"Uncaring"

I have been registered with Overton Park for 14 years and previously had good care but recently had no support whatsoever. I have several serious health conditions including stage 4 cancer but in 2018 I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency and needed a five day loading course of B12 injections and needed them every 3 months for life. However, during 2020 they were replaced by tablet form due to Covid and because of this my deficiency has gradually worsened during 2020/21. I developed a full range of serious symptoms but I was still not offered any injections, in fact I was told I needed another B12 blood test. This is absolutely refuted by the B12 society who state this is not required once diagnosed and you cannot have an accurate result if already taking B12 supplements. Unsurprisingly, the result came back normal and all my worsening symptoms were totally disregarded. I then found myself in a situation where I had to pay for them privately at £40/£30 an injection. The British Society for Haematology stated patients with a deficiency should have the shortage possible break from injections during the pandemic, however a GP from this surgery advised me tablet form was adequate even with my worsening symptoms. Subsequently my condition deteriorated and I was also hospitalised with excruciating muscle pain and low oxygen levels. I now self inject (advice from the B12 society) as I needed loading doses due to my severe symptoms. On calling to speak to a doctor regarding conjunctivitis I was asked if I was well in myself, when I replied no, I have severe B12 deficiency and explained all my symptoms, a dry cough for 12 weeks, breathlessness, sore tongue, dry mouth, (I can presently only eat soup), fatigue, indented finger nails, she said nothing and showed no concern whatsoever, just advising me on the eye drops. In fact I’ve had more support from a private clinic who bothered to message me asking how I was, they actually saw me in clinic looking ill. No one at Overton Park had bothered to examine me, although their phlebotomist was so concerned by my pale pallor and breathlessness she spoke to a doctor, but I was still refused injections. On eventually speaking to a doctor, he advised me to contact him in 11 weeks for an injection but to continue paying privately for them, saying some people need them more than others and you are obviously one of them. However no loading doses have ever been offered to me. It’s seems this practise needs full training on dealing with patients with B12 deficiency and the serious consequences and often permanent neurological damage caused by a lack of treatment. I have been informed surgeries have misinterpreted the new advice from the Gloucestershire Commissioning Group but also note a full review of this is being undertaken by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence. The receptionists here are also often rude and dismissive and suggest full training in all areas of customer care is needed at his surgery.