Re: Blood test release rules changed again!

[Guest guest]

Actually my notes possibly still have one of the practice doctor's

opinion that I was mentally disturbed because I did keep going back

and reporting I felt ill even though my TSH was 5.49 by then. She'd

said I'd need to be over 5.5 before I would start to get symptoms, so

everything was in my head

The highest my TSH got to was 4.85 and I felt so ill and yes depressed

I felt I might just drop dead. Miraculously the depression disappeared

when I went on thyroid meds, weies that huh. Glad i haven't got your

doctor.

[Guest guest]

Leah, I never went back to her which was not difficult as she is one

of a number of doctors in the practice.

Funny thing is she is OK in the gynae department and was actually

very effective in resolving a problem I had with stitches in my bits

after my 1st baby. On that occasion, I'd already seen my previous

GP, a hospital doctor and 2 midwives but none of them had spotted

the cause. This doctor instantly saw what was wrong and put an end

to 8 weeks of excruciating pain instantly. Needless to say I was

impressed.

If I get gynae problems again, however, there is no way I'd go back

to her after how she has treated me over the thyroid!

I did try to change practices at one stage but got nowhere as all

the alternatives in my area were already oversubscribed. It made a

mockery of all that " choice " propaganda which was being promoted at

the time. One of the practices even turned out to be an outreach

clinic of my own practice, complete with the same doctors on a rota

system!

Tracey

>

> When you eventually do manage to get your results back from them,

> perhaps you should change doctors! She sounds atrocious. Not

only is

> the suggestion that a 0.01 difference in TSH level could make all

the

> difference in a diagnosis ludicrous, but it does not allow any

margin

> of error for the test kit! To tell you it is all in your head and

> bring up a traumatic event in your family is just disgraceful...

>

> If I hadn't experienced similar and seen other stories on here I

would

> be gobsmacked!

>

> Leah x

[Guest guest]

PALS got back to me today. It seems there is no set rule which the

health practices need apply to. They are free to make up their own

policies regarding patient access to blood test results. This

information doesn't help me but does show that there is absolutely

nothing I can do about it really.

The PALS lady will relay some of my concerns back to my practice

manager. She herself used to work in my local practice so has first

hand experience of the GPs. I told her about the extraordinary

outburst of my current GP some months back, when I admitted showing

my results to my sister, and how I was worried that as a result he

may deliberately be obstructing my access to my results. I explained

that I did not wish to make a formal complaint about that incident

as it was totally out of character and, of all the doctors in the

practice, he has been the only one willing to investigate my thyroid

problems properly. She understood perfectly and confirmed that it

indeed was very much out of character and that he is known for his

conscientiousness in going the extra mile for his patients. She said

that there is no way that he would be able to bar access to my

results in the manner which appears to have happened and suggested

it was simply bureaucracy.

Whether the practice manager will accept my argument, reinforced by

PALS, that having to get a medical appointment to view blood test

results in my case is a waste of valuable GP time, is another

matter. I explained that having to go through so many channels to

achieve the end is inefficient and exhausting.

Tracey

[Guest guest]

Hi,

It just seems unbelievable that you are having so much trouble getting

results about YOUR blood tests, I found this link by accident on

thyroid uk, I wonder if it would be of any help to you?

Comprehensive guidance on the Freedom of Information Act can be found

at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Good luck, hope things work out for you without too much more stress,

x

> PALS got back to me today. It seems there is no set rule which the

> health practices need apply to. They are free to make up their own

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I did bring up the Freedom of Information Act in my discussions with

both the Practice Manager and PALS but both said it was being

adhered to. Fullstop. No further debate possible.

I have to admit I have immense difficulty comprehending the language

used in legislation and need it translated and paraphrased before I

am able to be effective in those situations.

Naturally it was agreed I am allowed to see my records but, as we

know, it hasn't been as simple as one would expect. So while they

haven't said " No " (which would get them into trouble), the system in

practice has been one huge delaying charade in my opinion. I almost

wish the health centre was more honest and simply put up a sign

worded " Please do not ask to view your blood test results as a

refusal often offends! "

Tracey

>

> Hi,

> It just seems unbelievable that you are having so much trouble

getting

> results about YOUR blood tests, I found this link by accident on

> thyroid uk, I wonder if it would be of any help to you?

