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"A rude and impatient specialist"

About: St John of God Berwick Hospital

(as the patient),

I had attended via a referral to a neurosurgeon for recommendations to a neck pain problem due to bone spurs. At this first consultation, it was suggested that I may need neck surgery with an implant. As I did not have private health insurance I was given a pricing structure with alternatives of paying upfront, taking out insurance for a period of a year to qualify or take my place in the public system. I was sent off to have further scans and tests and a referral to have a cortisone injection in the inflamed area.  

I had these tests performed and the injection as advised and returned to this specialist recently for the results.

Before it was my turn to enter their room, the previous patient exclaimed quite loudly that it was a waste of time, and asked how much it will cost to see them again.

I was called in next. I felt they were very abrupt with me, a totally different mood to my first visit with them. I had to ask how each of my tests went and I felt I got short answers such as, fine, and it seemed they dismissed any questions I had. The neurosurgeon then told me it was probably just a pinched nerve and asked how much relief I received from the injection. I explained the radiologist had injected in one sight only. They then complained loudly I felt, why does a radiologist decide to inject into a different site than what I ordered. I told them that the radiologist said I might need another injection, that I would need another referral for. To this, the neurosurgeon replied that they are not writing out another referral just because the radiologist can’t follow their instructions.

I explained to them I wasn’t in a financial place to have the surgery done under the private system to which they retorted that if I can’t afford it that is on me. I was then quickly shuffled out of their rooms with a prescription only and handed a preprinted note to hand to the receptionist, this was an invoice for the wrong amount and for the wrong patient. This was finally paid in two parts and I am hoping that the Medicare rebate will now be correctly applied.

I feel that their complete bad mood on this day was totally unprofessional, uncaring and very rude. It made me feel a nuisance and pest rather than a patient seeking treatment. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this doctor to inspire confidence in anyone and would seriously be concerned if they were in this mood on a day they were performing delicate surgery. Can any formal feedback or reprimand be given in these circumstances?   

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