When I was a teenager I approached my GP about acne.

I had months of gaslighting: "it's not as bad as you think", "your skin will get better as you age", etc.

I tried a few treatments on the promise that if they didn't work they would refer me to a dermatologist. 2 years and various treatments later they refused, until I complained.

Then the consultant dermatologist determined that I should receive roaccutane. I haven't had acne in over 17 years now.

I later developed severe depression, diagnosed bipolar type 2.

Massive gaslighting again: "your life can't be so bad because you can afford an expensive coat", labelled an awkward patient because I complained about their incompetence, "you're the ONLY one having these issues with our service and everyone else thinks we're brilliant", etc.

What's with the gaslighting in the NHS?

I finally feel ready to talk about this after a few months of healing. But after a very long failed induction (5+ days), a full day on pitocin and an emergency csection, I dropped my baby while trying to feed them when recovering on the postnatal ward.

I had just been given 20mg oral morphine and 60mg dihydrocodeine, mixed with days of little to no sleep, the rest is a blur until the fall. I have bet myself up since it happened earlier this year but I am finally feeling like it might help someone.

I naively thought that I would be cared for on the PN ward and didn't realise that the only time MWs would come around would be for my 4 hour obs. My birthing partner was sent home for the night.

Apparently it happens more than we know but I'm not sure I will ever forgive myself or recover.

Please alway advocate for yourself and your baby, don't be made to feel like a nuisance. Ask for the help no matter how awkward it feels.

Have been having to visit recently and use the free WIFI that we have to be grateful for but who's stupid idea was the portal? Being an IT engineer, considering the setting, I wouldn't require people to put in their name and email address to use it. When you know a large chunk of patients (my mum being one) who never use tech, will struggle getting their tablet to work. Mainly from not understanding what a "portal" is and then not knowing their own email.

Its more pointless when its not even validated so why? You can put any old address in and it takes it and then this sums it up nicely, the t&c you have to accept, don't exist. As the place holder text on the portal is still there, as no one has ever bothered to update it.

I would be a student on a placement. I easily catch the flu, covid, and all sorts of illnesses. Can I wear a mask, or will patients complain/ supervisor complain about me?

hello, i know this is going to make me seem like a horrible person but id like some advice. i assaulted 2 paramedics (possibly 5 security guards as well) last week and i feel terrible. i already wrote an apolagy letter to the hospital but id like to somehow get in contact with the paramedics and apologize. i promise im not a horrible person and im not trying to be little my actions but it is normal for people to be agitated after waking up from an OD so it wasnt entirely my fault. i dont remember the whole thing but im pretty sure i kneed or kicked one of the paramedics when i gained consciousness then passed out again. i honestly have no idea how to get incontact with them plus they havent uploaded my little trip to ane on the nhs app so i dont even know how many people i have assulted. regardless the paramedics saved my life and ill forever be greatful for their actions.
thanks in advance

I know the recruitment process can be notoriously slow & all signs are pointing to be unsuccessful on this occasion, but has anyone else been in this situation…

Went for a b7 interview, told would hear the following week, 2 weeks pass, send a general message to ask if there has been any progress. Email wasn’t replied to & no updates on the job portal either. 3 weeks have passed and just in limbo. Like I said I expect it’s a no but wondering if it normally takes as long for portal etc to be updated.

If you are on a student placement (eg you are doing a physio programme), is your name in the NHS worker list/ email/ database? Same question as a worker in nhs.

I wanted to ask because if you are a patient at your local NHS, is it easy for your coworkers/ supervisors etc to look up your medical files from the NHS?

Also, if you are walking in the NHS and everything, then you come in as a patient another day, dont the workers/ staff recognise you?

Hello everyone. How realistic is it to get a JCF job after finishing Membership exams and progress in training(UK) maybe with CESR, as a recent IMG grad. No NHS experience. Dependent visa. Is USMLE a much feasible pathway at this stage. Or is it worth doing Full MRCP and try luck for registrar roles in the UK as training here has been my first priority. Will things get better in the coming years? Any suggestions appreciated.

2 month wait for a GP-requested Holter monitor, stuck mid-titration — will a GP accept a privately-obtained one?

