I am a Veteran injured in Service, who receives/received acupuncture for my nerve damage,
For over a year I have heard rumours that acupuncture for chronic pain patients was being cancelled. I noticed sessions getting less and less and started querying it. I asked time and again, for confirmation that acupuncture for chronic patients was being stopped, so I could ask the Ministry of Defence at Norcross to fund it instead. Time and again, and in writing, I was told it was not being stopped. Therefore Norcross would not fund private treatment. I eventually asked one of the staff who does the acupuncture and was told quite clearly several months ago that it was being cancelled for chronic patients and we would all get a letter . I got a letter from stating that staff denied having said it was being cancelled. Good job I have the conversation recorded then, or I would think I had a really serious brain disorder and had started hearing things!
After months of pushing I finally got an appointment. On the day, after my treatment, I was informed, at full volume, in a busy reception area, by a receptionist, that I was to have no more appointments until the review. I feel that the medical staff, involved in my care, should have given me this information privately. Instead I was left embarrassed and quite angry. I feel this was a breach of privacy and a show of massive disrespect.Finally I had the meeting and at the end it was agreed that the acupuncture worked for me and my treatment was to continue .I have had one session since that agreement on my on going treatment.Yesterday, I received a letter, stating that acupuncture for chronic pain was being stopped and the next appointment would be the last.On phoning to ask for a meeting the member of staff I spoke to was rude, to the point of obnoxious, unhelpful and told me that I couldn't have a meeting. I was told that I would have to be re-referred by whoever referred me in the first place.Considering the letter itself states that a review can be asked for, even without the disgraceful attitude, these comments are unsupported.So not only have I been lied to , in writing, that the treatment wasnt being stopped for chronic patients, staff after telling me the truth lied about doing so, I have also been lied to when I was told my treatment would continue ( good job I took a witness with me) and now I am being lied to about having to be re-referred.On top of all of this, if a treatment is available on the NHS , they are supposed to supply said treatment to Veterans with a condition that benefits from it.So now, after having been lied to time and again, about a treatment that is available, and does help my condition, the treatment continues to be supplied , at my local hospital , but I am unable access it or have it paid for privately by Norcross.
"Unable to access pain management/acupuncture"
About: Crosshouse Hospital Crosshouse Hospital Kilmarnock KA2 0BE
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Update posted by again (a service user) 5 years ago