I went to the ENT dept of Charing Cross Hospital on the 7th April, I now go every 8 weeks,I see a male ENT Dr,always very smart, and most helpful, have the optique camera up nose which is most unpleasant, but all goes well and I am reassured; last time I was met by a tiny woman, in a tee shirt and long skirt, who started off with, " you had your operation two years ago, I said no ! all the while she was talking to me her eyes were fixed on something going on in the distance, she had no idea what part of the throat had been operated on, and when it came to putting the camera down my nose, after four goes, with a nurse helping, I was in agony, she gave up; so I am not at all happy with the out come, what should I do, should I write to Mr Clark and his team ??? Help

Ouch. I think it was actually you who I first saw post that we go through a kind of Medieval torture. I hate that damned nose camera, even under the best of circumstances. What you experienced is beyond comprehension.

Sorry I can't offer any constructive advice, knowing nothing really about medicine in the UK.

Garance, Can't you ask for another Doc.
Cathy

Thanks Ron and Cat, I would like to see another Doc, but I would like some imput from Dr Joshi, I spoke to Dominque a girl friend who is a nurse in France, and she said this is a major problem, that people do not always see the same doc each visit. I have to say it was the total lack of interest this woman showed, she had not even glanced at the notes.
Hope to hear from Dr Joshi soon, Big Bear Hugs

The first Ent doct that Jerry my husband saw was a quack. Actually if he had been more thourogh, Jerry would of not had to go through what he has gone through. After the chemo and radiation the cancer Dr told us to go back to the same quack. We decided to see another ENT doc who was not on our insurance network plan but I got the insurance to approve it and he took charge and did what the first Dr should of done to begin with.

You have to be comfortable with a Doctor that you are putting your life in his hands.

Terry

Hi everyone, re the Doc who was not on the ball, my friend Kate, who had a big Larry Op 7 years ago, when today to the same hospital, and landed with the same female Doc, who was unable to put the optic camera up her nose and hurt her also; so I said perhaps she should be treating the other end of the body, the hole is perhaps an easier target.

Hi Garance

Sorry that you had a bad experience with the doctor you saw. The problem is that not all doctors are good clinicians despite the exams they might have passed. Some are good at research but still see patients only to keep their hand in. Whatever, patients need to be seen by good clinicians.

The only way problems like you experienced can be rectified is for the patients concerned to write to the hospital complaining about the quality of care. This should ensure: (1) the patient ends up with someone more experienced the next time, and (2) the doctor concerned gets further training or finds something that suits their abilities.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thank you Dr Vinod, thank you for the response, I have written to Mr Clark, and have asked my friend Kate,to write also; normally she has yearly visits, but this femal doc told her she would have to come back in 6 months as she was unable to get the optic cam down her nose and hurt her quite a lot.
I have a great deal of pain in my jaw at present and pain in upper molars. Thank you for being here for us, I have given details to Back up about the site and my Doc.

You mean the cancer back-up: CancerBACUP
"Europe's leading cancer information service, with over 4,500 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for cancer patients, their families and carers."

Yes, Dr Vinod, but they haven't got much on throat cancer and they were very happy to have you web address.
Thank you agian for this site. Garance