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Why have I got to see a dietician?

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Tumble

Tumble

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
After falling off the rails for a long time I finally went to my doctors to ask for help. He admitted that I had been 'lost' on the system again. He said he would contact the diabetes team and book me an appointment. Two weeks later I received a letter, to say that my appointment would be in two weeks.

So on Wednesday with a bit of hope that I was finally getting support, I headed off to my appointment only to be greeted by a baffled receptionist who told me there were no more appointments for that day. She finally believed me when I produced the letter.

I was dumped in a coridoor and told to wait for the DN to come out of her room. When she did she had no idea that I had an appointment. She asked me a few questions about previous care and when I mentioned that I had been on a DAFNE course she instantly told me that she couldn't help me and I would have to see a dietician with some experience.

When I tried to leave the building I was locked in and when I tapped on the glass I heard the very annoyed receptionist say to someone, 'the reason we had to stay late is coz of some diabetic,' it was 4:45!

I pretty much cried all the way home. My partner is livid and I feel lost and deflated all over again. No one seems to care and I keep getting fobbed off from one person to the next.

So now I have arranged with my doctors surgery to have my bloods done, I presume I was supposed to request a fasting one and I'm still waiting to hear from the dietician. It's rubbish!
 
Lilies said:
Shocking care, can you change surgery?
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I agree with you.

I'd have gone 'ballistic' (well, I would have had a 'quiet' word) if that had ever happened to me. I can understand computer glitches happen sometimes, but the lack of care and responsibility after that beggars belief!
 
That really is dreadful :( I think you posted this yesterday and I replied but those posts got lost in the maintenance, many apologies!

You need to insist on seeing a DSN - you should have access to one whether you have done DAFNE or not and from what you have said in the past this is the type of person you need to sit down and talk to. Where have they got this idea that you need to see a dietician from? It may be helpful, but I think you have much broader questions to ask than simply about your diet. I would insist on a DSN appt. at the earliest opportunity or ask to be referred to a different clinic. The behaviour of the staff that you report is appalling, particularly given that they were already at fault for having 'lost' you on the system. You should go back to your doctor, explain what happened and ask for an apology and a full explanation of why your care has been so shoddy. A letter to the relevant heads of departments (PCT/GP Practise head) would also be in order. NHS care isn't free, it is paid for by our taxes and so we should have an expectation that it will be delivered at a high quality, not prevent staff from knocking off early! 😡

I know good care can be given because I have been lucky to receive it - those who cannot provide it need to be brought to the attention of the powers that be and made accountable. Good luck, and let us know how you get on 🙂
 
I should imagine the DN you spoke to is not DAFNE trained and therefore wouldn't be able to help as much as the dietician who presumably is. DAFNE courses are run by a DSN and a dietician so they both know the principles and how to adjust ratios etc. Depening on the centre dieticians can be very experienced and do things such as pump starts, so I wouldn't knock her just by her title. She may turn out to be useless you can never tell until you meet them.

The receptionist was rude and you should definatly make the right people aware about that.
 
sofaraway said:
I should imagine the DN you spoke to is not DAFNE trained and therefore wouldn't be able to help as much as the dietician who presumably is. DAFNE courses are run by a DSN and a dietician so they both know the principles and how to adjust ratios etc. Depening on the centre dieticians can be very experienced and do things such as pump starts, so I wouldn't knock her just by her title. She may turn out to be useless you can never tell until you meet them.

The receptionist was rude and you should definatly make the right people aware about that.
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I agree with Sofaraway 100%
Sorry you were treated like a 2nd class citizen though :( Please do make your feelings known on this point to the right people.
((((((((((hugs)))))))
 
Sorry to hear your tale. The Receptionist was beyond rude and very unprofessional.
I can understand how upset you must have been. You build yourself up for your appointment thinking you are finally going to get some advice and then nothing and you have been made to feel a nuisance to boot.

Go back to your GP and complain he or se may be able to put some pressure on the hospital and make a complaint on your behalf.
 
where do they find these receptionists from. I think at interview they must ask whether you hate all signs of human life. Hope you are feeling better and try not to let it ruin your day 🙂
 
sofaraway said:
I should imagine the DN you spoke to is not DAFNE trained and therefore wouldn't be able to help as much as the dietician who presumably is. DAFNE courses are run by a DSN and a dietician so they both know the principles and how to adjust ratios etc. Depening on the centre dieticians can be very experienced and do things such as pump starts, so I wouldn't knock her just by her title. She may turn out to be useless you can never tell until you meet them....
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Thanks for educating me, I hadn't realised that the DAFNE trained dieticians would have that breadth of knowledge. My PCT does not do DAFNE so the DSN and dietician are quite separate roles. 🙂

Tumble - hope the dietician you see is good and can answer all your questions 🙂
 
I did reply yesterday btu can't remember what I wrote, so just to say, you should deffo write to the PCT and complain about the remarks and the mess up on the appointment. They should be going out of their way to accomodate you after so long.

Like Northerner, I've not come across a dietician who can make decisions about regime change, etc but hopefully she'll be more than just the norm.

If you feel you need a more experienced/qualified DSN/consultant after your appointment, then push for it.

Rob
 
Being self employed i wouldnt get the chance to be so rude & spiteful. I realy hate that kind of service and those "idiots should not be working". Hope you get some better service next time you go. Good luck 🙂
 
Your treatment is awful , I do hope you can get it sorted. I just want to say that my dietician is wonderful and has shown more interest in my holistic welfare than anyone I have met for a long time. She advises me and encourages me and is lovely to talk to. She, and mow my podiatrist are my life lines. My DN is not much good to be honest, she doesn't answer my questions or seem that interested , nice enough but not reassuring... So, go to a dietician if you get the chance and I hope you get someone like mine 🙂

Good luck, what an experience. :(
 
Thanks very much for your replies. I will go and see the dietician if she ever calls me and then take it from there.
I'm not a pushy person so I find it hard to complain about people but I think I will take this one further and see if I get any results.
Thanks Rob for clearing up about my post yesterday, I thought I was going mad when I couldn't find it!
Thank you for clearing it up about seeing a dietician. I had a bad experience with my first dietician when I was first diagnosed so was a bit reluctant to see another one, although the DAFNE dietician was very good at the time.
Thanks again.
 
Open up a can of whoopass on them !!! :D

I suspect most of us are a bit timid when it comes to complaining and demanding what's right, but keep in mind your experience and how it made you feel. They were wholly in the wrong and, if nothing else owe you an apology and should ensure it doesn't happen to anyone else.

Good luck.🙂

Rob
 
Tumble said:
Thank you for clearing it up about seeing a dietician. I had a bad experience with my first dietician when I was first diagnosed so was a bit reluctant to see another one, although the DAFNE dietician was very good at the time.
Thanks again.
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Hi Tumble,
there are loads of negative post from people re dieticians, mainly because they read things on the net so then when they get to the apt they only hear what they want to hear.

Help yourself by taking along your ratios and a weeks worth of a food diary. Write down what you see as going wrong. List questions you want answered ask for tips etc.
I think you will then be suprised at the help you get.
The dietician I saw was very helpful gave me lots of tips on how to use my insulin to get better results post meal, suggested dif ways to cook certain foods.
So go in with a positive attitude and reap the rewards 🙂
 
dreadfully treated

My dad had to see locum at his surgery before he was diagnosed , Do you have other doctors in the surgery that might be better.
 
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