"I don't blame the NHS"

Having visited the treatment centre at Queens Med yesterday and felt I had to voice my disappointment with the treatment of my Clinician.

I was referred to the Gastroenterology department, Gateway I, by my Doctor arrived early and was seen promptly - all very good.

Both me and my partner, who witnesses my symptoms on a daily basis and understands my conditions, attended the appointment and when we met this Doctor, they were immediately abrupt and asked why we were there as they had no referral, in a manner that suggested we shouldn't be !

Forgive me if I'm incorrect, but as far as I am aware you cannot just stroll into one of these appointments?

I had a letter with my appointment date etc.

They said they had nothing from my own Doctor and requested that I go through my problem.

They totally dismissed all the efforts I had made to alleviate many of the problems through private treatments, trying to lessen the burden on the NHS, together with my own research into my condition / possible ways forward.

Their manner was rude, abrupt and robotic.

My partner made a couple of observations and was totally ignored, the Doctor never even acknowledged her presence to the point that she actually made a point of saying she was there too.

The doctor directed at me that I had had tests with positive results, well this is either a fault of the hospital or my own Doctors as A) I have never been told what blood tests were for and B) have certainly never been told of any positive results.

They told me what the route would be, paid no attention to what I would prefer to happen and left me wishing I'd never bothered to come and just struggled on.

I will make enquiries to see if I can transfer to an alternative Clinician.

I do not blame the NHS, it is an amazing institution, ruined only by a small number of employees that so obviously have a problem with people skills.