I have had one hell of a day,I had to tell you about it because it is beyond belief.

Today I had my appointment for my implant at the clinic.I was dreading it as it's not a nice procedure and the last time they were running nearly 2 hours late,when I finally got into the treatment room they told me they didn't have the implant I had to have a prescription ,pick it up from another hospital then go back in a weeks time.Then sit there a further 1 and a half hours(they are always late)only to be subjected to being cut open,implanted and sewn up with paper stitches.

Anyway, the last time they said they would make sure they had the implant ready and waiting fof me for this appointment.Fine,you may think. Nope,yesterday I had a message on my phone,it said, did I have my implant ready for appointment today,Mmmmm "no", they said not to worry and that they had another patients implant and could use that.

So,today I get to the hospital,sit there for 1 and a half hours and then get called through to the treatment room to be told no implant.I was furious,I said,"this is ridiculous,I was told yesterday that you could use another patient's implant,so why are you not going to use it ?",they said "well that implant belongs to Mrs ***** and it isn't for you so we cant use it",I was gobsmacked,they had actually said this womens name and she was one of my clients,seriously,I couldn't believe it.They said her first name as well each time so there was no doubt who it was.

Then the Dr went on to say how he had it in his notes that he had discharged me 6 months ago,WTF,why would they have called me yesterday if I had been discharged?

Anyway,this point I am really upset,I tell them that I am not going anywhere until I have my implant and that it's incompetence,why should I have to get a prescription again,then have to come back to clinic for the whole scenario again and why is this other patients implant in the fridge waiting for her when her appointment wasn't until May?(they told me that earlier)

Then this patients name was repeated, at this point I explode and tell them both that this is one of my clients and how unethical they are both being in telling me her name.Well....the nurse's eyes fill up with tears and she tells me that she was only trying to help me.

I didn't get my implant and the stupid Dr told me that I was perfectly entitled to complain as I was a tax payer.It was like talking to a brick wall.I have got to pick prescription up,then go back next week.The nurse said sorry about a hundred times and has promised to look into why I had no implant yet again.

I wont tell my client that I know about her implant because I wouldn't want to embarass her.I just feel like not bothering but I need it.Sorry to moan but need to get it off my chest.

I dont know what your implant is for and i wouldnt expect you to tell me but in answer to your post this is appauling behaviour from a doctor, the nurse i can understand a little as she is just doing what the doctor expects from her but the doctor should definatly know better and as he said you can complain i would call his bluff and report his unethical ass, he obviously dosnt expect you to do this but i would especially as this isnt the first time you have experienced problems with the hospital, good luck hun

Thankyou,the nurse was mortified when I told her this lady was my client,the whole thing was beyond belief and the Dr didn't seem to understand why I was so upset.Mmmm,several reasons!!!!

Its not a nice implant and has to be pushed quite deeply inside of my tummy.I get really anxious in the run up to the appointments,which are every six months.

When I was at reception the receptionist said next week you may have a different Dr, I said "well I hope I do cause this one certainly dosn't know what he's doing",one of the patients sat there said," I said the same thing about him".

He stood there in that room and told me he didn't know why this other patient could have her implants waiting for her but I couldn't.Well he should know.

Was Sid James running around too??

wtf? How awful for you... I would be fuming aswell xxx

You get that complaint in hun, its bad enough having a procedure done in hospital and its the doctors job to make us feel at ease but how could anybody feel at ease and comforted by someone like this

Just wanted to send you a .

Teri x

Thankyou all for your comments,not sure what I am going to do at the mo,just like a complete nightmare fromstart to finish and cant believe I have to go back next week again, xx

I too used to have this done - in my case every 5 months and I agree the deep insertion is far from pleasant. I had this done for 10 years but have now switched to tablet form as I had had enough.
Have you considered this ?

I cannot believe what they are putting your through.

Maybe in the letter of complaint or next time you speak to the dr and nurse, you should subtly drop in the Data Protection Act.
Breaking confidential information in this act is a SERIOUS offence and frowned upon by a judge.

Hopefully then they will start to treat you a bit better knowing you mean business.
I'm sure your client wouldnt be happy that you know.. mayb you should tell the Dr that you mentioned it and she is filing a case.

Anyway, sounds horrendous what they have put you through.

Dont let them get away with it, otherwise they will think they can treat people how they want, yet they do have a duty of care towards their patients that they should be upholding.

Good luck with the next appointment and hopefully you DO make a complaint. xxx

Sorry to hear you had such a bad time and I hope it gets sorted out

I'm horrified at such incompetence and unprofessionalism, breach of ethics regarding doctor/patient confidentiality.

Place a formal complaint as high as you can go AND find another doctor. This one is downright ridiculous, as is his staff. No offense, but last I checked, nurses are supposed to keep track of things for doctors and make sure files and whatever is needed are on hand...
Much like secretaries/admin assistants need to keep things running smoothly for businessmen.

ugh

I dont have a clue what implant we are discussing, don't need to know.
I just feel for you and sympathize as dr visits and personal problems are stressful enough, without adding all that other insanity to it.

GIANT HUGS

Honestly Babs, I was reading this. Of course my first impulsive, irrational and unprofessional reaction would be to let your client know that her details had been unethically disclosed! However, in reallity this would be wrong but your story really does beggar belief!

I am trying hard here not to get on my high horse about the incompetencies of the NHS. Been there, done that! I could write a book!

This sounds like something which should be reported to the practice manager first. Follow the correct channels of complaint. Ask your surgery for a copy of the complaints procedure and take it from there. More DOES need to be done with the way patients are handled and dealt with. Unless you make a formal complaint, the 'I don't give a damn' attitude is allowed to continue and standards go from bad to worse.

Okay, I'm down from my pulpit now.

Hi Babs

Firstly, so sorry that you've had such an awful day.

I had to have a similar procedure a couple of years ago. Its not a pleasant thing to have to go through, and this has only made it more stressful.

I worked for the NHS for a few years as a PA, and to be perfectly honest, the breach of patient confidentially is a very serious offence.

You would be well within your rights to put in an official complaint.

Your client is lucky that it is you they disclosed the information to and that you are a decent enough person, not to gossip her personal information around.