I Can't Wait Until We Have Socialized Medicine

Socialized Medicine killed this woman. That, and indifference. ‘Jessica’s cancer was missed 20 times by GPs – she never stood a chance’

She called her General Practitioners' office repeatedly. She was often not even allowed to actually see a doctor, but only speak on the phone.

Jessica first contacted the surgery in June 2020 with pain in her abdomen and back. Over the phone, the GP told her she had a UTI and recommended antibiotics – the first of five futile courses she would be prescribed over the next five months. [SNIP]

A pattern emerged: she’d call the surgery, speak to a dismissive receptionist, and eventually be granted a phone call with a GP. The doctor would listen to the latest symptoms, prescribe medication and send her away. Jessica had 20 GP appointments and two trips to A&E [Accident and Emergency] in total. Not once did anyone mention the word “cancer”.

Jessica, after years, gave up on the UK's National Health Service (NHS), and went to a private doctor. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. There was no hope.

Doctors at NHS said she had "long COVID," even though COVID tests were negative. When asked to be referred to a specialist, one doctor laughed at her. They wouldn't do tests. They wouldn't even look down her throat. They knew what was wrong with her, or they thought they did, and in their minds they couldn't possibly be wrong. They were wrong.

Part of it is that the NHS can't be bothered to see people in person.

Just three of Jessica’s GP appointments were conducted in person. Face-to-face consultations plummeted in the pandemic, of course. Yet, even now, nearly 30 per cent of appointments are still conducted remotely in England.

As for the doctors who dismissed her, literally for YEARS.

After Jessica’s death, the Bradys wrote to the surgery to make a formal complaint. They never received an apology.

The doctors have nothing to be sorry for. No regret. No remorse. No feeling that they should have done a better job. That seems to be the position of the doctors, anyway.