Rosemead Drive Surgery

I signed up with this GP surgery because it was very close to where I used to live. In the year and a half that I have been with them, I have been to see different doctors for different health concerns, due to the fact that I am a chronically ill person, but I mostly felt like my concerns weren’t taken seriously by most of the doctors I have been seen by. My biggest complaint is in regards to my being in and out of the surgery because of severe dryness and cracking of the skin on my hands, which every time has been dismissed as ‘just dryness’ in what I could only describe as being a very patronising tone. I have been prescribed countless creams and ointments, but none of them have made any difference, and whenever I would come in again, I would just be given the same cream but under a different name, until I finally gave up and accepted that I wasn’t going to receive any helpful solutions to this problem. It wasn’t until today, when I met with a nurse from the dermatology department for a completely unrelated problem, that I was told that this ‘dryness’ is very likely to be severe eczema and that I was given a leaflet with information, not just about the condition itself, but as to how to prevent relapses as well. Now, I realise that this condition is not dangerous or life threatening, but at the same time as a chronically ill patient I know very well how frustrating it is to not be taken seriously, and it also leaves me wondering about what could have happened if this nurse had told me that this ‘simple dryness’ could be a more serious disease instead of just eczema. Overall, the staff at reception has been helpful and polite on most occasions, but due to the way most of their doctors have spoken to me, I wouldn’t recommend this surgery for any person that needs to be seen by medical professionals on a regular basis.
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