Is It Reasonable ...?

[sherrardk]

... To ask to be treated by a different doctor at a hospital clinic appointment? If so, should I make this request upon arrival or wait and see who we get and then say? Thanks.

[Samuraisan]

Don't ask don't get. Don't forget we are paying their salaries.

[Peter Pedant]

.

er whats been going on ?

[ummmm]

I def would x

[Samuraisan]

I just get irritated when I read " x is wrong with me but I don't like to bother the dr." ( I know that isn't the case on this thread ) or as it is here, " can I see which dr. I want " Why not change your dr. ? Obviously through the proper channels. We DO pay their salaries, through our ss contributions, in whatever country we live.

[sherrardk]

Boy #1 had an emergency ENT appointment today (following on from an A & E visit last week). He's had a horrible experience today and has to have another appointment tomorrow. I don't want him to be seen by the same doctor (who I have complained about).

[Peter Pedant]

yes, before the consultation and tell the nurse in charge that you have complained...

[Sqad]

\\\\\He's had a horrible experience today\\\\

Can you be more specific.

You mean that you want to change Consultants or you just want to see another doctor but keeping the same consultant?

[sherrardk]

No consultant, just a routine check after last week's A & E visit. Doctor today checked my son's ear and said it was 'a bit dirty' and went to work with the sucker thing (attached to camera). Apparently he kept going and going and shoving and caused my son's ear to bleed profusely from inside. He then panicked and left the room to get help. Came back with someone else (I presume someone more experienced). He then dropped the sucker thing on the floor and was going to put it back in my son's ear before his colleague advised him to change the end bit. He began talking about cauterizing the ear but they decided to pack it instead. He didn't offer any pain relief. My husband said it was appalling and that he had considered removing our son from the appointment and taking him the A & E. We have to return tomorrow to see what damage was done today as the more the second doctor was 'accusing' the first doctor of making a hole (somewhere) in my son's ear.

[sherrardk]

^ sorry for the extra words, hope my meaning is clear.

[boxtops]

Depends where you go and who the consultant is, presumably - some of our hospitals only have a couple of ENT consultants covering several hospitals.

[boxtops]

sorry sher, posts crossed.

[mazie]

Bloody Hell Sherr... Poor little lad x

[sherrardk]

Thankfully I wasn't there - I don't do well with blood. However, I will be there tomorrow (since his head went bang, himself doesn't seem to 'make a fuss' although he was visibly shaken when he got home - he was worse than the boy).

[Sqad]

Right........it is sometimes difficult to clear the ear without the suction apparatus and it can be painful and bleeding is not uncommon.
Cauterization was not an appropriate step and pacing was probably the best option, BUT he should have been sent home with some pain relief. This is a common omission with junior doctors and should be brought to the attention of someone more senior.

Just guessing, you son was seen because of a painful discharging ear.

\\\\ He then dropped the sucker thing on the floor and was going to put it back in my son's ear before his colleague advised him to change the end bit. \\\

No comment needed.........

I would suggest that on arrival tomorrow, you describe your concerns to the nurse and ask (nicely) if you could see the registrar and not the other doctor who sounds very junior and inexperienced.

if it is E.N.T Op's that he is attending ask OP sister (again nicely) if you could see the Consultant.

[Sqad]

P.S damaging the ear drum (making a hole in it) is extremely unlikely....even for the junior doctor.

[sherrardk]

He bled a little from his ear last week after horsing around at school so we took him to A & E as a precaution. When he attended today his hearing was fine and he has had no problem with his ear since last week. He has previously suffered with glue ear and they have never bled during examinations or previous use of the sucker thing. Tonight he is unable to hear from the one ear and it obviously hurts.

[sherrardk]

Oh, and they've given him antibiotics - I presume they are to stave off any infection they might have given him?

[Sqad]

He is deaf in that ear........because he has a pack in it.
Give him some pain killers...Ibuprofen for example and that should settle you both down.

[sherrardk]

I don't need to settle down, I'm just enquiring about hospital 'etiquette' - but thank you for your answers.

[Sqad]

\\ I presume they are to stave off any infection they might have given him?\\

No.....it is very doubtful that THEY have given him ANY infection.