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Properly and effectively managing diabetes

Posted By Tar21

"Properly and effectively managing diabetes"

About: General practices in Lothian

(as a service user),

I am type 2 diabetic amongst other medical conditions. I have been on several medications daily for many years. 

There is continuous rise in my Hb1Ac levels, despite daily use of medication. I believe, as soon as lab reports of samples taken in February arrived back in the practice, the doctor responsible for my diabetes, should have changed my diabetes prescription. It did not happen.  

I wrote to the doctor in my GP practice requesting advice on my diabetes and provision of my most recent laboratory report results amongst others. I did not get a reply from the concerned doctor. I managed to get my lab results from My Diabetes My Way.

On finding out continuous increase in my Hb1Ac level, I got extremely worried. As there been no reply to my request from the doctor, therefore I decided to consult two consultant doctors over phone messages. One from another NHS area in Scotland and another from abroad. I provided them details of my lab results as well as medication. They recommended an additional medication to try and see how effective is this medicine and to continue with some of the others. In June 2021, I wrote this to my GP, requesting prescription of this medication, to see how effective is this.  And specifically mentioning who recommended this medicine.

A few days later I again phoned my GP practice reminding of my request of prescription. Receptionist told me they would notify of this to the Dr. In the evening I checked up with the pharmacy and I was informed of my current prescription. The doctor not only issued reduced dosage of prescription already in use, but opposite of requested prescription, while the Hb1Ac levels have increased over time. Moreover, it is pertinent to mention, the GP practice did not arrange my blood and urine tests examination between late 2019 and 2021. The tests were only possible and arranged after I reminded the practice in writing.

In these circumstances, I want to know who to seek help from, for effective, proper and timely management and care of my diabetes.  More importantly until my prescription is correct, my diabetic condition is likely to deteriorate further. These circumstances are stressing me a lot and I am feeling helpless and devastated. When my GP and others concerned will stand out to help the patient?

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Responses

Response from Jeannette Morrison, Head of Patient Experience, NHS Lothian 2 years ago
Jeannette Morrison
Head of Patient Experience,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 08/07/2021 at 14:48
Published on Care Opinion at 14:48

Dear Tar21

Thank you for getting in touch with us via Care Opinion and please accept my apologies for the delay with my response. I am sorry to read of your difficulties.

Please can l ask that you get in touch with your GP Practice as they are the co-ordinators your healthcar and any prescritpions that you may need. I am sure that the Practice Manager will want to hear your feedback and will try to assist.

If you would any support and assistance to do this, this is available via the Patient Advice and Support Service:

https://www.cas.org.uk/pass

T: 0800 917 2127

Kind regards

Jeannette

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Tar21 (a service user)

Dear Jeannette

Thanks for your response.

I did contact the doctor responsible as well as the practice manager of GP practice number of times, but instead I was kept without diabetes medicine. My health conditions deteriorated and consequently I was hospitalised. The consultant and their team were caring and professional. They looked after me during stay and provided me much needed prescription at the time of discharge and referred to other specialities as well. As obvious from the circumstances leading up to my hospitalisation, I feel that my health and safety was thus put in danger by the GP practice, therefore I was compelled to switch to another GP practice.

In these circumstances one wonders how the GP practice (in question) is continuing to be contracted by NHS Lothian when the community is not satisfied with the performance and behaviour of the GP practice. I believe this practice requires some bigger action than what Patient Advice and Support Service can offer to the patients/Public.

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