>

> Comprehensive guidance on the Freedom of Information Act can be

found

> at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

>

> Good luck, hope things work out for you without too much more

stress,

>

> x

>

> > PALS got back to me today. It seems there is no set rule which

the

> > health practices need apply to. They are free to make up their

own

>

[Guest guest]

Leah's message echoes my thoughts exactly. How awful for you. Nobody

has the right to treat a person the way you were treated.

P

>

When you eventually do manage to get your results back from them,

perhaps you should change doctors! She sounds atrocious. Not only is

the suggestion that a 0.01 difference in TSH level could make all the

difference in a diagnosis ludicrous, but it does not allow any margin

of error for the test kit! To tell you it is all in your head and

bring up a traumatic event in your family is just disgraceful... If I

hadn't experienced similar and seen other stories on here I would be

gobsmacked!

Leah x

[Guest guest]

At the time I felt truly mortified that ANY doctor could behave so

badly and it was only much later that I discovered that some of the

oldies in the local sheltered accommodation have their own nickname

for her. It is, wait for it...

.... " The Bitch-doctor " !! ROFL

And Leah, the very small margin in the test result turned out to be

academic. In pratice they now tend to delay diagnosis and medication

until the TSH exceeds 10. I couldn't believe it when my results over 6

and 7 were just discounted, it seemed like the end of the world.

I did eventually get my trial and diagnosis but, like many of us here

have found, it was a long and windy road with many wrong signposts and

dead ends.

Tracey

> >

> When you eventually do manage to get your results back from them,

> perhaps you should change doctors! She sounds atrocious. Not only

is

> the suggestion that a 0.01 difference in TSH level could make all

the

> difference in a diagnosis ludicrous

[Guest guest]

''She actually twisted my family

history of thyroid problem arguement by bringing up my sister's

suicide and citing it as proof of my family being predisposed to

mental illness. I'm afraid I burst into tears at that point and she

said " See, you ARE depressed! "

I am having UnChristian thoughts about her. I feel that was very cruel

and manipulative of her (thats the nice version) What a horrible thing

to do, I think SHE would have cried under such circumstances grrrr.

The more I hear on these boards...

((hugs))

lotsa luv

Dawnx

[Guest guest]

Hi

It sounds like a good protocol, but in that case I would never

get mine as TSH is always 0.01 as I take Armour ( which my GP refuses to

prescribe) and T3 over range because I need it. But I always get my

results as I state that I don't want an interpretation, just the

numbers.

Subject: Re: Blood test release rules changed

again!

It has always been the case here that the receptionist can only give

the numbers once a doctor has looked at them. If they are normal

they give them, if abnormal the doctor has to see/speak to the

patient first, once this is done they will give them.

Chris

>

> Our surgery has started saying this as well, we had an argument

with

> the receptionist last week when we asked for copies of my husbands

> blood tests. They say they now have to ask the Dr's permission

before

> they can give them out, he said yes no problem but it's a pain when

> the Dr isn't there to ask and you have to call back when he is.

> We even spoke to the practise manager about it and they said this

is

> what they have to do now.

>

> Luv Dee

>

>

>

------------------------------------

TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical

practitioner before changing medication.

[Guest guest]

Hi Tracey,

Don't worry, once bureaucracy steps in everybody goes out of

the way to be awkward it's human nature!

Subject: Re: Blood test release rules changed

again!

The other doctor has now phoned me and said he is not permitted to

disclose my results to me. It is an etiquette thing between the

doctors in the practice rather than him personally refusing.

I now have to phone my own doctor on Monday, when he will be back on

site.

I'm rather worried actually as I think it means my results may have

revealed something wrong. They wouldn't be going out of their way to

do this otherwise would they? I'm trying not to panic but I know

myself well enough to know that there is little I can do to stop this

preying on my mind all weekend now.

Tracey

------------------------------------

TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical

practitioner before changing medication.

[Guest guest]

Hi Tracey,

Ours asks personal details before giving results over the

phone.

Subject: Re: Blood test release rules changed

again!

That is indeed most strange Val. However, my practice has never given

out results over the phone as the caller could theoretically be anyone

even if the secretary recognises the voice.

Tracey

------------------------------------

TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical

practitioner before changing medication.