Private medical care - who to complain to?

[Bobby Dazzler]

Baby D is 18 months old now and since Christmas has been suffering with some reciurring health problems, which have worsened since March. He's not been sleeping well as a result and last week in particular it was pretty bad - Mrs D and I quite literally barely slept.

We have private healthcare and so with a referral from the GP we made an appointment to see a specialist and the appointment was this morning. Normally I'd always be there for hospital appointments of any kind, but couldn't make it today.

Without going into details, the appointment was for my son, but unfortunately the specialist made a number of inappropriate comments about Mrs D that her feel very uncomfortable, so much so that she told him that he was being inappropriate (it must have been bad for her to say somthing).

We're doing nothing immediately, but the big question is what do we do next?

Who is the right person or organisation we should complain to regarding his inappropriate comments? The specialist himself, the (private) hospital, the private healthcare provider, our GP, or someone else?

All thoughts welcomed.

 

[Sp!ke]

Define inappropriate in this instance?

 

[markjay]

The police, depending on how 'inappropriate' the comments were.


Otherwise, the complaint should be made to the General Medical Council :
GMC | A patient's guide to making a complaint about a doctor

 

[NormanC]

I reckon the hospital to start and then, perhaps, the GMC.

Do it quickly or it'll seem unimportant to them!!

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Sorry to hear this.

In the first instance, I would suggest taking it up with your Private Medical Insurance (PMI) provider. As it is a Private appointment the Hospital typically has little to do with the appointment other than providing the facilities for the consultation. The Doctor is 'contracted' to the PMI provider.

I would also copy in your GP on any complaint letter that you may write.

Depending upon how inappropriate it is I would also consider notifying the GMC and the NHS Trust that employs him / her.

My wife recently had an issue with a consultation with a consultant. Unfortunately like yourself, I wasn't able to attend the appointment. As her appointment was under the NHS at an NHS hospital it was a simple matter of writing to the Chief Executive of the Hospital, cc'ing the Medical Director and our GP.

Hope this helps...

 

[Soltan]

Sorry to hear about your son, hopefully he will get better as he gets older and stronger. My eldest (5 years old now) was in and out of hospital for the first couple of years, not what you'd call a healthy baby. Took a long time to work out he was alergic to milk

We’ve seen several doctors, consultants, pediatricians etc. and one thing I've found across the board is that if they deal with my wife initially they are always dismissive (the only exception was an American locum). When I go in with her they change their tune completely (act professional, use their own vocabulary, make a point of asking questions, get them to define terms if I think they are using jargon, etc.).

You can’t always get a child to reproduce symptoms on demand, yet only once have I ever heard a doctor say “you know your child better than me and you wouldn’t have brought him here if there wasn’t something wrong”.

Back to your post, A-AvantGarde is spot on, with a private consult they are effectively hiring the hospitals facilities, but bear in mind they are a resident doctor there too. Who to complain to depends on how serious you believe the matter to be. Your Private Medical company is top of the list. Any complaint made to the GMC is taken very seriously, it certainly puts the fear of the Lord into doctors. But if complaining to the GMC I would recommend following the PMI or hospital complaint procedures first.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks for your comments and thoughts regarding Baby D.

I'm reluctatnt to go into the details, but it's not a matter for the Police if I can say it that way.

I'll call the healthcare provider and seek their advice.

 

[IanA2]

It really depends what he did/said. If it is an issue that relates to his fitness to practice, then without doubt the GMC. A private hospital will do little, their only sanction is to withdraw admitting rights. It is unlikely that his NHS employer would get involved unless it was a matter that affected his fitness to practice ergo....GMC.

 

[Mudster]

The General Medical council or British Medical Association is your first port of call, the PMI provider will be guided only by the GMC or BMA.

 

[Rory]

Maybe it's a Private Hospital thing? My wife was seeing a Gynecologist privately and was quite surprised when he greeted her (in the open waiting room) with a hug and kiss on the cheek.

 

[IanA2]

The General Medical council or British Medical Association is your first port of call, the PMI provider will be guided only by the GMC or BMA.

Absolutely no point going to the BMA. It's a trade union.

 

[ringway]

Sorry to hear all of this Rob.

I hope baby D gets better.


I'd make an appointment with your GP and (in confidence) reveal all that was said. I'm sure your GP (having made the referral) would be mortified to hear what has happened and would surely be on your side.

Best of luck.

 

[markjay]

While fully supporting your case with the consultant... most important thing is that baby D makes a full and speedy recovery. Best wishes to you all.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Sorry to hear all of this Rob.

I hope baby D gets better.


I'd make an appointment with your GP and (in confidence) reveal all that was said. I'm sure your GP (having made the referral) would be mortified to hear what has happened and would surely be on your side.

Best of luck.

That's what we did in my wife's case and I went with her. My parents also being doctors helped us in this situation as we had a great sounding board. When my wife relayed what happened in her consultation they were shocked.

Hope you get the resolution / closure that you want.

 

[Maxi4]

Sorry to hear about baby D. Hope he gets well soon. As a parent, I know how worrying these can be.
I would go with talking to the GP first as well. And do this ASAP.

Best regards
Pete