Anna’s son is disabled – he has been suffering from cerebral palsy since birth. When her mother asked for a neurologist home visit at the clinic, she was sent back with the receipt. The management argued that this would make it difficult for everyone to work and extend the queues for other patients. «I have never asked for help, but can I really not take advantage of the rights that I am entitled to» asks Anna in a letter sent to our editorial office.
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The clinic declined a home visit
The action of MedTvoiLokony #NiewidzialnyPacjent is in progress. Mrs. Anna sent us a letter in which she describes the scandalous situation that happened to her in the clinic. The full text of the letter is published below:
«With the example of my son, see how a disabled person who needs medical attention is treated.
My adult son suffers from cerebral palsy from birth. He has a severe disability certificate. He does not speak, he does not walk, he does not even sit, he cannot eat himself, he is a lying person. He also has other comorbidities: curvature of the spine, deformed body parts, epilepsy, etc.
In the 25 years of my son’s life, I did not use the medical specialist services at the patient’s homeso far we have dealt with ourselves. However, the time has come that we must take advantage of this opportunity. Due to the fact that he has recently experienced epilepsy attacks more often, a visit from a neurologist is essential.
My son was referred to a neurologist by his GP, with a note at the patient’s home and urgent. At the clinic, I learned that there were no visits by any specialists at the patient’s home. I couldn’t believe it so I asked again. The registration lady left her position and asked someone else about it. However, she gave me the same answer as before. When asked what should I do now, she replied that I should look in other clinics.
I went home and searched for information, including the Patient Rights Helpline and the Patient Ombudsman. There, I learned that it was possible to visit a specialist at the patient’s home. This is written in paragraph 7 of the Regulation of the Minister of Health of November 06.11.2013, XNUMX on guaranteed benefits in the field of outpatient specialist care, which says clearly and clearly – quoted “in cases resulting from the health condition of the recipient, guaranteed services are provided at the recipient’s home”.
I signed up with the director of the clinic. There, the director and her deputy were waiting for me. At the beginning, they asked if the patient was lying down and if I had a referral from a doctor. One of the ladies looked at the referral and wrote down the data of interest to her. Later, they said that all patients in the clinic were seen on the spot and that they could also make such an appointment available to my son. However, I wanted a home visit. Then the director said that e-prescriptions were introduced from the new year and that home visits were made difficult, and that the doctor’s work would be difficult, because in the clinic he would have to enter all documentation from the visit to the patient. These arguments were repeated to me several times, and when I presented mine, they did not even comment on them and did not respond to them. Of course, they praised my visit to the clinic all the time in the sense that if any tests are needed, they will be performed immediately, which I do not believe at all. I didn’t want to change my mind, so the ladies started making me feel guilty. As other patients, as a result of my stubborn stance, will miss visits to the neurologist, will fall out of the queue or will have to have their appointments rescheduled. They still blamed me that I had just come to this clinic, why didn’t I go to others, because there is a free choice. I also asked why the information contained false information that there were no visits by any specialists at the patient’s home. One of the ladies apologized for this. Our conversation ended with the fact that I will be informed about my further decision by phone.
After leaving the office, after consulting with my husband, I decided to submit a letter to the secretary’s office for a home visit by a neurologist at home.
On the same day, the deputy director of the clinic called me and persuaded me to visit a doctor at the clinic. She also informed me that she called other clinics in our city and in one of them, asking for a specialist doctor to visit her home, here I quote “they told her to knock her head”. This statement offended me a lot, because you can see what is the attitude of doctors to patients, and this is towards the weakest, the most disadvantaged by fate. For me, this is something terrible and unacceptable. The lady also suggested that a neurologist would call me, but she didn’t know what the case was. When the specialist called, he again advised me not to visit home, informing me of the great difficulty and confusion and inconvenience it was for other patients. At the end of the conversation, he stated that I should proceed as I wish.
After a few days, I received a reply that the clinic was again proposing my son to visit them on the spot. I have already explained that I do not want to use such a solution because it will be a great stress for my son. He is very sensitive and any changes may expose him to anxiety attacks, vomiting or even seizures. He is also not indifferent to strangers. Besides, the doctor referring him to a specialist at the patient’s home also had serious reasons for this.
So far I have not asked for any help, I am not a demanding person and am I really unable to take advantage of the patient’s rights that we are entitled to? »
When are patients entitled to a doctor’s home visit?
Advocate Bartłomiej Achler in an interview with MedTvoiLokony confirms that Anna had the right to apply for a home visit: – The patient has the right to a home visit as part of primary health care in cases justified by medical indications. The decision whether such indications exist in a specific situation is always made by the primary care physician – says the attorney.
However, there are cases where the doctor may refuse to visit the patient. -You should also remember that home visits take place according to the doctor’s work schedule. The doctor may therefore refuse to come to the patient’s home, for example, when he deems that there are no medical indications for this, or when such a visit cannot take place due to reasons resulting from the doctor’s and clinic’s work schedule, the attorney explains.
However, you can always assert your rights, just as Ms Anna did. – If the patient finds that the refusal of the home visit is unjustified, he can of course intervene with the head of the clinic. He can also file a complaint to the Patient’s Rights Ombudsman or the competent regional branch of the National Health Fund – explains Bartłomiej Achler.
Read other patient stories:
- “The doctor didn’t know what was wrong with me, so he called the police”
- Patient’s letter: at a doctor, a man has to fight as if he were in a war
- The doctor said medications were advisable, but he couldn’t prescribe them. This is how diabetes is treated in Poland
For a long time you have not been able to find the cause of your ailments or are you still looking for it? Do you want to tell us your story or draw attention to a common health problem? Write to the address [email protected] #Together we can do more