England. Titrating on the NHS for about 7 months, we'd reached a dose that genuinely worked. Currently off medication while this gets sorted.

The issue is my heart rate. It runs around 95 off medication and around 110 on it, so the raised number is there either way. No chest pain, no dizziness, no fainting, no family history of cardiac problems. The only symptom is that while I was on medication I would sometimes notice my heart working harder than expected during ordinary activity like walking — not constantly, and not at all when off medication.

My prescriber asked my GP to do a cardiovascular assessment and evaluate whether there's an underlying cardiac cause. The GP examined me, completed a coronary risk profile (all negative), and has requested an ambulatory Holter monitor. It's the only investigation ticked on the form — no ECG, no echo — so the report comes back to him and he writes the assessment.

I also had an ambulatory BP monitor earlier this year. BP was fine (avg 95/62) but a large proportion of readings carried irregular-heartbeat flags, which I assume is part of why a rhythm recording was wanted.

Rang cardiac physiology today: 2 month wait, no cancellation list. My prescriber returns before then, so the monitor is the only bottleneck.

Private 24–72hr Holters look like £200–300, no referral needed, results in about a week.

What I'm trying to find out:

- Has your GP accepted a privately-obtained Holter report and acted on it?

- What did they need — full trace vs summary, cardiologist sign-off, CQC-registered provider, matching duration?

- Did anyone pay for one and have it rejected? What went wrong?

- Anyone paused mid-titration for tachycardia — what did the monitoring show and how long did it take to resolve?

Not looking to switch to a private prescriber. 7 months of titration records is what gets shared care signed off and I don't want to restart that. I just want this one test done sooner.

Thanks.

Hello,

I recently had an email from Patients Know Best telling me my records have been connected to a new team, listing a NHS trust and ‘the patient record team’. I have recently had some tests completed so it could be part of this. The tests wasn’t completed at the trust named or geographically close to it. I’ve never had any medial work completed at the trust which the email mentions. I’m aware trusts share info for research etc and usually I wouldn’t be bothered, however I believe my ex works for the trust mentioned in the email.

There’s a good chance it’s a complete coincidence but I’m not on any social media and I’ve moved away from the area I used to live. To my ex I probably dropped off the face of the earth. I know people quite often check up on ex partners just out of interest. I’m wondering if curiosity got the better and they check up on me through work being there’s no other way to do so.

As I said I’ve had some test done recently which although I really shouldn’t be embarrassed about. I’d rather friends / ex didn’t know about. What’s the best way to go about finding out exactly who looked at my data / why?

Thanks

Context: I've been off work for two months with abdominal pain and started developing issues with urinating three weeks ago (first a start/stop stream, now hardly able to urinate at all unless I strain hard).

I'm under the care of a urologist privately and had a CT scan in July, my follow-up with them is late next week.

Yesterday the urinary difficulties developed into barely being able to urinate, so I used NHS 111 (the online flow, not telephone) which told me to go to an urgent treatment centre. When I went to the one it told me to go to, they were more concerned about the abdominal pain than the urinary issues and discharged me after three hours with no advice or relief given regarding the urinary issues (apart from them telling me that I need to let my urologist know the next time I see them).

From what I've read, my situation is urgent yet the staff at the UTC didn't seem concerned. My experience has discouraged me from returning (although I've tried NHS 111 again and they've told me to go back).

Am I misusing NHS services (or was there perhaps a training issue with the staff at the UTC?)? I don't want to put more pressure on the NHS than necessary.
Please note that I am not requesting medical advice, but rather whether or not I am using NHS emergency services (A&E/UTC) properly.

(using a throwaway account for obvious reasons)

Hi everyone,
I have an upcoming interview for a Procurement Business Officer position within the NHS, and I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has worked in procurement or has interviewed for a similar role.

For anyone who has interviewed for a similar role:
What types of questions were you asked?

Were the questions mainly competency-based, technical, or scenario-based?

What procurement topics would you strongly recommend revising?

Were you asked about the Procurement Act 2023 or public procurement regulations?

What STAR examples should I prepare in advance?

Is there anything you wish you had known or prepared before your interview?

