The Villa Street Medical Centre
FM
Francesca M. 7 years ago • From Google
Bad
I had a very poor experience at this practice. In 2014, I experienced significant back pain and was initially told it was psychological in nature. After seeking a second opinion and undergoing imaging, I received a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis with a protruding disc affecting a nerve. I underwent surgery in November and had some relief for a period. Following the birth of my child in 2016, I registered at this practice due to its convenient location. My back pain returned severely, and I attended physiotherapy sessions, though the exercises seemed to worsen my condition rather than improve it. The practice also suggested acupuncture, but I was unable to attend the appointment due to mobility issues and couldn't reschedule. During consultations, I felt the clinician was dismissive of my pain and suggested I was exaggerating my symptoms to obtain medication. To demonstrate I was not dependent on pain relief, I stopped taking my prescribed medication for a month, enduring considerable daily pain as a way to prove this point. I recently attended a specialist appointment where the consultant reviewed my medical history and expressed concern about my management. I was prescribed appropriate pain relief and muscle relaxant medications at therapeutic doses. When I requested my routine prescription from the practice following this specialist appointment, I was informed the next day that one of the clinicians was reducing my pain medication, despite me only receiving minimal doses. This made me feel further stigmatised and left me without adequate pain management. I will not be returning to this practice. A staff member also made comments about medication duration that contradicted what I know from my own experience and that of others I know who take similar medications long-term. This practice appears to forget their role as general practitioners and not specialists. Patients should not be made to feel judged or left in pain due to assumptions. I believe the standard of care provided fell short of what should be expected, and I intend to pursue this matter further.
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