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Communication has been incredibly poor

Posted By shen123

"Communication has been incredibly poor"

About: General Practices in Grampian

(as a service user),

I required bloods following some unpleasant symptoms which flagged up abnormal results which needed a repeat of blood tests. 

I received a letter from my GP, stating that all that was required following these results is a vitamin supplement, with no other indication that there was a problem. 

Separately, I had approached my GP with the belief I should be assessed for ADHD, this GP was very understanding & sent me a self assessment to complete. I had hoped that this could be the start on what will definitely be a long process should I be a candidate for further assessment. 

Having not heard anything, I decided to follow up. This GP was different from the one who sent the assessment. They told me this was up to the hospital. In the same phone call, they told me that my blood results were fine, and that the symptoms I had been experiencing were likely down to my medication. 

I hope my frustration and anger can be appreciated when I was met with a letter from ARI telling me to attend an ultrasound scan. Baffled, I called the GP. The receptionist was very kind, explaining it may be due to my symptoms that saw me needing bloods in the first place. However, to my dismay, after calling the GP, I was told my blood results were in fact abnormal and this was the reason why I needed the scan. 

I am getting increasingly fed up with the GPs who don’t listen, pass the buck, or just completely miss the mark on what should be basic communication. How on earth have I been told one day that my results are normal, then the next they are not?

I am meant to be able to turn to my GP when I am in need. I should not be questioning things or have to chase things up just to be told they will not help me. Nor should I have been told two completely two different things about results. 

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Responses

Response from Kirsten Dickson, Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team, NHS Grampian 7 months ago
Kirsten Dickson
Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team,
NHS Grampian

Submitted on 06/11/2024 at 17:32
Published on Care Opinion at 17:32

picture of Kirsten Dickson

Hi shen123,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at your GP Practice – albeit a very frustrating one. From the content of your message I can see why you are feeling fed up and in need of basic, and straight, information about your care. It’s good to read that the receptionist at the practice was kind when you spoke, but I understand this doesn't make the mixed inforamtion you received any less worrying.

I work within the Quality Improvement & Assurance team in NHS Grampian and part of my role is to make sure the stories that are shared with us via Care Opinion reach the intended teams. My responding is limited around this as most of the GP Practices in Grampian are independently run and aren’t registered to respond to feedback received via Care Opinion. They don’t routinely access the feedback either so the practice won’t see this without it going straight to them. The best option is to contact the practice and share your concerns with the practice manager directly. I understand this means revealing your identity and not everyone feels comfortable doing that, but it does mean they will be able to look into the details of your particular experience. They will also be able share with you any changes they make to improve care for future patients.

If you don’t feel comfortable getting in touch with the practice yourself I can forward your story to them anonymously. To do this I’d need you to share the practice name with me directly. I can be contacted on email: kirsten.dickson@nhs.scot or by text/phone: 07885720267. Any personal information that is shared with me when doing so, stays with me, and is not shared with the practice. Help is also available to share your concerns with the GP Practice from the Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS). PASS are an independent service offering free and confidential advice and they can be contacted on 0800 917 2127, or for more information please go to www.patientadvicescotland.org.uk.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,

Kirsten

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