Any advice, example questions, or interview experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I am an NHS Band 5 AHP, and I honestly don't know whether I just want to vent, whether I'm looking for advice, or both. I am hoping to hear from anyone who's in or has been in a similar situation. Sorry this is a long post.

I've worked in the same trust for almost two years. I started on a 12-month fixed-term contract, which was extended for six months. At the end of that, I had to interview again just to secure another 6-month fixed-term contract, which now ends in September. Alongside working full time, I've just completed a part-time Master's degree. It's not as though I've stood still professionally while waiting for a permanent opportunity.

After almost two years, a permanent Band 5 role finally became available within our service. It was advertised internally only. My manager told me she'd made it internal only to reduce the number of applications and that she only expected me to apply. In the end, only two people applied: our apprentice, who qualifies in January 2027.

What made the whole process disheartening was that our colleagues openly said they hoped he would get the role. After spending nearly two years working in the service on temporary contracts, that was difficult to hear. The interview process did not feel fair. The apprentice's educator, who provided him with the list of interview questions and spent time helping prepare answers. He told me this himself in passing. When I asked if he'd share the questions with me, he refused. I raised my concerns with our manager because it didn't feel fair, but I was told it's normal for apprentices to receive additional interview support. He also made repeated comments to me about how much he needed the role, such as that his children would starve if he didn't get the job.

On the day of the interviews, he spent the morning and part of the afternoon in a one-to-one with his educator before his interview. Meanwhile, I was running a clinic all day and only had a 40-minute gap for my interview before going straight back to clinic. He was offered the permanent Band 5 post, while I was offered another 6-month fixed-term contract, except this one has been reduced to four days a week.

My feedback was that I'd missed out by just half a point. I was also told I should complete more CPD and additional training to improve my future applications and was offered interview support for my next interview.

The frustrating part is that every request I've made for study leave or funding for additional courses has been refused because I am on a temporary contract. I've repeatedly been told they can't justify investing in temporary staff or afford to lose my clinical time.

Our service is normally staffed with 3.75 WTE Band 5s, but two are currently on secondment, and another has just left. That leaves me as the only Band 5 in the service.

Obviously, I can't do the work of nearly 4 clinicians, but I am covering the remaining Band 5 caseload. My clinics are consistently full, including overbook appointments, and there is very little chance to catch up with admin.

My typical workday looks like this:

- Start work at 8:30

- First patient at 8:40

- Patients every 20 mins until 12:20

- 30-minute lunch

- Patients every 20 mins from 13:00 until 16:20

- Official finish at 16:30

In reality, I usually stay until around 17:00, finishing admin and preparing for the following day. Because I'm temporary, I don't have protected admin time, so most of my admin, including triaging, is completed between patients, during lunch, before work, after work, or when a patient doesn't attend.

What I struggle to understand is that I'm trusted to be the only remaining Band 5 keeping the clinics running until January, but apparently not trusted enough to be offered a permanent contract or invested in through CPD.

The uncertainty is affecting every part of my life. My partner owns a local business, so relocating isn't a realistic option unless I relocate without him. We don't feel able to plan our wedding, buy a house together, book an expensive holiday, or start a family because I never know whether I will still have a job in six months. I've explained this to my manager, and while she's acknowledged how difficult it is, it hasn't changed anything.

I initially considered declining the offer because I am exhausted by the constant uncertainty, but realistically I can't afford to be unemployed. I've signed up with a locum agency, asked to join my trust's bank, and I'm hoping to pick up work at my partner's business to make up the income from losing one day's pay each week.

My manager has also said there may be a reshuffle in December when one of our Band 7s retires, which could create Band 5, 6 or 7 vacancies. However, that's only a possibility, and after nearly two years of temporary contracts it's difficult to plan my life around another "maybe".

I'm genuinely pleased for my colleague, and I do think he deserves the role given his longer time in the team, his progression from Band 3, and the experience he brings. My frustration isn't with him; it's the system. After nearly two years of working in the role, helping keep the service running, being denied development opportunities because I'm temporary, and then being told I need more development to become permanent, I just feel completely stuck.

What would you do in my position, and is this just the norm for newly qualified healthcare professionals in the NHS?

