"Lack of communication from consultants!"

Approx 2/3 days after giving birth to my son at DRI (Doncaster) I was sent by my GP to DRI with a suspected Blood clot.

After hours of waiting and bloodtests and leg scans, two consultants came into me and said I had an option of 2 diferent scans. 1 was with a dye that would be injected into my chest, but this was not safe with breastfeeding for a couple of days and I was breastfeeding at the time, the other was a cat scan, which is massive amounts of radiation and increases risk of breast cancer. They said I could think about it and they would return later in the day.

Towards the end of the afternoon, a porter arrived to wheel me down for my scan, but I had no idea which one I was having and the doctors had not returned to discuss it. I was wheeled in for a CAT scan and the operator seemed appauled that I had not been told, or consented!! They recommended I go back up and discuss it with the doctors.

On arriving back on the ward, I was told the doctors had clocked off and I couldn't speak to anyone and it was too late to go back down for the Cat scan as I had missed my slot and so would have to wait until next day. At this point I got upset and so my husband asked that a doctor speak to us. One of the consultants from the morning returned and when I asked why there hadn't there been a discussion, like she stated there would be, she started shouting at me! She shouted, and I quote "There is no discussion, I am the doctor you are the patient" I said I accepted her professional opinion, but they should not tell people thay have an option - and then make the choice for them, she ranted some more and then left. The male nurse, who was lovely, seemed very embarresed by the consultants behviour and admitted they should not have shouted at a crying vulnerble women.

I understand doctors in hospitals are stretched and stressed, I do not lack imagination, but this behaviour is totally unaccaptable.

I work for a local authority and treat all members of the public as 'customers' as should NHS staff, we the tax payers are the customers afterall. If I had shouted then maybe, but I merely asked a question, I was not agressive in any way.

In my opinion, this consultant seriously needs to do some bedside manner training and get rid of their egotistical, pompass manner. All consultants should understand the importance of communication with their pateints. Despite what they may think, they are not Gods, above common courtesy and good manners. I was going to submit a complaint about the whole thing as more happened than what I have mentioned but I was too busy looking after a newborn baby!