Issue with my Doctor

Patient11

Hi There,

This is brief summary of my story.

To a cut a long story short I was kicked ("transferred") out of my local medical card Doctors surgery last year which I have attended since I was a child and moved to another Doctor's surgery about 2 miles up the road from me.

My GP had me kicked out of the surgery becuase I was going there lot and he thought I was hypercondriac who was wasting their time.

I have since been recently diagnosed with a very serious illness which left untreated will eventually kill me.

I applied to rejoin the clinic and informed them of my illness but they have refused to talk to me.

The surgery is only 5 minutes walk from my house but the new surgery they moved me to is over 40 minutes walk from my house.

My health is not the best at the moment and I have limited mobility so getting to the new surgery is very impractical for me. Also I will getting an operation soon which I'm told will take me weeks to recover from which will further limit my mobility.

Anyway my question is... Is there anything I can legally do to get my GP to have me readmitted to my local surgery ?

I'm a medical card patient and the surgery gets most of its money from the HSE.

I do not like the Doctors there but I am not physically well enough to travel to the other surgery they moved me to which is miles away from me.


I have been very ill now for over 3 years yet the Doctors in my surgery failed to properly investegate my illness. If they had done their job right I would have been diagnosed atleast 2 years earlier. I feel the only options I have so I can readmitted to the surgery is either go to my local TD or a Solicitor.
The fact that the surgery is funded by the HSE must give them some obligation to take on patients even if they dont like them.


I'd very much appreciate if anyone can offer me advice.

Thanks.

RobFowl

GP's are not obliged to take on any patients so the straight answer is no, there is nothing you can do if they refuse to take you on.

his_dudeness

AFAIK, if you've been transferred to the list of another practice, it is that practice that will be getting funding from the PCRS/HSE for your care, and not your initial practice.

RobFowl

his_dudeness wrote: »

AFAIK, if you've been transferred to the list of another practice, it is that practice that will be getting funding from the PCRS/HSE for your care, and not your initial practice.

Yes, the funding following the patient.

Patient11

RobFowl wrote: »

GP's are not obliged to take on any patients so the straight answer is no, there is nothing you can do if they refuse to take you on.

But the GP surgery I went to is funded by the HSE. You think they would have an obligation to serve the public ?

RobFowl

Patient11 wrote: »

But the GP surgery I went to is funded by the HSE. You think they would have an obligation to serve the public ?

It's funded to look after patients registered with it, no more and no less. Your present GP is getting funded for your care at the moment.

GP practices are funded by a combination of capitation and subsidies, all of which are linked to the patients presently registered. It changes month to month so as soon as you were transferred the funding transferred as well.

Patient11

RobFowl wrote: »

It's funded to look after patients registered with it, no more and no less. Your present GP is getting funded for your care at the moment.

GP practices are funded by a combination of capitation and subsidies, all of which are linked to the patients presently registered. It changes month to month so as soon as you were transferred the funding transferred as well.

The money to build the clinic actually came from the HSE. It was opened by a former Minister Of Health.

It's not right that they can accept public money and then turn away members of the public.

If they aren't going to serve local members of the community with long term serious illnesses then they should have their funding taking away.

moleyv

If a GP failed to diagnose me for two years I would be in no rush to go back.

Is there any form of assistance to pay for taxis to the other place?

RobFowl

Don't want to get into specifics but the fact that the MOH opened it doesn't mean the HSE paid for it. Also if it is the HSE's building then they will be charging the practice rent.
Either way it doesn't change anything.

runawaybishop

They aren't accepting public money to treat you any more, which is why they can turn you away. Other members of the public that they do accept money to treat, will be treated. They aren't obligated to treat everyone that walks through their doors

hoodwinked

honestly if you feel their quality of care is that bad why would you want to go back?


a good gp is worth travelling for imo, your best bet is to look into public/private transport, or getting assistance from a family member/friend.

exgp

When you were with your GP who you say didn't diagnose your condition appropriately, you had an agreement with him/her. This agreement meant that you could leave his/her practice without giving him/her a reason. He/she has the same right. Why would you want to stay with a GP whose trust yo appear to have lost?

exgp

A GMS patient registered with a a GP has the right to terminate that arrangement at any time and change to a new GP. Likewise the GP also has the right to terminate that agreement without any explanation unless you happen to live in a very rural area where no alternative GP is available. I cannot see why you would want to stay with a GP who you imply has let you down.

exgp

Sorry, didn't mean to post twice.

