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Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS) for overactive bladder

Posted By toughluck

"Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS) for overactive bladder"

About: GPs in Fareham and Gosport Southmead Hospital / Urology

(as the patient),

Had an SNS permanent implant at Bristol Royal Infirmary in 2011.  BRI acted in partnership with North Bristol Trust - Southmead Hospital. In late. 2015 I learned at Southmead Hospital that the SNS had never been programmed.  In 2015 Southmead programmed the SNS and it started to be effective. Programming SNS is an ongoing process to achieve optimal effect. 

This assessment and reprogramming process was working and progress was being made.  A Consultant Urologist then discharged me but did not tell me they had done this. I made a formal complaint, requesting that the programming should resume. My complaint remains unresolved. A Senior manager - not medically trained - has written to my GP and this letter contains my private medical information, some of which is inaccurate. This has affected my relationship with my GP.

One GP, and the Practice Manager have stated that further treatment at Southmead would be 'inappropriate' or 'a conflict of interest' as I had made a complaint to Southmead. Such statements are contrary to the NHS Constitution (page 10).

Currently there is no prospect that the treatment I need will be forthcoming.

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Responses

Response from Sue Needs, Deputy Advice and Complaints Team Manager, North Bristol NHS Trust 5 years ago
Sue Needs
Deputy Advice and Complaints Team Manager,
North Bristol NHS Trust

Submitted on 27/09/2018 at 08:56
Published on Care Opinion at 09:46

Dear Patient,

We are very sorry to hear that you are dissatisfied with your care and treatment at Southmead Hospital, and that you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint from the North Bristol Trust. The NHS Complaints Process does recognise that on occasions Trust’s are not able to resolve a patient’s concerns at local level, and that is why there is an option for all complainants when local resolution has been completed and failed to satisfy a complainant, that complainant's can take their concerns to the next stage of the NHS Complaints Process which is to contact the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can carry out independent investigations into complaints about poor treatment or service provided through the NHS in England. The Ombudsman’s services are free and the office can be contacted either by telephone on 0345 015 4033, www.ombudsman.org.uk/making-complaint, or in writing to The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP. If you have issues that require investigation about your GP Practice, you can contact NHS England who manage the GP services. NHS England can be contacted 0300 3 11 22 33 or you can email them at: england.contactus@nhs.net. Once again we are sorry we have not been able to resolve your concerns. Yours sincerely, Sue Needs, Deputy Advice & Complaints Team Manager.

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Update posted by toughluck (the patient)

One would hope that NBT would have an understanding of the limitations of the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman but apparently not. Or, is it that NBT never sort to understand what I was/still am asking for. Various aspects of NBT's conduct/actions are still under investigation by the appropriate authorities up to ministerial level before my consideration for the instigation of legal action.

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