""Either you trust us or you don't""

I have previously given positive reviews for patient services at both Queen Charlotte's Hospital and Hammersmith IVF for my patient experiences between 2014-2016. However, my experience of Gynaecology services in the recent 6-8 months has seriously put me off using Imperial NHS Trust Gynaecology services in the future. Following a recurrence of uterine fibroids following my laporoscopic myomectomy at Queen Charlottes Hospital in January 2015, I had been forced to transfer consultants and invariably hospitals, for the treatment of my new fibroids because my former highly rated consultant at Queen Charlotte's Hospital was apparently on a "strict job plan" now concentrating upon Gynaecology Oncology only. As my previous surgical records were held at Imperial NHS Trust, I considered it to be in my patient interests to remain a patient with the Trust and saw an esteemed consultant widely known in the profession to be an expert in fibroids at St Mary's Hospital.

My scans from other London hospitals suggested that I may have submucous fibroid(s) and it was recommended by the new consultant that I underwent hysterscopic resection. When I enquired whether the esteemed consultant would be carrying out the procedure at my first appointment with them, they categorically said yes.

I arranged for a further appointment to see this consultant as I had questions about the procedure and was told two hours later that they were "out of London" and two Registrars were available to see me at that appointment. So I arranged for a further appointment to see the esteemed consultant. Again, there was an attempt by the esteemed consultant to delegate my appointment to a Registrar and I had to insist that I saw the esteemed consultant who I understood would be carrying out the procedure. When I attended Mary Stanford Ward for Day Surgery expecting to be greeted by the esteemed consultant, again, there had been a clear attempt to delegate my procedure to a Registrar. The esteemed consultant was fully aware that I had undergone egg freezing and was deeply concerned about preserving my fertility.

It is widely acknowledged within the gynaecology profession, that submucous fibroids must be removed by experienced surgeons in view of the high risk of damage to the uterine wall. When I insisted that the procedure be carried out by the esteemed consultant as agreed from the outset with them, they got irritated and treated me as a "problem patient" and blurted out "Either you trust us or you don't". I should point out that on the record I had waited some 8 months for this procedure at Imperial NHS Trust as the esteemed consultant only did fortnightly NHS appointments at St Mary's Hospital. They profoundly lacked sensitivity to the concerns of women undergoing invasive gynaecology procedures. I am a strong individual however this consultant managed to bring me close to tears by this stage and my admission was very stressful. I could not wait to leave the hospital. Never again.