Doctors - should I complain?

[Cyclone]

Tried em all over the years. Betnovate, Fucidin, Fucibet, Lipocream, hydrocortisone....they all stop working after a while

 

There's a bit of a mixture there, I don't know them all but I can see steroid creams and anti fungal creams, they treat different symptoms or complications.

 

Have you had an allergy test to try to identify substances which you react to which will make the condition worse?

[Bollie]

go to nhs drop in center on broad lane

 

She told me to do that. Which is probably her standard defence answer.

 

BUT why should I? The doctor has asked to see me in a week. As a Tax Payer and NI contributer, I should be entitled to visit my local GP surgery.

 

When I actually need to use the service I pay for (rare anyway, 3 kids = no time) I expect to be able to do just that. To use the service I pay for.

 

Despite the fact that I do not drive and live miles away from the Walk In centre, I don't see why I should.

[Bollie]

There's a bit of a mixture there, I don't know them all but I can see steroid creams and anti fungal creams, they treat different symptoms or complications.

 

Have you had an allergy test to try to identify substances which you react to which will make the condition worse?

 

You name it - my skin has had it over the years, it's so sensitive and i'm allergic to all sorts, mainly animal fur and feathers.

 

As a child I was put on various (disgusting) diets. Mainly faffing around with dairy products: soya milk (yuk), goats milk (yuk) that sort of thing. But no, i've never had an allergy test. I wonder why my parents never asked for one... maybe they weren't available in the 80's.

[Cordelia]

You could ring the GP surgery and ask them to find out if the Doctor would be able to prescribe you something based on his/her assessment last week.

 

They may not be able to but its worth a try.

[Cyclone]

You name it - my skin has had it over the years, it's so sensitive and i'm allergic to all sorts, mainly animal fur and feathers.

 

As a child I was put on various (disgusting) diets. Mainly faffing around with dairy products: soya milk (yuk), goats milk (yuk) that sort of thing. But no, i've never had an allergy test. I wonder why my parents never asked for one... maybe they weren't available in the 80's.

 

My brother had one in the 90's, it's basically a panel of about 50 different materials and they fasten it to your back for a day. Then note which of the samples you've reacted to.

By being allergic to fur and feathers do you mean in a hayfever kind of way? I'm talking about skin allergy, ie triggers the redness/itching which then turns into eczema, my brother is allergic to latex for example (amongst a few other things), my Dad the same, fortunately I didn't inherit that gene!

[fairyworld14]

Oh dear ,this is awful for you. I have to agree with the previous posters .

You should have booked an appointment that day,and I really do think you should get an urgent appointment with a Dermatologist before your eczema becomes infected.

[Bollie]

My brother had one in the 90's, it's basically a panel of about 50 different materials and they fasten it to your back for a day. Then note which of the samples you've reacted to.

By being allergic to fur and feathers do you mean in a hayfever kind of way? I'm talking about skin allergy, ie triggers the redness/itching which then turns into eczema, my brother is allergic to latex for example (amongst a few other things), my Dad the same, fortunately I didn't inherit that gene!

 

Skin goes itchy thus starting the itch scratch cycle, resulting in the lovely eczema rash.

 

my eyes also puff up. Very attractive.

[Bollie]

Oh dear ,this is awful for you. I have to agree with the previous posters .

You should have booked an appointment that day,and I really do think you should get an urgent appointment with a Dermatologist before your eczema becomes infected.

 

Lesson most definately learned. I'm just worried that, now they know my name, will they intentionally be difficult in future?

[Dizzyblonde]

You have my sympathy. I would recommend that you change Drs. My Daughter has similar sounding skin to yours, tried everything. At uni the GPs have been fantastic whereas in Sheffield she could not get in, when you get a flair up of an otherwise non life threatening condition you need to see a GP. I would ignore the receptionist and turn up on the monday. It could be a cold. One of the pharmacists in Sainsbury's at Archer Road works in the Skin Clinic at STH (I know this from chatting to her when picking up a script for all the various items). She said my daughter should get a referral to the clinics at the hospital but my GP just would not do it. I probably should have changed GP at that point.

 

google - sheffield GP special interest dermatology

then use nhs choices to work out if they are in your catchment area

http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx?ServiceType=GP

 

Phone GP practices before joining they get money for having you after all. Find out if they telephone triage or how many GP bookables on the day they have before you commit. Do they do internet booking for example

good luck

[mediman]

Long story short:

 

My GP surgery operates an 'Urgent Access' hour every morning: If you're ill on the day, drop in and wait to be seen between 10.30am and 11.30am.

 

I did this last Monday, waited an hour, got seen by a GP. No problem so far.

 

Now, I was going with eczema. A condition I have had for 30 years, I know what works and what doesn't. Everything I was trying wasn't working and the eczema was getting worse. And I mean really bad (the GP actually gasped when he looked at me)

 

He prescribed me Oilatum which I knew wouldn't work (already tried it) so I asked for steroid cream. 'Not yet. try this first and come back in a week to see me if it doesn't improve'. Instead of arguing, I decided to jump through the hoops and come back in a week. He would see it hadn't worked and I would get the steroid cream.

 

So... It's been a week and it hasn't worked (like I knew) so I've just called the surgery to book in with him like he requested. 'Can't get you in until 6th March i'm afraid'. I explained that HE requested ME to go back in a week. 'Sorry, still can't get you in'.

 

So I suggested that I attend this 'Urgent Access' hour on Monday. 'No, you can't use that. That's for patients that are ill on the day. You can't use that 'just' for eczema'.

 

I put the phone down in tears, at a loss of what to do. She clearly underestimates what this condition is like, it's blighted me for years.I have no choice but to wait until 6th March to see a GP.

 

I called back and asked what the complaints procedure was and she just gave me the Practice Manager's name.

 

What would you do? Write to the manager or take it further?

 

You say you have suffered with this condition for over 30 years. Have you been refered to the skin dept at the hospital, if not why not, let someone who is a specialist in skin complains sort it out for you. Tell your doctor you want a referal to the skin dept at the Hallamshire for them to sort you out, and dont take no as a answer from him, you have every right to see a specialist for your complaint.