Camberwell sexual health centre

[anna_r]

Sorry if this is too much information for some. Just spent a frustrating 4 hours at the Camberwell sexual health centre waiting to get an IUD. This apparently is the only place in the area to get one put in and you can not get an appointment. My GP sent me there. I arrived at 1:15 and was eventually seen at 5:05 after eventually bursting into tears saying that I needed to leave to get home and breastfeed my baby (true). After checking in using one of the computers I got my ticket with a number and was told to wait. None of the screens work to tell you how long the wait will be or how progress is being made. After two hours I went and restocked the car parking ticket up with another 3 hours. Upon enquiring at 4 (for the third time) where I was in the queue I was told I was next to see the doctor. Then waited another hour until the bursting into tears part. Apparently not all the doctors are trained to put IUDs in so they had to wait until more doctors arrived to work at 5pm (although I wasn't told this at first), and after making a fuss I was eventually seen by one of these doctors - who was absolutely lovely and all went smoothly.

Eventually arrived home in very stressed mood to hungry baby (although she is on baby rice now so was somewhat soothed by that). I considered leaving after three hours but having waited that long (and having been told I was next to be seen) it felt like I needed to see it through and don't very option get a free afternoon to sort things like this out. Also somehow managed to avoid getting a parking ticket despite being late. Lying with feet in stirrups I had just accepted that the whole experience was going to cost me ?80 so that was a nice surprise.

Not really sure what the point of posting this is except to vent and to find out if this was a typical experience, and also to find out if there are any other options for dealing with things like IUDs locally where you can actually make an appointment. I know the NHS is stretched and its only going to get worse and this is not an emergency etc etc. However surely it is not great to make access to contraception so difficult. We actually have private health insurance through my work but a) I would not consider this the type of thing you would need to go to Harley Street for and b) do not even know if you can do this sort of thing privately - do you need a referral in the normal way?

[The Nappy Lady]

You poor thing, I'd have been really fed up (and probably in tears) too.

There is a clinc in Peckham Pulse, I think it is on twice a week. Can't recall what days of the week, but I found out from the nurse at my Doctor's surgery because I had no idea where to go to sort out contraception post baby 2. I went between Christmas and New Year and was in and out within an hour....BUT I'm sure it is much busier at 'normal' times - I was told it is best to get there at the start of the session if possible. When you go into the reception you turn left and walk around the screens and there is a waiting area there with seats, and a big shell playing soothing wave sounds!!

If you either google or phone up Peckham Pulse (assuming they answer) I think they would be able to tell you what days the clinic is on.

Guess you are sorted for a while now though!

Would think you'd only be able to book an appointment if you went private, and no doubt it would then cost ?100 just to walk though the doorway!

[anna_r]

Thanks Molly - good to know for the future (although yes, theoretically now sorted for 10 years!!) A bit late to be asking the question I guess but might help someone else :)

[The Nappy Lady]

Goodness knows where we will need to be travelling to for help 10 years from now :-S

[Belle]

That is awful - and v frustrating. I'm guessing you're at a different surgery, but I'm with DMC and am sure I've been offered IUD there, I was told one of the doctors was qualified to do it. I might have that wrong, but if not - seems odd that some surgeries offer and not others, and that it's a bit of a lottery. Anyone know if I'm right about DMC?

[buggie]

Don't know about DMC but know Forest Hill Rd surgery can fit them x

[Saffron]

I had an IUD fitted 6 wks postpartum by a doctor at the Surgery on Forest Hill Road. I think I just had to book it as a double appointment b/c it takes a little longer than a normal app obviously. But in general I can't recommend this surgery. I have a very low opinion of a few of the GPs/HVs there (although the Oakwood Midwives are fantastic). We have since moved house and changed GPs now. However, I think one of the Nurse Practitioners there is qualified to do IUDs.

When I had an IUD fitted previously, I was living in north London. Then I had to go the the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. They told me this was b/c I hadn't had a baby yet. It's meant to be more difficult the dilate the cervix if you're nulliparous. I didn't have a great experience a the Royal Free Hampstead (a lot of waiting, student drs seeming a bit confused, typical rude receptionists, etc), but it was nowhere near 4 hrs waiting! You should think about filing a complaint with the PCT that oversees Camberwell Clinic.

[tiddles]

don;t townley road do them? they certainly used to (or am I hopelessly behind the times?)

[reneet]

I think Townley road is closed now. I moved from my former surgery to DMC mainly because of contraception issues, (the surgery was pretty useless as well). I needed to have an implant removed but camberwell sexual health centre where I was referred was impossible. I visited them 3 times and each time I was told it would be a 4hr+ wait. I was advised to make sure that I was first one in, which is not possible with a preschooler to feed and drop off. I finally gave up and joined DMC who had a doctor qualified to do the procedure.

