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New doctors that work in this GP

Story from nhs.uk

"New doctors that work in this GP"

About: Church Lane Surgery

I attended a visit specifically based on a reasonable request: based on my family medical history, I demanded to do a tumoral marker test. The doctor gave me different answers and excuses to not allow this test. The doctor insisted on blood tests which were not necessary as I already knew that I suffered from diabetes which is commonly known to be linked to the pancreas (the doctor stated that that was not the truth), the same organs on which a deadly cancer had developed, bring death to few familiars of mine(both from ny dad side which might indicate that something is not okay).Then, the doctor proceeded to change the reason on why I could not take this test as they said that the NHS does not cover it and that the only way for me to be able to have the test would be going to a private clinic. Set this problem aside, I asked for another test which I have had done in my country, every 2 years in order to monitor the condition of my stomach. I have a severe ulcer and gastritis which have been diagnosed through the endoscopy. I have been living in UK for 4 years, thus I never had one done yet. The doctor, again, responded that the blood test would be the one to tell. I am very dissapointed in the service. Extremely dissapointed.

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Responses

Response from Church Lane Surgery 6 years ago
Church Lane Surgery

Submitted on 30/11/2017 at 19:50
Published on nhs.uk on 20/03/2018 at 19:37

We are sorry to note this patient was unhappy with the outcome of his/her recent consultation with one of the new doctors in this surgery. As we do not know the identity of the patient or the doctor concerned, we can only reply in general terms.

Since the patient has lived in the UK for four years, I presume that he/she is from Europe or some other country. Medical practices vary from country to country. What is normal routine in one country need not be the norm in another country. As GPs we do whatever a patient needs and not what he wants. These are informed by evidence based guidelines. In a country where medical care is free, one has to be responsible in prescribing drugs or ordering investigations. GPs act as gatekeepers to NHS healthcare. Only when appropriate signs or symptoms are present, GPs start investigations. It starts off with basic ones including tumor markers for gastrointestinal cancer. Often cases with abnormal results are referred to the hospital for further investigations. Suspected cancers will be referred under a two week rule and get seen within two weeks. There is no routine screening for pancreatic cancer that is currently recommended for the general population. There are no tumor markers to diagnose pancreatic cancer as they lack specificity and sensitivity. One needs CT/MRI/Ultrasound scans. Some blood tests maybe used to monitor progress of a tumor.

One is free to request an investigation to be done privately for a fee. NHS does not offer a service where patients can demand a test to be done. GPs decide whether a test is appropriate and can order it, if available to GPs.

I am not sure whether this patient is taking any regular medication for ulcer/gastritis. It is not routine in the UK to have regular endoscopic review for uncomplicated ulcers or someone who is not on regular treatment for symptom control. Routine referrals to endoscopy also require preliminary blood tests and stool tests.

We are sorry that the NHS seemingly does not meet the standards he/she expects. I suggest this patient makes an appointment with one of the senior doctors so that his /her anxieties can be allayed and referred to the hospital for genetic testing if he/she meets the criteria for referral.

We thank this patient for raising his concerns so that other patients who do not know the system in the UK can understand it after reading our response.

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