...

After all the problems getting the request form for the 3 monthly PSA test and telephone monitoring, the Pinderfields consultant said it was the fault of the consultant at Jimmy's in Leeds for not copying him into the letter circulation.  He assured me it had all been fixed back in April after loads of hassle.  A few days later and the form comes together with a telephone follow up appointment.  Excellent.

The test is done, the appointment is carried out and all is good.  3 months till the next one.

I am now overdue a PSA test.  Form and appointment letter should have been here before September.  No sign.  Here we go again.

I kick off and the consultant calls me.  He refuses to say why I have not been sent the form and appointment.  I press him again and again.  He tells me patients should take more responsibility for their treatment.  So its my fault then?  Am I not taking responsibility by phoning now asking for the bloody form?  The conversation deteriorated to the point where I wanted his full name to report him to the GMC.

Suddenly he switched tack and said a trainee had cancelled all telephone follow up appointments which also cancelled all request forms.  Can you believe it?  But the trainee cancelled them all in August (cancellation letter) and you never knew?  No, but I have just discovered this and it has been put right.  So, had I not phoned, you know, taking responsibility for my treatment, you would never have found out?  No.  And no other patient has called asking the same?  No.  (Unbelievable nonsense)  So what about supervision of the trainee?  How can he/she do this and no one notice?  I'm looking into it.  Did it not occur to the telephone follow up nurse there might just be something wrong as ALL her appointments had been cancelled for more than 6 weeks and she would have nothing to do all day?  Since August?  I can't answer that.  I have sent out the form and the appointment has been reinstated for the 2nd October so I've sorted it for you.  Am I the only patient who has these problems with you?  Yes.

Words fail me.....

Bollinge my dear chap.  My GP is in North Kirklees Care Commissioning Group where they don't spend money on patients, rather they give themselves pay rises.  The GP will not authorise the PSA test without the form because he will not get paid.  Its all about the money, not care. 

As for "taking responsibility for my treatment", I have been attending Cancer Forums, meetings and giving talks to patients and health professionals alike plus letters and calls to The Care Quality Commission, The Ombudsman and the local paper to try and get improved care for prostate cancer patients in this area.  As Healthwatch Wakefield said today, "No one has taken more responsibility than you for your treatment" 

@ Lynn - on the ball as usual. 

John, or anybody that knows 

I see your mention of the EMIS application. I tried to get started but if your GP is not registered it doesn't appear to work. Do you know if its also possible to register it to your hospital so you can see your results ?

Thanks

Phil

Hi John,

I went on the EMIS website and it says my surgery is not registered. I was there at the surgery this morning getting my first prescription for Mirtazapine for depression (damned HT) and didn't think to ask - .

I will have to pop in and see if they are considering registering - i presume it costs them to do it ?

Ta,

Phil

Angry, can’t you nip with the form to a local chemist that does phlebotomy? We have a private nurse who will pop round your house for a tenner, take a sample and feed it into the NHS system.

She also runs a timed appointment clinic at the local church hall for a fiver.

Cheers, John