"Unsatisfactory consultation"

I was referred to the gynaecology depart under the "two week rule" (I.e. Suspected cancer), with post menopausal bleeding.

The following is not the fault of the gynae depart but added to my wait and distress. I visited my GP with the bleeding and was told to come back in a week, instead of being referred immediately.

I was told that they were not allowed to refer me until they had sent off swabs. These were for thrush, bacterial vaginosis and chlamydia. I can hardly believe that testing for thrush comes before getting the referral underway for possible cancer.

I saw the GP on Thurs am and was given an appointment with the gynae depart on what I believed was the last appointment of the day on the Wed. afternoon in 2 weeks time. So as late as they could possibly get away with despite the fact that I had already waited a week of the recommended 2 wks because of the GP.

However, the GP's actions were not their fault

It took me over 15 minutes to get to the gynae department, walking through dirty corridors lined with used tissues and the like

The receptionist ignored me as I stood there waiting to announce myself.

I took my seat amongst all the pregnant women.

I was expecting a long wait but was called in relatively quickly.

I was told to empty my bladder as I was to have a transvaginal scan.

The toilet was dirty and smelly the seat falling off the toilet.

The sonographer pulled the curtain across whilst I got changed, thus shielding me from the other person in the room at the computer, but stayed in the room themself.

They were very nice though talking me through what they were seeing, which thankfully was not cancerous but simple cysts, fibroids and ?endometrioma. (Having suffered from this all my life) There was also another 'cyst' behind the fibroid which they could not see.

I then went into, what I was hoping was going to be the consultant. Not so.

They noted my nervousness and asked why this was!

They made a mistake writing down my history, which irritated me, but OK, it happens.

They then tried to print off the scan report but the printer did not work.

They then copied down a few words from the lengthy scan report.

I asked them something and they disappeared from the room a couple of times to ask the consultant.

I am grateful they at least had the humility to go and ask. (the last underling I saw up there refused to do so, thus I didn't get the endometrial biopsy test done that I was meant to have as they were too arrogant to ask the consultant to take over)

But, I feel that under the circumstances, it would not have hurt the consultant themself to come into the room instead of passing messages via their intern. The consultant clearly wasn't with a patient themself as my dr kept going in there. It was just rude, especially as my dr told me "the consultant says it's ok". Not to me they didn't. I got the feeling they weren't bothered about me and what I was going through at all. Every single time recently I have been to the RSCH I have had a bad experience.