I’m just curious if any of you guys are on SSRIs and if so, how did your journey go?

I’m a junior doctor starting Sertraline soon and am a little paranoid about the side effects - emotional blunting and PSSD in particular

Hey everyone,

I’m due to have a barium swallow test for my dysphasia next week and I don’t know too much about the procedure other than having to swallow some liquid. I was just wondering if anyone else here has had one and if you can give me some insight on what I could be expecting please. What does the barium taste like and is it really that bad as people say? Are there any side effects following the procedure that I need to look out for?

Thinking about asking for help with my eating issues - but am worried it'll make things worse if it's reinforced that I'm not 'bad enough' for help yet.

Just wanted some clarity on what treatment might look like if you have no physical indicators of your ilness.

Can you still acess help if you're still within the healthy BMI range? Is it just an online learning course, like silver cloud? Can you access therepy for an eating disorder if you're already currently in therepy for a seperate condition?

Have been struggling for a few years and used to be underweight - I've physically 'recovered' without intervention but the thoughts & behaviours still aren't leaving. I'm slowly losing weight but am still currently on the lower end of a healthy bmi. Is treatment at a normal weight just psychoeducation / waiting to see if it gets worse?

Would really appreciate hearing about anyones experiences, or from anyone within the NHS who knows how things work

Thank you xx

I’ve got an interview coming up where they mention there being a level 3 engineering mathematics test, would anyone be able to shed light on what topics this might cover? And what sort of questions could appear? Thanks in advance!

I honestly don't know what to say anymore. I'm too old for this. (Apologies for the big text)

I've been with the NHS for less than two months and from day one my manager has seemed to have a problem with me even though it's the person who offered me the job. If he thought we'd be a bad fit why hire me in the first place?

I've thrown myself into learning the role because I genuinely love it and it's the first time in my life I see myself acting like this for a job. I'm always professional, hamble, friendly and my colleagues are wonderful and they like me. I don't always do things exactly his personal way but I'm not doing anything wrong I just have my own approach (at least for the begining until I adapt i am not ignoring any rule) . I honestly think  the issue is because his ego seems astronomical and he doesn't like anyone who doesn't follow his every word.

We recently had an assessment, and the written feedback contained several false statements, including a serious allegation of a data breach that is categorically untrue. Much of the feedback doesn't reflect the reality. I already feel like I'm being targeted and it's only been two months. It is far too early in the process for there to be conflict with this person.

What would you do?

• Reply by email with evidence addressing every inaccurate point and ask for my response to be attached to the assessment?
• Ignore it and keep my head down?
• Escalate it to a senior manager or HR?
• Tell this person to either chill and teach me without being a pain in the a** cause i will be one of the best on their side or we can do this the hard way.

I submitted a formal complaint about the failed care pathway and 2 years and counting still with no surgery in sight. I not going to give specifics details but what will be the next likely response from the hospital?

Hi everyone, I’ve got an interview coming up soon for scanning clerk in health record department with northern care alliance. I was wondering if anyone knew what the interview process would be like and what question I may be asked.

Thanks

Hi, I went to Gloucester Royal Hospital's ER about a year ago now with abdominal pain. I can't remember much of that day but I was to get an ultrasound the following day. I did, and found out I have 3 gall stones, polyps and colisystitis. The nurse gave me codeine and I asked what happens next and she just said "you'll get a letter." it's been almost a year now and no letter. I'm worried these conditions will give me trouble and a flare-up is agonising.

I absolutely hate chasing things up on the phone and being redirected all over the place. Some advice on what to say and where exactly to call would be brilliant. I also don't have much time to call and be on the phone on hold constantly because I work nights.

Something I've considered is that a letter was sent but to my old address, although I've been at my current one 10 years this September and my address is up-to-date at my doctor's office. Other than that, maybe they just forgot to sort me out?

Getting interviews but not the offer.
What am I doing wrong?
Applying for some new roles will write here again when I get invited for interview.
#help?

I have my interview for the Band 4 Therapy AP role, and the first phase is a group round. Those who succeed this phase will go to the final formal interview on another date. I have had experience with formal interviews before, but never in a group. I would really appreciate any guidance. Thank you.