In the last couple of weeks I’ve read about two instances where people have been told over the phone that they have got MS.
This horrifies me, I wasn’t exactly enamoured with the way my consultant told me I had MS, but at least it was face-to-face and I got to sit with the MS nurse afterwards.
This really shouldn’t be happening, so is it just isolated or is it becoming more common to give this sort of Life altering News over the phone? It sounds to me like something the MS Society should be campaigning against. Or is it because they’re trying to keep people out of hospitals where Covid and Norovirus are rampant? If that is the case they really should tell people.
Let me know your thoughts, I’m happy to bring it up with the campaign team at the MS Society if it is becoming a thing.
Glyn
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Hello @cymroglyn I got a diagnosis over a call too, a couple of weeks ago. I had CIS in Oct 2023 and a Lumbar Puncture in Nov 2024. I had a telephone appointment with the head of neuro which made me think it must be good news especially as it was over two months after my LP.
I was not prepared at all and it being over a call, felt I was not able to take time to think it through as there was an awkward silence over the phone. I was told a nurse would be in touch to discuss drug options and she would arrange another MRI.
I put the phone down and felt quite shocked. It’s an odd one as fortunately it RRMS so nothing changes really.
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I think that because during Covid they did as much as possible by phone, video call etc they think it’s acceptable to continue avoiding seeing patients face to face. My last three annual reviews have taken place by phone. My neurologist is famously abrupt, and these three phone calls have taken no more than two minutes each.
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I agree that it really shouldn’t be happening. I hope that it doesn’t become the norm. It’s a big and rather solemn moment, being diagnosed, and the telephone is not the way to do it.
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I was diagnosed years ago so I’m not able to answer your questions but one thing I do know is that consultants/Drs in all medical areas really could benefit from brushing up on interpersonal skills and empathy ( or in a few cases , they need some basic skills!). I’m not angry about it but blimey some of them just don’t have a clue. It’s over 18 years since my first session with my neurologist and I remember his first words : ‘what are you here for?’followed by a lot of silence as he searched through files and papers.
In the following years I had annual reviews with him and got used to his ways and manners but : could do better on the emotional intelligence and interpersonal. I’m going to be kind and say that I think that some consultants are a bit wary and lacking confidence when it comes to talking with their patients. So, if they are going to give diagnoses over the phone then there should be some training on how to do this - with empathy, understanding and patience!!
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I wasn’t diagnosed over the phone an a&e doctor told me informally. I then received a letter in the post with a RRMS leaflet telling me the treatments on offer to me. When I eventually saw the Neuro she was so casual about it I had to confirm what type of MS. As brilliant as these drs minds are I think they become numb to the fact that although they may have diagnosed 100s before us it’s the first time we are hearing it.
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