"Lack of care & compassion and being treated as a person"

I presented to my GP as a thyroid sufferer of old with lots of new symptoms. Very tearful, distressed and low but absolutely not depressed. More deflated and not caring about anything inside or around me.

Bloods were done and when I called the GP for results I was told by the reception team I had high FSH and I was peri-menopausal. On searching the web I was horrified to learn all alone I was going through a very early menopause and having a child was now an impossible endeavour. Working in an open plan office and being told this so bluntly was horrifying and feels callous.

I was called back to “come and see the GP”, given how upset I was.

I was told very abrasively I had high FSH, early menopause and fertility was basically gone. Oh and to basically go to Holland and Barrett’s and buy something for the symptoms. I was ‘kindly’ shown the web pages which made me beyond disgusted. Interestingly if I did buy my own it would keep their costs down.

I called back the next day asking to see a specialist – I had to see another doctor GP but felt I had to push and demand this onward referral.

I have never been treated so badly by a GP surgery ever, needless to say I have moved surgery.

This previous GP practice were not patient focussed, not interested in designing services to meet individual needs, not prepared to understand how patients feel and I fear are geared to maximise their funding in any way possible.

The story ends well, Russell’s Hall helped me and treated me and I now have my life back, and I was supported with the distress my health issues created.

To the previous practice I say shame on you, Primum non nocere (Firstly do no harm).