"Horrible multiple experiences"

Today, I decided to share my personal experience with Wetmore Road Surgery again.

I’ve been living with multiple long-term health conditions for many years, and I’m also actively involved in the health matters of my family, friends, and clients.

I understand that posting this online won’t improve the level of care or change anything—but it might give me some mental relief.

I’ll start with one of the lighter situations I recently experienced. Unfortunately, I have many other, more serious incidents I’ll share in due time.

At the end of May 2024, my lumbar disc slipped again, causing intense pain, numbness in my leg, and leaving me unable to move from bed.

This wasn’t the first time, so I knew the only option was to lie flat on a firm surface, elevate my legs, take opioid painkillers and muscle relaxants like diazepam, and wait for the disc to realign.

I had all medications except diazepam, so I contacted the surgery to request a home visit.

A doctor arrived, but not one of my regular GPs—it was a locum “on duty” in Staffordshire, someone unfamiliar with my history.

As always, I had to explain my full medical background, which I find exhausting. The doctor prescribed diazepam and said I needed urgent referrals to both a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist.

That “urgent” referral was sent in May 2024. The occupational therapist finally visited me in January 2025—eight months later, long after the acute phase had passed.

During the visit, the occupational therapist (who was lovely and helpful) suggested acupuncture for my chronic pain caused by spinal arthritis, fibromyalgia, and neurological issues.

She was surprised I’d never been offered acupuncture, despite being under the pain management team several times over the past 10 years. She said the only thing she could do was refer me back to them and request the treatment.

The referral was sent in January 2025. I heard nothing until 5 March 2025, when I received a letter saying that if no one contacted me by 30 April, I should call.

I waited—but never heard from anyone. So I called today, 5 June 2025. I was told the pain clinic had contacted my GP on 7 March 2025 to inform them they do not offer acupuncture, and had asked my GP to get in touch with me to discuss other options.

Since March, I’ve spoken with my GP surgery multiple times—but they never mentioned this. I was never contacted about it, and because I wasn’t aware of the pain clinic’s response, I had no reason to ask.

This is just one honest and factual example of my experience with Wetmore Road Surgery.

Sadly, I have many similar situations that I’ll make public when I feel mentally ready.

I genuinely envy people who say they’re happy with the NHS and have had good experiences.

Unfortunately, I—and those closest to me—haven’t been that lucky.