So I attended my first Patient Practice Group meeting. Not at all what I was expecting. I arrived with my new note book minus the Doug Ross picture which was probably a good thing. This was a serious grown up meeting. To the point I had to sign a disclosure not to discuss what went on; so don’t ask, can’t tell. I wasn’t laughed out of town or asked to change surgeries. However unfortunately I won’t be getting help here. Will I keep going? Probably not. Too much red tape. Very box ticking. Not the kind of environment open to change at the ground level. Disappointing not only for me but for the other patients that could do with system being tweaked slightly.
Where to go now to be able to make a change? I don’t know. I feel very deflated. People tell me you have to push to get answers but every time I push we get pushed further down the list. Appointments have been moved four months further down the line. Why? I’m never rude. I am just asking for help. I want to yell at them to, excuse the phrase, but ‘man up’ and be honest. If you can’t help: then say that. If you think he is a waste of resources just say it. Stop pushing us back down the list and keeping us on hold. I want to be able to live; make plans and you are not helping. If we are on our own just tell us that. We will deal with it
Sorry that is the frustration coming out. It came to light during a recent GP appointment with a retired doctor that helps out one day a week that he had also written to both clinical departments to move things along. He didn’t seem impressed when husband informed him it was radio silence still from one and the other had shifted the appointment back another two months. So letters from two different GP’s and nothing. I throw my hands up in the air and ask ‘what the f**k?’ I feel like a dog chasing its tail. A headless chicken. Where do we go? Its like mentally headbutting a brick wall everyway I look.
Strangely as I typed this I had a plan of action pop into my head. Its going to involve me getting shirty and demanding information then if that comes off trying a different route but hey I’ll try anything as nothing else has worked so far. Short of camping out in the relevant hospital department and handcuffing myself to a consultant as they walk by I am out of ideas. I’ll keep that one for the last resort. Don’t really want to appear on the local news broadcast. The world is not ready for that!
I guess I could reach out to the relevant MP but is it worth my time? I can all but predict the response. Resources are stretched. The system is broken and it is going to time to improve services; to clear the backlog They may offer to look into it but how many other cases are they being contacted about? I can’t help but sigh. A conundrum for sure. What to do next?
My heart goes out to others in this situation. It is hard. What of those that don’t have a spouse or relative that can fight on their behalf? I can only imagine trying to fight the system while fighting illness too. No one should be expected to do that. I’m sorry but it is wrong. I don’t care how broken the system is. People should not fall through cracks. I wish I had answers. Hell I wish I had a magic wand to solve the problems. All we can do is be there for each other. Offer support and assistance where possible.
If you are on your own and struggling. Reach out to me. I am a good listener. Don’t feel there is no one there. I can’t promise to have the answers but I can still offer an ear. Together we will find a way through. E x