Patient11

Its a matter of public record that the HSE paid for the building of the clinic.


The reason I want to stay with the clinic is because I still need regular blood tests as well as injections. I'm not physically well enough to travel to the new surgery they transferred me to. Also once I get my operation I will be even weaker than I am now.

Miaireland

I am afraid that you cannot make a GP take you on. The fact that the public money was used to funded the building does not make a difference.

I suggest that you ask your new GP practice to take to the local Public Health nurse and see if she could visit you and give you the injections (some can, some cannot).

Patient11

Miaireland wrote: »

. The fact that the public money was used to funded the building does not make a difference.

Of course it does. I'm not able to use a public building which was funded by my and everyone else's tax money.

Its the same as being told I can't use my local hospital.

As said if this clinic wont serve the local community then they should have their funding withdrawn.

RobFowl

Patient11 wrote: »

Of course it does. I'm not able to use a public building which was funded by my and everyone else's tax money.

Its the same as being told I can't use my local hospital.

As said if this clinic wont serve the local community then they should have their funding withdrawn.

The GP practice is paying rent to be there, it's funding itself using the income it gets from registered patients.
The answer you are getting is remarkably similar from every poster, you can't force a GP who doesn't want to take you on doing so.

Patient11

RobFowl wrote: »

The GP practice is paying rent to be there, it's funding itself using the income it gets from registered patients.
The answer you are getting is remarkably similar from every poster, you can't force a GP who doesn't want to take you on doing so.

I went to the clinic for over 15 years that should count for something.

RobFowl

Patient11 wrote: »

I went to the clinic for over 15 years that should count for something.

The factual answer is that it doesn't if they no longer want to take you on and you are registered with another GP.

Miaireland

Patient11 wrote: »

Of course it does. I'm not able to use a public building which was funded by my and everyone else's tax money.

Its the same as being told I can't use my local hospital.

As said if this clinic wont serve the local community then they should have their funding withdrawn.

No it is not the same. The Doctor can decide to take you on or not. The GP practice is his business and the building he is in may have got funding for him but it is owned by him or her or their are the name on the lease. Doctors get to pick who they take on in most cases.

At the end of the day they do not have to take you on, they clearly are not which is their right. Accept this and look for alternative solutions rather than just dismissing anyone who is telling you what is factually correct.

The One Doctor

Patient11 wrote: »

I went to the clinic for over 15 years that should count for something.

It counts for nothing.

I suggest you get on with improving you health by whatever means suggested as your previous GP does not have any obligation take you back regardless of how much complaining you do.

Mrs OBumble

OP, your local GP did not diagnose your illness. I do not think you can trust that they would give you the right treatments, even if you did find a way to make them take you back.

I think you should look around your local community, and find someone who can help you with travel to the other GP - either by paying for taxis, or having a volunteer who gives you a lift. Perhaps Vincent de Paul might help, or (if you're old) Age Concern, etc. There must be some local charities.

Miaireland

Patient11 wrote: »

I went to the clinic for over 15 years that should count for something.

To be honest I would take this as the extent that the GP Clinic is unhappy to take you back, that even after being attending for 15years that they still wouldn't take you back.

I think you need to take the excellent advice in the previous post from Mrs OBumble.

Gael23

OP I found myself in a situation that was a small bit different but had the same outcome not so long ago.
My advice: make a fresh start with a new doctor and never go back to the practice you were in before. I can only answer from my own perspective but to me I could no longer trust a doctor that did such a thing. When that's broken, your relationship ends imo.
I was moved to a new surgery very close to my previous one but to me a Doctor that I'm happy with and trust is more important than location.

RainyDay

Patient11 wrote: »

The money to build the clinic actually came from the HSE. It was opened by a former Minister Of Health.

It's not right that they can accept public money and then turn away members of the public.

Is the clinic operated by the HSE? Is it a HSE primary care centre?

Patient11 wrote: »

The reason I want to stay with the clinic is because I still need regular blood tests as well as injections. I'm not physically well enough to travel to the new surgery they transferred me to. Also once I get my operation I will be even weaker than I am now.

It's a long shot, but you could claim a 'reasonable accomodation' on grounds of your disability, if your condition meets the definition of disability in the Equal Status Acts. This might not make a huge difference in practice, but you could ultimately take a case to the Equality Tribunal. Don't hold your breath waiting for a hearing though.

