"Unhelpful"

Firstly, I want to say the receptionists are always very helpful.

There is no continuity of treatment. In September I phoned as I was in severe pain with Sciatica which came on at the beginning of August. i was sent to the local phamacist who sold me over the counter pain killers. I then collapsed in the local supermarket and had to be helped to my car.

I had an appointment with a doctor who did not examine me and prescribed co codomol. Two days later I returned because my thigh had gone into spasm and saw a medical assistant, having been told the doctor I saw previously had retired. I had seen her in the hall way so was surprised by this. During the medical assistant seeing me I mentioned that I was having incontinence issues and he went next door to ask her (!) about it. I heard her say ‘she’s exaggerating’ and when I firmly stated that I was not exaggerating he denied she had said it.

As a result of this non belief, non examination, and indifference I decided to go firstly to a chiropracter and then a physiotherapist, who both confirmed that I clearly had problems.

After two weeks I had a letter from Southmead hospital requesting a follow up appointment. I had never been before and poured out the whole story to the caller. She said she would have a word with the consultant to get me an appointment. I then had an appointment, an MRI and then a consultation, which confimed I had a bulging disk trapping a nerve at L4-5. Stronger painkillers were recommended and I was then recalled to the hospital to have a nerve block.

This was only marginally successful, as the consultant had thought in my case.

Then followed another appointment for my pre op for surgery, and another MRI. It transpires that additional to the trapped nerve it looks ad though I have S1 lumberisation. A date was

set for my op, but I was anaemic and it was suggested I return to my GP for iron treatment.

He refused and set up an endoscopy and gastroposcopy, which both returned clear.

Yesterday I phoned asking for the iron treatment to commence and i started yesterday

evening. Today Southmead phoned to ask the GP for a swab to be taken for MRSA as this had been missed at the pre op.

Whoever that GP was refused according to the nurse who phoned to ask me to go to the hospital. I asked her if she meant they were unable to do it and she repeated that no, they had refused to do it, i called the surgery and the lady there said there was so record of Southmead having called, which means whoever took the call did nor report it onto the system.

The GPs at this surgery (that I have met) are very dismissive and obstructive.