Healthcare Complaint - advice please!

Hi totsy.
I can't remember which site it was on. I know I just typed key words into Google at the time. My doctor would not have it but as I say when I slid the printed off info across the table, he was lost for words and asked to keep the info.
I have to nip out now butif you Google hopefully you'll find the info you want.(Or don't want IYSWIM).

Hi chocoholic

Yes I was put on a steriod in inhaler (only lasted a couple of months before all this fun started!) I have been poorly on and off for a few months before (cold lasting months at a time and twice had ear infections that left me near deaf for several weeks). I am sure I have seen something somewhere that mentions a possible link , can't remember where though. I guess that I was already predisposed to diabetes though and in that way I feel quite lucky that I only ended up like this in my late 30s (although I would like to have had a second child first - something that I am now reconsidering as my last pregancy was awful enough and I am a bit scared but that is a whole other story!)

I had lots of people also saying to sue. I certainly wasn't in the place to at the time (had to get my head round everything etc). If I had been out of pocket, needed extra assistance, lost the use of something then I would have, but I figure I will cost the NHS enough now in my lifetime without persuing compensation. I know in the future I may have problems but this could have happened to me at somepoint anyway and I wanted to get away from the blame and "why me" attitude (not that I was ever really in that place) and get on with life. It would be interesting to see how common the steriod inhaler link is, perhaps they would not be so keen to dish them out so quickly if there was a confirmed direct link.

Louise

I currently work as a secretary in a large respiratory medicine department. From the letters I type, most of the lung specialists are well aware that steroids can cause/exacerbate diabetes, as well as weight gain which may contribute to type 2, and are on the lookout for it. Indeed if the patient has a strong family history they work especially hard to minimise steroid use. But they tend to see the more complex lung cases, likely if GPs dish out inhalers and that controls the lung symptoms, they consider the problem solved and either don't know or forget about the possible side-effects.

Troubr,I have a feeling becotide was the steroid I was put on, along with salbutamol or something sounding like that.Like you, I was too busy getting my head around diabetes to think about sueing but on reflection, I do get pretty wound upabout it now.
Ho hum. Not much we can do about it now but like you, I'd be interested to know how many others have diabetes because of its use.

Hello Natalie,
The procedure for making a complaint is that the fist step is to complain to the Doctor's surgery, if you get no satisfaction from them, which is probable, you then complain to the PCT. The PCT employs the GPs who are independent practitioners working for the PCT. Both MUST have a complaints procedure. If they do not resolve the situation to your satisfaction you then contact the Healthcare Commission who can then revue your case. PALS can also help but you will find plenty of advice on the Healthcare Commissios website. Hope this helps, I've done a bit of work for the Healthcare Commission and they are independent and very helpfull but you must go through the initial complaints procedure to the surgery and PCT first. Best of luck.

Sarah Q - I am a nurse working in outpatients and I assure you I am not a glorified clerk.

Just because she was probably up to her eyes with work and forgot to give you your steroids you had to become Witchfinder General. Why? I've been in hosp and the nurse forgot to give me my insulin. Rather than pursue the nurse I accepted that it was a genuine error and took it for that. I certainly didn't feel the need to persecute someone to be able to come onto a forum and gloat about it.
The advantage of being on human insulin perhaps

Just because she was probably up to her eyes with work and forgot to give you your steroids you had to become Witchfinder General. Why? I've been in hosp and the nurse forgot to give me my insulin. Rather than pursue the nurse I accepted that it was a genuine error and took it for that. I certainly didn't feel the need to persecute someone to be able to come onto a forum and gloat about it.
The advantage of being on human insulin perhaps

Blimey Sarah

Sounds like you've been thru the mill with various complications

I've been on prednisolone for over 20 years so contrary to your comments I do know

OK I think Sarah has explained herself and her reasons so I suggest you both calm down now and go back to the OP's original topic. Thank you.

Sarag Q - it did sound as if you where gloating. I am actually not the sister involved. I am a nurse working in outpatients, and you made a generic quote that clinic nurses are glorified clerks. This is certainly not true. Are you a nurse? Please do not comment on an occupaton you have no training in.

Hi,my Type 2 was discovered after treatment for chest problems, but I had steroid tablets. Type 2 runs in the family though and maybe the steroids just 'uncovered' mine. So I'm thankful it was discovered then and not years later when even more unseen damage could have been done.....posting.php?mode=reply&f=2&t=3711#