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"My experience with Laureston Place, Dermatology Dept"

About: Lauriston Building

(as the patient),

 I went to my Doctor regarding a growth on the back of my leg in the summer of 2016.  I received a letter asking me to call dermatology to arrange an appointment, this was Novemebr 2016.  On finally getting through to the number given I was told that if I went to Laureston Place, Edinburgh I would be seen in February 2017 but if I wanted to go to my local hospital I wouldn't be seen until the July.  For the sake of expediency I went to LP in February.  This was on a Sunday and the place was deserted.  I saw a dermatologist immediately who instructed the nurses to take a biopsy of the leg.  I was told the results would be sent to my Doctor in six to eight weeks and I could telephone LP for the results.  

This I did, I rang my doctor's surgery and also LP once a week.  I was consistently told the results were not there, the doctor was a locum, they were very busy etc etc.   In July after a conversation with the secretary I was told it is nothing to worry about if they had found anything you would have been contacted as a matter of urgency.   In August I saw my doctor on another matter and mentioned that as the results appear to have been lost I should be referred again. They looked up my records and found the report, the top of which it said in bright red lettering "needs urgent attention" or a similar phrase.  My doctor asked if anyone had contacted me regarding this and they would chase it up.

I received an appt for November 2017 and was seen by a Professor, nothing new was done at that appt they just confirmed the leg mark needed to be removed but noted also a small lump in my brow and said they would ask that whilst having the procedure on the leg I should have a biopsy on the my eyebrow.

In February 2018 I received an apt, 13 months after the leg biopsy.  I duly had the lump on leg removed and biopsy done on my eyebrow. I was told I would receive a report on the leg and the brow in due course.  Despite got in through the phone calls each week nothing happen until August 2018 when I requested copies of all reports from my doctor's surgery and received the Professor's report dated early May 2018. 
It was very ambiguous in that it says Histology of the leg lesion showed BCC , with complete excision and similarly the lesion on the right eyebrow showed BCC, with a biopsy specimen, to see if further treatment necessary.   In view that this is not a lesion, review has been arranged to check on the need for further treatment, if necessary. I asked if further treatment is required, they said yes an appointment would be made.

My question is, this is deja vue, does lightening really strike twice.  The second biopsy report was lost until I saw it in August and probably I will have to keep calling LP to get another appointment and probably will finally have it removed after a year or so has elapsed since the biopsy.  When you are informed it is skin cancer you want it removed as soon as possible.

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Responses

Response from Jeannette Morrison, Head of Patient Experience, NHS Lothian 5 years ago
Jeannette Morrison
Head of Patient Experience,
NHS Lothian
Submitted on 04/09/2018 at 14:49
Published on Care Opinion on 05/09/2018 at 09:09


Good afternoon,

I was very concerned to read of your feedback and please can l apologise for your experiences.

I have shared your feedback with the senior management team who were disappointed to read what happened. I would like to look into this for you and wonder if you can please contact the Patient Experience Team:

Email: feedback@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Tel: 0131 536 3370

Kind regards

Jeannette

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