[Cora]

I think the problem with the Camberwell clinic is that the computers 'prioritise' you....when I went I got there BEFORE it opened and saw a doctor AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT AND THE RECEPTIONISTS GONE?!!! Needless to say I was not a priority....I guess I should be grateful my needs were not desperate...lucky I had someone happy to look after the kids though!! Crap system.

[Marcus]

Wrong user

[anna_r]

Yes that seemed to be part of the problem Cora. There is a long list stuck up next to the receptionists of people who should be prioritised including under 16s, people obviously pregnant, sex workers and a lot more. And obviously mine was a very low priority situation. It gives a false sense of the waiting time as the ticket number really doesn't mean much. Townley road clinic closed last year.

[charlottep]

Belle, you're right about DMC. I think Dr Kunde (sp?) fits them.

[Sanne Panne]

What an awful experience! After baby 1 I had one fitted at Forest Hill group practice and now after baby 2 at Herne Hill group practice. Let it at least serve as a help to others so they can avoid the Camberwell centre...

Sorry you had to go through this :(

[anna_r]

They definitely don't fit them at the Gardens GP surgery - although I can have 4 week checkup there. Thank goodness don't have to go back to camberwell clinic!!

[Helen GV]

How painful is it? sorry to sidetrack...

[anna_r]

I didn't find it too bad. Bit like a smear. They do internal exam and palpate uterus, insert speculum (like smear), put anaesthetic gel in, measure size of uterus using an instrument then insert IUD. Once the gels in you dont feel much. They offered me paracetamol after but I didn't need it and haven't had any more pain yet. I had an IUD rather than IUS because I didn't want any hormones (that's why I never took the pill) and the IUD can lead to heavier more painful periods (whereas the IUS often means lighter periods) but with my last IUD I never had problems.

[nunheadmum]

I had a similar experience at Camberwell some time ago after having tried Peckham (had to give up after 3 hour wait) and Townley Road (doctor there couldn't see properly to fit it so had to go to Camberwell). Additionally, when they do see you, they seem more interested in checking you for sexual diseases than doing any routine stuff like IUD's. It was a totally horrible experience - and not for any medical reasons.

I didn't realise that they prioritised who came in. That would explain a lot!

I have to say that I find the Camberwell Clinic really offputting and don't see why they can't find some other way to offer these services. Surely if GP's can't offer the services themselves, they could run special clinics or something or at least run pre-booked appointments at Camberwell. It feels like those being responsible are being disregarded in order to provide for those who are not so responsible. Surely we all deserve to be treated decently.

[GinaG3]

Melbourne Grove do IUD clinic 1 day a month, not sure when (or if anyone would even be interested - lol). This was a year ago when I tried to get one put in.

I had such a horrible time, unsure whether its the fault of the surgery, or actually me. I had a trainee doing the procedure, under the watchful eye of the senior IUD 'surgeon', and another 2 people! It took 45 minutes of the lady trying and trying to fit it, me trying to hold back the pain before I was told there was too much scarring from the birth of my daughter to actually put it in. I was told to go home and I would be called with an appointment at Kings. I was never called back, but I'm thankful, I found the experience terrible. This whole thread made me cringe thinking back, but then I just had to comment to stop cringing! Grr.

I've stuck to Cerazette for the last 6 months but needless to say that doesn't like me either and I'm about to try something else now I've stopped breastfeeding! Oh contraception, I hate you!

[GinaG3]

Now someone tell me please will I have to go here to have a smear done or do they still do them in some surgeries in ED? I refuse to sit and wait 3hr+ at clinic if I can get it done at surgery. As if I'm looking forward to having one that much anyway..

[standswithfist]

DMC - Dr Kunde and her clinic is on Tuesdays. Tel: 02086932727

[radnrach]

GinaG3: I recently had a smear at Melbourne Grove Medical Practice by a really lovely nurse practitioner.

[pebbles]

I'm pretty sure all nurses do them - you just have to book a double appointment.

[kristymac1]

pebbles Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm pretty sure all nurses do them - you just have

> to book a double appointment.

I'm not sure this is the case - in my experianece its always a doctor or a specially qualified nurse who has fitted mine (and I've had a few fitted and removed over the last good few years). You can book an appointment at DMC, Peckham Pulse run a Thursday clinic and the doctors are really nice at both of these - I had awful experience with a particular doctor at Townley Road so refused to go there in the last couple of years

[buggie]

kristymac1 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> pebbles Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I'm pretty sure all nurses do them - you just

> have

> > to book a double appointment.

>

> I'm not sure this is the case - in my experianece

> its always a doctor or a specially qualified nurse

> who has fitted mine (and I've had a few fitted and

> removed over the last good few years). You can

> book an appointment at DMC, Peckham Pulse run a

> Thursday clinic and the doctors are really nice at

> both of these - I had awful experience with a

> particular doctor at Townley Road so refused to go

> there in the last couple of years

.... recent posts were talking about smears rather than IUD's! x