Devaney Medical Centre - Jw Bates

Dr Bates was good. Other than that, this clinic has refused to refer me to a specialist for my chronic pain for ten years and will only give me an appointment if I go to a walk-in centre with side effects from my medication first. All I ask is that they refer me to a pain management program so I can sort myself out without bothering anyone and they just will not do it. They keep saying maybe I am overweight when they can see my body right in front of them and I am clearly not overweight. Then they claim I don’t do any exercise although I do exercise every day. So I end up doing more and more exercise until my joints are knackered and I have panic attacks from overexercise and go walk-in again. Most recently I’ve been waiting for a referral for 1.5 years and there has been no movement at all. I’ve had to chase them yet again just for the receptionist to ask me whether I’ve asked for this referral before. Their Patches system is always switched off. I’m dreading my next telephone consultation because they will start yet another cycle of gaslighting and I know they will never stop it. If I bring my husband to accompany me, they act suspicious of him for no reason. They are also shocked that I am in full time employment. I don’t understand at all why they are so negative and patronising.

At the end of January 2018 the results of blood tests revealed my cholesterol level to be 7.1. Although this was a fairly high reading I decided to try and reduce this level with diet and life style in the way we used to be allowed to do before cholesterol lowering drugs. I was also suspicious about statins because of their numerous possible side effects and doubt about their value in predicting future cardiac problems. As a graduate of the Royal Institute of Chemistry I do have some understanding of bio-chemical pathways. In April my optician discovered a small blood clot in my left eye, i.e. a minor stroke, and referred me to the eye clinic at the local hospital. Both the optician and the consultant at the eye clinic made immediate direct requests to my doctor that I be given a number of follow-up blood tests. I heard nothing more from medical centre until I phoned the surgery on 4th June. I was informed by the receptionist that they had decided to refuse to carry out the tests because I had earlier declined to take statins. I reported this to my consultant and followed by writing a letter of complaint to the practice on the 20th June. I eventually received a reply which stated that they would do the blood tests provided I changed my mind about taking medication. This to me seemed like coercion and I would question whether a medical practice has the right to refuse important medical tests requested by NHS consultants. I also believe that it is my right to decide what medication I take. On the 1st July I registered with another local medical centre who promptly gave me the necessary tests and I was pleased and vindicated to learn that my cholesterol was down to 6.4 WITHOUT STATINS. I intend, with the support of my current practice, to continue to further reduce the level by natural means. I believe that a patient’s preferences should be considered more important than the dictates of pharmaceutical companies which is why I decided to leave a practice that I had been with for over forty years.
Original Comment Report...

At the end of January 2018 the results of blood tests revealed my cholesterol level to be 7.1. Although this was a fairly high reading I decided to try and reduce this level with diet and life style in the way we used to be allowed to do before cholesterol lowering drugs. I was also suspicious about statins because of their numerous possible side effects and doubt about their value in predicting future cardiac problems. As a graduate of the Royal Institute of Chemistry I do have some understanding of bio-chemical pathways. In April my optician discovered a small blood clot in my left eye, i.e. a minor stroke, and referred me to the eye clinic at the local hospital. Both the optician and the consultant at the eye clinic made immediate direct requests to my doctor that I be given a number of follow-up blood tests. I heard nothing more from medical centre until I phoned the surgery on 4th June. I was informed by the receptionist that they had decided to refuse to carry out the tests because I had earlier declined to take statins. I reported this to my consultant and followed by writing a letter of complaint to the practice on the 20th June. I eventually received a reply which stated that they would do the blood tests provided I changed my mind about taking medication. This to me seemed like coercion and I would question whether a medical practice has the right to refuse important medical tests requested by NHS consultants. I also believe that it is my right to decide what medication I take. On the 1st July I registered with another local medical centre who promptly gave me the necessary tests and I was pleased and vindicated to learn that my cholesterol was down to 6.4 WITHOUT STATINS. I intend, with the support of my current practice, to continue to further reduce the level by natural means. I believe that a patient’s preferences should be considered more important than the dictates of pharmaceutical companies which is why I decided to leave a practice that I had been with for over forty years.
Original Comment Report...