Disabled pensioners banned from doctors for complaining too much

A disabled couple has been banned by their local GP surgery — because they made too many complaints.

Raymond Rose and his wife Susan, who visited the practice at least once a week, have been told there protestations will no longer be tolerated.

The couple, both 68, took the surgery to task after being prescribed the ‘wrong’ medicine, but even complained that their doctor was taking too much holiday.

Bosses at the Greenway Community Practice in Bristol have finally had enough and have told them not to bother coming back.

The pair now have until Wednesday to find a new surgery or risk being unable to get access to their long-term prescriptions.

The practice defended its actions and said they were taken within NHS England guidelines.

But Mr Rose said the decision is “outrageous”.

“I am well within my rights to complain if I don’t think the care is up to scratch and I think it is disgusting that they have blacklisted myself and my wife,” he said.

The couple began using Greenway Community Practice seven years ago as they both suffer from long-term health conditions.

Mr Rose has ongoing kidney problems while his wife has mobility issues after a hip replacement.

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Relations between the couple and the practice broke down around three years ago after Mr Rose claims he was put on medication which caused his weight to balloon.

Recently, Mr Rose has taken the deliberate step to put in a complaint after each appointment to make his views known.

He said: “There are so very many things which we thought weren’t right about the practice.

“The medication they kept me on, the fact that our doctor would go away for long periods of time without letting his patients know, the fact we had to see so many different doctors.

“We kept asking him if he would come out and do a home visit to see my wife because she couldn’t move and he refused.”

Despite the complaints, Mr and Mrs Rose were shocked to receive a letter last week telling them they had been removed from the practice.

He said: “I was just shocked, really, especially at the fact they gave us so little time and no suggestion where else we could go.”

Mr and Mrs Rose are hoping to sign up with a surgery in nearby Henleaze and have vowed never to go back to Greenway Community Practice.

He added: “I have lost all faith in them as a reputable practice and I will be taking the matter further with the medical commission.”

Practice manager at Greenway Community Practice, Matt Wood, said: “We are unable to comment on this specific case due to patient confidentiality.

“Any decision to remove patients from our practice list is only taken after consultation with NHS England and in accordance with their guidelines.”