We have just changed GP's and after a discussion with the new GP, it looks like the old GP has wrongly prescribed medication over a number of years to my wife, the new GP siad by taking this it will increase her chances of breast cancer. Now the medication has been changed thank god.
Now do i write to the GP direct to complain or go direct to the NHS?
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I've had a fair bit of pain over my life because of incompetent doctors ("No, that's definitely not a hernia")...
I think you'd go through the official NHS complaints procedure. I feel like it wouldn't be right to complain straight to the GP, like that would almost be seen as a threat? I don't know.
Hope she's ok
Or if you feel unhappy with that idea, this link may be of use to you
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1083.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=162
This will always be a problem unless there was a complete overhaul in the system, where you go to a different doctor that deals in one particular field and we all know that will never happen.
My youngest brother died 5 years ago at the age of 33 due to a mis-diagnosis. He had a large blood clot that was giving him pains and his GP put it down to a pulled muscle. A simple blood test would have detected the problem. Within a week it had worked it's way to his heart, blocking all the main arteries.
I don't personally hold the GPs responsible as we really can't expect them to know every single ailment, especially as many can have the same symptoms. The blame lies within the system, which hasn't changed with the times.
Glad your new GP has got to the bottom of this before any serious damage has been done LB.............................
Assuming he is, I'd pursue it through the NHS complaints procedure.
In my case, I complained regarding a Speciality Doctor and treatment regarding an emergency assessment. My initial complaint was handled by the PCT and I was asked to come in to a meeting between everyone involved ultimately, and my treatment was moved on to a Consultant. However, if he is a past GP then that's not a worry.
I remember reading somewhere that most Doctors actually have a handful of drugs that they regularly prescribe, hence why if you see a GP and you're on a medication for something outside their general area of expertise they will refer to the BNF (British National Formulary). This book basically lists every drug in use at the moment, it's indications, interactions and side-effects. (Interestingly, along with the price per tablet for the NHS) If you give it a browse (PDF file available online) you may be able to see why it was prescribed in particular, and if the new medication was out at the time of prescription. (Note, if it wasn't thats no excuse - long term medication generally requires a medication review every 6 months IIRC)
As for your complaint, I would write a letter to the GP asking why it was prescribed AND write to the PCT/Surgery and highlight the issue; it may be worth getting a secondary opinion just in case there was a reason for the first medication. (Naturally, prescriptions are generally risk vs benefit; nothing is without side effects. Although in your case, I can't see many things outweighing the risk of cancer! (Depending on how likely that side effect is)) If you want to dig really far you can even access your own medical records for a small charge; however it's not always nice to see personal/emotional issues described in a clinical manner of speaking.
Above all, Good luck!
Another doctor at the practice sent her for an XRay where it was found that the toe had been broken for some time, rectified by an operation
Without having read through the whole thread (much like my textbooks, eh!), I imagine the new doctor was pointing out that the original medication has been at some point adjudged to cause an increase in occurrence of breast cancer in a small study. You often find a lot of drugs causing unwanted effects on the body after small sample studies, for example it was recently reported that taking calcium supplements increases the chances of a heart attack, but it's widely acknowledged that taking a supplement is better than being deficient of the said mineral altogether! (Of course, obtaining it through your diet is a much better option).
All medicines in the UK are approved by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and go through years and years of clinical trials to ascertain side-effects and any other adverse reactions. The issue is that studies relating to long-term use (greater than 7-10 years) obviously needs time, so you often find that something which may cause, for example, cancer will take years to report and then years (+ many more trials!) to confirm.
At the very worst, your local pharmacist will ALWAYS pick up on any mistakes made by your GP. That includes any wrong medicines, wrong doses, wrong lengths of treatment and any effects of concurrent use of different medicines. They are your safety net and you can always ask a pharmacist about any issues relating to your medication as they are supposed to be the experts in medicines.