will you just tell me the bloody results!

What do patients want? This might seem a strange question. Most just want to be treated, to get better, to be able to live and function with reasonable ease.


However it's not always so clear cut. Do you WANT to know what's wrong with you? Some do, some don't. Especially with really serious issues like cancer or HIV. Do you want your test results face-to-face, by email, with a friend present and so forth?  Personally If there are tests done no matter the seriousness I want the results NOW!  No faffing about.  No niceties, no carefully planned disclosure...just bloody tell me!

Everyone is different. but most know their human capacity for medical news. I hate, loathe, and detest others deciding when, how, if, to tell me results of tests undertaken. I loathe, hate, detest the Consultant's POWER over my body.

I want doctors to know my body is mine therefore any tests results are mine, not HIS. The sooner I get the information the better.

I hate, loathe, detest how some doctors write letters to other doctors as if I don't exist.  As if there is a 'background' mafia of doctors discussing me without my agreement, consultation, involvement. I want the day to come that doctors letters are approved & agreed by the patient BEFORE they are widely sent to every god damn professional in your care circle.

e.g. Did I give you PERMISSION to tell my consultant/GP that I had in my childhood ....da da,  da da, da da.....whatever.....

I wonder will the day ever come when patients and doctors are truly collaborative in disease discovery and treatment.

Here are some examples of all I detest:

1. We can't email your results...it's the hospital policy
2. your doctor will have to give you your results (not secretaries/nurses/social work/any other professional - ONLY YOuR DOCTOR.
3. You'll have to make an appointment to get your results
4. I can't give you copies of the letters I wrote to your GP
5. I can't give you copies of your test results/scans etc

The assumption that patients are probably all medically illiterate so 'let's just keep it simple and brief' is frustrating in the extreme!

I want to know EXACTLY what an errant test reading MEANS.  I don't want 'oh it's probably not important'. Of COURSE it's BLOODY IMPORTANT, there should not be errant tests results.

I don't want from the consultant "I've got ideas" , with me waiting with gaping mouth, expectant eyes, ears on the tremble waiting, waiting for the 'ideas' only to be told "ah we'll have to wait for the test results".

I don't want to be an interesting research specimen - even if I am 'rare' .

I am 62 a perfectly intelligent human being.  The attitude of doctors that we patients are somehow not responsible, or won't understand, or shouldn't be involved in medical things is totally outrageous.

They seem to have a pathological fear that we will run medically amok or psychologically amok with test results.

My message to doctors is;

1. Treat me like a valued colleague
2. keep NOTHING from me
3. Don't patronise me
4. Don't play the power games
5. communicate effectively, quickly and clearly

Just...

Stop messing me about and tell me the bloody results.
Thank You.