"failed my autistic friend with autoimmune…"

My autistic friend has a form of arthritis which causes severe & constant back pain, but s/he's been failed by this practice. Even though s/he'd voluntarily stopped opioids & opted for less effective meds over last 10 years, s/he was repeatedly rebuffed & under-medicated, treated like a hypochondriac / drug seeker, & made totally dependent on individual doctors on individual days, with their every-visit every-call interrogations & condescending basic advice. It caused great distress and anxiety, & highlighted a shocking lack of compassion and understanding by this practice, of both autism, & the level of grinding constant pain my friend endures daily.

My friend's condition deteriorated, but it took months, repeated appointments (and a friend to advocate strongly) to get a referral to see a specialist then MRI - which revealed a herniated disc pressing constantly on a nerve. A year & half later, finally, a letter arrived, showing a referral for neurosurgeon. But the appointment didn't materialise. But the practice never told him this, or why. We chased it up, calling the number given on the letter. Soon, an angry sounding doctor called to chastise my friend about calling the neurosurgeon (as was instructed on the letter). Still no explanation.

S/he became suicidal (again) due to the severity & constancy of pain, the careless "care", and the lack of hope, and is still alive *only* due to friend & family care & intervention, and an out of area visit to A&E.

Now moved to a different practice, county, system. 2 weeks later & the medication has been reviewed & improved. s/he's been to see physio, a mental health practitioner, & s/he's having various tests. s/he is also being referred to a new rheumatologist & a neurosurgeon.

I wrote this review in the hope it makes you think twice before considering registering at this practice! it may even save your life.