, and there will be no service for a period of time while we work through the case load, transitioning to an alternative provider (that will not be at UHP).

Dr Sheridan has therefore written a letter which can be shared with patients and families who have concerns about their ongoing care once our consultant retires.

A similar letter is also being sent directly to all patients on the waiting list to keep them informed, once we have clarity of who all the remaining patients on the final waiting list are.

The letter states:

Dear Patient

Many thanks for posting your comments on this site regarding your care in the postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) and autonomic dysfunction service provided by our consultant.

As you will be aware, he is retiring imminently, and we appreciate this is creating concerns, with uncertainty about the implications for your ongoing and future care. We are very sorry for any undue distress and anxiety this is causing. University Hospitals Plymouth will not be replacing the consultant’s existing service, so your future care will be different.

What is going to happen is that your family member's case will be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team, and we will explore whether their condition fulfils the criteria to be referred on to a new service provided by another hospital in Devon. If your family member's case meets these criteria, we will refer them on directly and notify them and their GP that this has been done.

If they are being prescribed medications by our consultant, ongoing prescribing for licenced medications should continue to be supported by their usual care provider (I.e. either their GP, or another specialist at UHP who may be overseeing a related other long-term condition). Their prescription will also be reviewed by an MDT and if further recommendations or alterations to their medications are required, we will advise them and their usual care provider of this as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding at this transitional time.

Dr David Sheridan BSc MB BS PhD FRCP

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by June106 (a carer)

Thank you for finally announcing what is going on. Just to clarify. You've known about his retirement for a few years. This was no surprise to you. This should have been planned for properly. It's a disgrace that patients should find out treatment plans off a website.

I suggest you review the way this was handled and learn from it for future communications with patients. Anxiety and worry are the least of what you have done to the patients.

When considering communications ask yourselves - if this was my relative or me, what would I like to know and when.

Thanks

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