Care Opinion

A bit of a mixed bag

Posted By catherine714

"A bit of a mixed bag"

About: General practices in Lanarkshire Lanarkshire Community Services / Adult Mental Health Services University Hospital Wishaw / Day Surgery

(as the patient),

I was diagnosed over a year ago with ADHD and medicated for it. So much positive change. So many little epiphanies! Including realising I may be autistic.

Medical appointments (even just routine ones) generally cause me a lot of anxiety and self consciousness, but the doctors, nurses and anaesthetists  at University Hospital Wishaw’s  Day Surgery Unit and all of the staff involved from day one explained things well to me at every stage.

They were friendly, caring, easy to talk to and made me feel right at ease and for the first time (I think ever) I didn’t leave full of anxiety or feeling like a bit of a dummy. I understood what was happening when I was there and I know the plan from here. Keep doing what you’re doing. All of you. I can’t thank you enough.

I wish I could thank the entirety of the NHS because I know how hard you all work and I fully comprehend how difficult it was even for my psychiatrist to get to know me since I tend to be so closed off, even when I know I need help, (I’m starting to believe my psychiatrist and CMHT have some fabulous telepathic abilities!)

Unfortunately though I know of a GP practice where I think a few of the staff could do with some training or even just some people skills and maybe this appointment would have come about a few months sooner. I just feel like that’s a problem to be dealt with another day. Everyone else, you have restored my faith in the NHS and you deserve much more than a positive review. 

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Responses

Response from David Watson, Chief of Nursing, UHW, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire about a year and a half ago
David Watson
Chief of Nursing, UHW,
University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire

Chief of Nursing

Submitted on 01/09/2023 at 16:20
Published on Care Opinion at 16:20

picture of David Watson

Dear Catherine 714, thank you for reaching out to provide feedback to the teams. Feedback provides us with the opportunity to learn where required and celebrate what we did well. I am heartened to hear of your positive experience at our Day Surgery Unit and that you felt informed and put at ease. This is the service we aspire to deliver to all our patients. I will relay your feedback back to the day surgery team as it is important that we celebrate what goes well.

Thank again for the feedback and wish you a speedy recovery

Kind Regard

David

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Jennifer Montgomery, Improvement Coordinator, Quality Directorate, NHS Lanarkshire about a year and a half ago
Jennifer Montgomery
Improvement Coordinator, Quality Directorate,
NHS Lanarkshire

Operational Lead for Care Opinion in NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 06/09/2023 at 15:50
Published on Care Opinion at 15:50

picture of Jennifer Montgomery

Dear catherine714,

Thank you for sharing your experience on Care Opinion.

I am so sorry to hear that attending appointments causes you so much anxiety and to be self conscious. I hope that having an ADHD diagnosis, and potentially also an autism diagnosis in future, will make it easier to get understanding and support from the medical staff. I am so sorry to hear that on this occasion the staff at your local GP surgery have not shown this to you.

GP’s are independent contractors and are responsible for investigating and responding to any concerns a person may have about the service; they are not registered to respond directly to feedback through Care Opinion. Can I please invite you to contact the Practice Manager if you would like a direct response about the service or you can also contact Primary Care Patient Affairs, I have included their contact details.

PatientAffairs.Primarycare@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk Tel no. 01698 752800 Option 2

I hope that you have a speedy recovery.

Kind Regards,

Jenni

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by catherine714 (the patient)

Hi Jennifer,

I’ve only just seen this response. I have already composed several emails to the practice manager but I haven’t actually sent them. I am realising communicating in real time, like during a conversation, is a something I struggle a lot with and I don’t have much confidence in my own abilities to be able to see things through to resolution.

For now, I am pleased there’s a platform like this where feedback can be given both ways a bit at a time and I am always researching effective communication and active listening strategies in the meantime. I’m getting closer to hitting that send button because I understand an open and frank discussion is the only way to resolve things.

I appreciate your feedback and want you to know I am taking your advice on board.

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