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Trying to process how on earth this could have happened

Posted By TweeterCal

"Trying to process how on earth this could have happened"

About: General practices in Lothian Western General Hospital / Rheumatology

(as a service user),

In September 2024 I received a phone call from my GP's Surgery. Unexpected, but as I had recently had extra bloods taken for Kidney Issues, I promptly answered.

What followed was a brief discussion with a staff member at the GP surgery, who told me that over nine years, I had taken around 6.600 pills that I should not have taken.

Let me repeat, SIX THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED pills.

So I stopped taking the offending pills immediately. I also thanked them profusely for this call - it wasn't their fault and I appreciate it wasn't an easy phone call to make.

A week later, I am still trying to process how on earth this could have happened.

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Responses

Response from Claire Palmer, Associate Nurse Director, Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian 7 months ago
Claire Palmer
Associate Nurse Director, Western General Hospital,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 27/09/2024 at 12:10
Published on Care Opinion at 12:12

Dear TweeterCal,

Thank you for getting in touch.

I am sorry to hear about what has happened. It would be good to understand this in more detail so that learning can be identified and shared.

If you would like to discuss this further please contact our patient experience team,

feedback@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk.

Kind regards

Claire

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

Update posted by TweeterCal (a service user)

I have been liaising with the patient experience team and two things have happened!

Now that I have submitted evidence of data that was previously investigated being false and misleading, I agreed to change my status as concerned patient into "complainer."

This means my concerns now get managed as a complaint rather than a concern.

The nuance here is important. I believe that there are outcomes that the system will try to achieve regardless of the evidence it faces.

This has been my experience in previous complaints about exactly the same evidence/data.

The difference this time was that I had a "Face to Face" consultation and was able to challenge the false narratives in person

The system fell apart and conceded that I had been correct all along.

Changes were implemented. Data deleted. My treatment improved beyond recognition.

My records are now more correct than they were previously.

Still to do:

Past medication errors to explain.

My treatment for nearly a decade thrown into question, treatment that had been investigated by professionals twice!

Ignored by the Ombudsman.

All the assessments and consultations where nobody checked my meds!

Data corrections to explain.

Robust procedures to defend.

I've had communication apologising about what has happened, and an assurance that they want to understand this in more detail so that learning can be identified and shared.

I look forward to seeing the learning that they identify and share.

Feedback is important.

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