Consultant appointments

Citygirl1

Hi all - interested in some perspectives (also a bit of a rant!).

Over the last few months I am undergoing treatment for cancer. My Oncology Consultant is a very highly qualified and respected individual in their field. However, every time I see them, the appointment feels like a competition to get me in and out the door in record time. Typical format:
- Call me in with a brief polite inquiry as to how I am, while still in the corridor.
- Sit down and immediately launch into a 10 second summary of where I am with my treatment.
- Immediately move to confirming the date of my next treatment, and then dismissal.

At this point I have to interrupt the consultant and attempt to raise any queries or concerns I may have. I always feel on the back foot at this stage, and it feels that only one issue (max 2) is acceptable.

I've been fairly lucky in my treatment, in that I haven't had any major issues or bad reactions. However, I do still have a certain amount of side effects, which I haven't raised at all. They have been quite dismissive of one issue which has arisen, which is a significant concern to me.

As I'm being treated as a private patient in a public hospital, this consultant gets to charge €120 to my medical insurer every time I attend for treatment, whether or not I actually see them, so particularly irksome to get this attitude when I do see them.

Every other member of staff in the hospital have been brilliant, including the surgical consultant.

Wondering if the above is the norm when dealing with many consultants? And am I right to be assertive in trying to get their attention to queries I would raise with any other doctor?

caviardreams

I have found some consultants very patient, asking if you have any questions etc., and others are exactly as you describe. You could probably say the same for any profession (GPs, teachers, plumbers, customer service reps - anyone) I guess it comes down to personality etc.

However I do agree it is unfortunate that such a conveyor-belt type approach can occur when dealing with significant health issues which can be very distressing and a major cause of concern for patients. In these cases I think you do need to try and be assertive, but that is very difficult especially when there is a power dynamic involved also (I know I have struggled with this myself). I am not sure if it applies in your case, but I do find younger consultants tend to be better - perhaps they receive better training in terms of listening skills and communicating/dealing with patients now?

Citygirl1

Hi Caviardreams - you make some good points there.

As you say, this type of thing can arise with people from many walks of life. But while I'd feel perfectly equal to push back with a plumber or customer service rep, and would have the option to change GPs, there is an element of the "power dynamic" with a highly qualified consultant. I cannot afford to get them offside, even if they are dismissing me. And I'm sure this consultant is not accustomed to being challenged - some of the other staff in the hospital appear to be in awe of them.

As you say, perhaps a younger/less experienced person might take a little more time to listen. This consultant, who has probably seen thousands of patients over the years may actually be bored with cases they view as routine. While for the likes of me, chemo is a life changing experience.

It really has added unnecessary stress for me. Ironically, if I was there as a public patient, I might be paranoid that this was the reason. While, it irritates me to think of the money they are making from me as a private patient...

CathyMoran

I really do feel that it depends on the oncologist and some of the team had different people skills to others but I always knew that they had my best interests at heart and were excellent at what they did, that was the most important thing to me. I do understand your concerns, I was only 32 when I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2006 and it was tough but the job that they do is amazing, I know that I could never do it.