'Independant' Medical Experts

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The NHS Complaints procedure can mean that you need an 'Independant' Medical Expert to look over your case.

The NHS Complaints procedure will only accept a Report from a Medical Expert who works for the NHS!

This will normally mean that in any particular field the Medical Expert could know or be in the same association or society of the NHS staff that are being complained about!

In our case 'Knickers and Twist' seem to be the Doctor's orders. Here is a copy of an email sent to the Leeds based Medical Expert that we 'employed' to complile a Report for us in order to understand what terminal medication had and had not been administered:

Medical Expert/Invoice £2.165.83‏
From: Palliative Care Less Rot in the NHS (tomsanguish@hotmail.com)
Sent: 22 January 2010 16:00:33

Dear Dr. .......,

I am rather saddened by the fact that you have NOT replied to any of my emails.

I would like to know if you would like payment (£2.165.83) for your Medical Report 3/3/09?

May I take this opportunity to mention point 4.3 of your Report "in my opinion the level of observation and care provided in this case was consistent with usual standard palliative care practice".

And may I also take this opportunity to mention, according to Raley's Solicitor's, Barnsley:

"She (Dr. .......) maintains the view that the standard of care provided was appropriate and that any responsible body of medical opinion would have treated your father in the same way".

Dr. ......, Palliative Care Consultant at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital, had another opinion 16/2/06: "we will be able to reflect on your father's case and hopefully improve our service in the future".

I must now draw your attention to the fact that the Hospital has recently written to my M.P. Mr. David Willetts, November, 2009, to say that:

'I can confirm that when the Healthcare Commission highlighted aspects of Mr. Milner's care which could have been improved, I apologised for these lapses and ensured that the recommendations were acted upon'.

Communication over my Father's case, as you outlined in your Report, does seem to have been an issue, doesn't it?

Sheffield Hospital Trust said in various press articles that: 'a review had been carried out by the Trust and the Healthcare Commission about the medication given and it was found staff acted appropriately and professionally'.

This matter is still ongoing and I will keep you informed of developments.

In the meantime, I await your reply, regarding the outstanding invoice.

Very Kind Regards,

www.tomsanguish.com

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