I've been living through hell for months now and 8 months after GP referral (only a scan and consultant "forgot" to make a referral for crucial tests). Yesterday I had my consultation and it was a complete waste of time. He was not interested in hearing my symptoms (new and changed from original referral time), made no diagnosis, no timescales and his only plan is to make a referral for treatment which will not even try to address many of my symptoms (and I've been doing anyway for months).
He failed to request tests to provide a proper diagnosis or eliminate treatable major conditions instead commenting "you've probably had a virus" (despite those "viral" symptoms getting worse and worse).
I'm wondering, do I:
- Make a formal complaint about my treatment
- First request a 2nd opinion. The difficulty with a 2nd opinion is that the consultant is senior in both hospitals in my range so the 2nd opinion would undoubtably be from a consultant below him in the same department (people he spends his coffee breaks with, has case reviews with, etc.) - so I'm wondering if a 2nd opinion would be a waste of time.
- Or do I write to the consultant, explaining my unhappiness and requesting a further consultation or discussion.
- Or do I endure, go through the motions of the path this consultant wants (kicking everything into the longs grass), wait for my next consultation and then tell him how I feel.
- Or any other options to consider?
But reality is I have so low regard for the consultant, so little trust in his abilities that if he prescribed any invasive or pharmaceutical treatments then I'd likely not accept them purely on mistrust.
Note: This related to my local NHS consultant NOT any private consultants I am also receiving excellent care and treatment from (the private involvement is how I am very confident about crucial tests the NHS guy has not carried out).
Many thanks
Ian