L1011

If the previous GP has taken a decision that, in their mind, you're a hypochondriac why the hell would you want to go back to them? If you could force them to see you do you realistically expect to be treated as any other patient would be? The old Groucho Marx quote comes to mind.... I would be far more interested in looking for a non-adversarial patient-clinician relationship.

As goes public funding - the bulk of GPs outside of middle class areas have their surgeries provided by the HSE. Its nothing special. Rural towns or lower income areas of larger towns have health centres with free or low rent surgeries for GPs as a public service. If you're not in a rural or traditionally low-income area there's a damn good chance they're paying market rent for the building; or actually own it and rent space to the HSE.

Patient11

L1011 wrote: »

If the previous GP has taken a decision that, in their mind, you're a hypochondriac why the hell would you want to go back to them?

I only want to use the facilities ie blood tests I will also need injections.

L1011 wrote: »

As goes public funding - the bulk of GPs outside of middle class areas have their surgeries provided by the HSE. Its nothing special. Rural towns or lower income areas of larger towns have health centres with free or low rent surgeries for GPs as a public service. If you're not in a rural or traditionally low-income area there's a damn good chance they're paying market rent for the building; or actually own it and rent space to the HSE.

Its public knowledge that my local clinic got and continues get direct funding from the HSE.

My local TD and a former health minster opened the clinic.

I will contacting my TD about this issue.

locum-motion

Patient11 wrote: »

...
Its public knowledge that my local clinic got and continues get direct funding from the HSE...

How many times does this need to be explained to you?

The clinic receives funding from the HSE to look after the patients it is contracted to look after. That does not automatically mean it receives funding to look after you. In fact, it has already been comprehensively shown in this thread that another clinic receives funding to look after you.

Do you really think that just because an entity is partially funded by the taxpayer that every taxpayer has the right to demand services from that entity?

You're dreaming, if you do.

Patient11

locum-motion wrote: »

How many times does this need to be explained to you?

The clinic receives funding from the HSE to look after the patients it is contracted to look after. That does not automatically mean it receives funding to look after you.

You could say the same thing about any hospital. Yet I have still paid for it through my taxes.

locum-motion wrote: »

In fact, it has already been comprehensively shown in this thread that another clinic receives funding to look after you.

I don't even use the other clinic because I'm not well enough to travel there.

locum-motion wrote: »

Do you really think that just because an entity is partially funded by the taxpayer that every taxpayer has the right to demand services from that entity?

Its not partically funded by the tax payer it gets MOST of its funding from the tax payer.

The fact that they get any public money gives them an obligation to serve the public.

If it was a private clinic I woundn't feel as bad but the fact of the matter is that the clinic gets massive grants from the HSE and is known as a "primary care centre".

If they are going to turn away local members of the community with serious illnesses then they should have their public funding withdrawn.

The Doctor who runs the clinic was boasting in a local newspaper that he wanted the clinic "to serve the local community".

But that doesnt seem to include me even though I'm only a short walk from the clinic.

Gael23

Im going to repeat my previous point also.
I had a bad experience with a GP some time ago, I'm not going to go into exactly what happened but patients of that practice basically got caught in a crossfire.
Before I was told the practice was closing down entirely, I had already began to make moves to leave the place anyway because of what was going on. For me as a young person, and I guess for anyone, a relationship with a Doctor is totally based on trust, if you don't have that then I don't think you can have that person as your Doctor.

Patient11

Gael23 wrote: »

Im going to repeat my previous point also.
I had a bad experience with a GP some time ago, I'm not going to go into exactly what happened but patients of that practice basically got caught in a crossfire.
Before I was told the practice was closing down entirely, I had already began to make moves to leave the place anyway because of what was going on. For me as a young person, and I guess for anyone, a relationship with a Doctor is totally based on trust, if you don't have that then I don't think you can have that person as your Doctor.

They have new Doctors at the my local clinic all the time. I would not even have to deal with the main Doctor if I went back there. The reason I want to use the clinic is for my regular blood tests so I dont have to travel into hospital.

Stheno

Patient11 wrote: »

They have new Doctors at the my local clinic all the time. I would not even have to deal with the main Doctor if I went back there. The reason I want to use the clinic is for my regular blood tests so I dont have to travel into hospital.

Well you cant they've chosen not to have you as a patient as is their right

Just make other arrangements

RobFowl

The OP asked a question and has got a number of different posters giving similar answers.
I can't see this thread going anywhere from here on so am closing it.
If OP want's it reopened please PM me with a compelling reason to do so.
Rob