Hospitals not sharing complaints to GMC against bad docs

I hadn't seen this but yes I would expect to know this information and many thanks for highlighting it.

Sadly given my own personal experiences along with my family's experiences of the NHS plus having many friends working in the NHS (there are so many issues from some vile uncaring nurses/staff to horrendous waiting lists for serious complaints to ambulances waiting for hours at A+E) - the NHS is just so broken that it doesn't function in any way expected of a developed country. So very sadly I have to admit that absolutely nothing shocks me any more :(. Indeed many of my non British friends (including my German Godmother) who live permanently in the UK - just go back to their home country for medical treatment such is their disillusionment with the NHS.

Ten years ago the same medic misdiagnosed my son 3 times. I believe if my son had been diagnosed sooner his treatment may not have been so severe.

I remember asking the consultant on the second occasion if there was a possibility it was anything more serious, he said no (and patted me on the shoulder :rolleyes:). It was another doctor who eventually established what was going on and took action.

I wanted to take it further and have the first doc reprimanded at least but was talked out of it by my in-laws (they are very much..."the doc knows best":rolleyes:). I so wish I had stood my ground and took it further. Not from a compensation point of view but the doc was working outwith his remit or knowledge and should have referred on.

I have since heard that people have had bad experiences with this man too..he was near retirement and the NHS was probably just waiting to put him out to pasture.

The thing is...how many bad docs are there out there (and nurses, physios etc)?

Is there NHS bodies covering for these problems in YOUR area?

Joy

Hi,

I totally empathise. We've had the same problem with my Mum when she was mis-diagnosed by the 1st specialist we saw. If we hadn't had a second opinion with a 2nd specialist where her medical issue was rectified then goodness knows what would have happened. I understand your horror of doctors and specialists making horrendous mistakes and obviously repeating them with other patients.

We had one incident with Mum (who has dementia) in that she was sent to have a test by one specialist. I wasn't sure what the test was for so when I took her to the hospital for the appointment - I asked the staff. When they told me what they were testing for I informed them that she'd had that organ removed 40 years previously - which shocked the life out of them. So either the specialist hadn't read or her notes or they were missing :mad:.

I totally agree the GMC need to be informed about complaints against a doctor. But you have to remember not all complaints are justified, Just because a complaint has been made does NOT mean it will be upheld.

Would you expect a complementary therapist to stop practicing just because ONE person had made a complaint when all the rest of his or her clients are happy?

If you want an example of how different patients can see things just look at the differing views of parents about the Leeds Children's cardiac unit. Some feel it is wonderful, others feel it is dreadful.

I totally agree the GMC need to be informed about complaints against a doctor. But you have to remember not all complaints are justified, Just because a complaint has been made does NOT mean it will be upheld.

Would you expect a complementary therapist to stop practicing just because ONE person had made a complaint when all the rest of his or her clients are happy?

If you want an example of how different patients can see things just look at the differing views of parents about the Leeds Children's cardiac unit. Some feel it is wonderful, others feel it is dreadful.

I suppose it depends on who treated them at the hospital.

I have seen poorly informed/educated relatives gratefully thanking nursing staff for the care of a relative not realising that the C.diff infection their relative contracted (which slowed recovery) whilst in there was a HAI. I remember being told myself that my elderly mother had "caught a wee infection" by a ward nurse (who didn't know I was a nurse) but when I queried what, it was C.diff and when I retorted that it was HA and a poor ward/staff contamination/hygiene issue she was mortified I knew so much.

My main concern is, that often in the medical/nursing etc profession if there are ****-ups they often are covered up. I once worked with a really bad staff nurse who had many complaints against him so they just moved him to another area. It is well known that the NMC are way behind disciplining poorly performing nurses.

This isn't about lack of resources but of what appears to be health boards brushing things under the carpet and when people are referred to a hospital they don't really get a say in WHO is treating them. At least in complementary therapy (hopefully) people will attend someone on word of mouth basis and if they don't like that therapist then they have the ability to take their business elsewhere and shop around. You don't get that option with the NHS.

Wouldn't you like to know that the person treating you was competent.

I would like to see a register that the general public could access which would include information about any disciplinary procedures against staff, when, remedial action such as further training etc.

I suppose it depends on who treated them at the hospital.

I have seen poorly informed/educated relatives gratefully thanking nursing staff for the care of a relative not realising that the C.diff infection their relative contracted (which slowed recovery) whilst in there was a HAI. I remember being told myself that my elderly mother had "caught a wee infection" by a ward nurse (who didn't know I was a nurse) but when I queried what, it was C.diff and when I retorted that it was HA and a poor ward/staff contamination/hygiene issue she was mortified I knew so much.

My main concern is, that often in the medical/nursing etc profession if there are ****-ups they often are covered up. I once worked with a really bad staff nurse who had many complaints against him so they just moved him to another area. It is well known that the NMC are way behind disciplining poorly performing nurses.

This isn't about lack of resources but of what appears to be health boards brushing things under the carpet and when people are referred to a hospital they don't really get a say in WHO is treating them. At least in complementary therapy (hopefully) people will attend someone on word of mouth basis and if they don't like that therapist then they have the ability to take their business elsewhere and shop around. You don't get that option with the NHS.

Wouldn't you like to know that the person treating you was competent.

I would like to see a register that the general public could access which would include information about any disciplinary procedures against staff, when, remedial action such as further training etc.

Too true. Poor therapists would eventually be dropped by clients - although if they get things wrong (even once) it can cause damage. I went to a sports therapist once who was recommended to me. Without going into details of the session where he did manipulation after manipulation of my joints (which should under no circumstances be done and in my case wasn't necessary anyway) I ended up in A+E afterwards suffering from shock.

I agree with a register listing info about medical staff. Unfortunately poor staff can ultimately cause someone's death - the repurcussions of someone unnecessarily losing their life is unquantifiable. Even someone's "attitude" can cause huge distress and some go into the medical profession not because they are caring people but because of other factors. When my Mum was in hospital a few years ago I caught a nurse (the ones dressed in bottle green - are they auxiliaries ? ) going down the ward with the staff nurse pointing to various elderly patients that she disliked saying "I hate that one, I hate that one etc"

I could believe that HG, I remember being inducted onto a ward by a staff nurse who was to be my junior and she was going round the patients telling me...he's a wheelchair, she's an eppy (has epilepsy). I stopped her and asked her what she meant, she seemed confused at what I meant:eek:

I could believe that HG, I remember being inducted onto a ward by a staff nurse who was to be my junior and she was going round the patients telling me...he's a wheelchair, she's an eppy (has epilepsy). I stopped her and asked her what she meant, she seemed confused at what I meant:eek:

The sad thing is is that these people undermine the profession as a whole and the majority of decent hard working staff. They really should be rooted out.