"Not offered full care"

I attended Stobhill through an NHS appointment back in February for an ultrasound scan - the Nurse Practitioner who pushed for it recommended an external and transvaginal scan to try and chase the cause of close to a year of periodic pelvic pain. I had waited 6 months for this through the NHS. The hospital was nice, clean, clear directions. I found my way up to the ultrasound department where I was taken back and the usual questions for women where asked. Any chance of pregnancy? Sexually active? The usual stuff. The staff was lovely. Once I left, I realised the internal scan had never been done wondered why that had been the case - that was on my papers right?

Turns out it was on my papers specifically. After researching the policies related to transvaginal standards through BMUS and various articles of similar matters across the UK - I realised I had been sent to a facility that cares more for the state of my hymen then a full offering of care. I called the hospital department and was told that it was a hospital policy - they never told me that while I was there. I had to call back and chase why this felt half done. My GP had the results unusually quickly and I'll spare you the details of the testing I had through them afterwards, but I made a decision once my temper cooled and the samples were in the mail. I went to a private ultrasound clinic the following month - fully prepared to lie about myself and discovered that the story I had cooked up was not needed. I was treated like a person trying to get to the bottom of a problem. I was treated like a consenting adult and handed a necessary piece of the puzzle I needed to push for a diagnosis I had long suspected, but never had investigated previously due to a lack of opportunity.

I'm not angry about this anymore - I'm writing this to speak up about what is apparently a matter of policy for this institution. It seems that Stobhill does not perform internal ultrasounds on women who are not sexually active - I'm over 30 years of age at this point (if the membrane is still there I'll be shocked) and have had multiple smear tests that I found far more traumatising then the internal scan I had to pay money for. The most traumatic part of that was parting with my money, other people in my situation may not have that privilege to purchase peace of mind. The fact that the hospital cared more for the unicorn state of my hymen tells me volumes and I believe should tell others the same.