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Written by a NHS patient at Harrogate District Hospital
2nd August 2021


Not withstanding the fact that my experience at the hands of Dr Davey seemed to reveal a deep dislike of, and superiority complex to, his patients; or the general public at large. I had the deep displeasure of a 10 minute consult with him, admittedly due to the fact I was in Scotland and was driving around the countryside desperate to pick up a signal, before giving in and supplying my partners number, so that the appointment was significantly shortened due to connection issues, and I'd only been given the appointment the day before. However, this is after 18 months to TWO YEARS of backwards and forwards, this referral, that referral, covid, cancelling all my forthcoming appointments due to covid, mis-communication, a telephone neurosurgery referral in Leeds, but over the phone. I’m not even sure that a Neurosurgeon CAN conduct a satisfactory examination with a patient reporting neurological symptoms, sciatica, immobility etc over the phone! He was utterly unapproachable, quite discourteous, stroppy, and kept barking instructions and reminding me that I only had 10 minutes instead of 40, due to signal problems, as though I'd caused this to happen. I had written everything I wanted to say down - as - without it written in front of me I would NEVER remember; due to speech / memory problems. Then he effectively called me a liar when I said I vomited during the night, sometimes, small pieces of food or liquid which awoke me, choking as some food got into my windpipe, causing the choke and waking me up – when I coughed until my airway was clear again, and which had got better since purchasing a “wedge” pillow, to raise me up slightly. He said this was not biologically possible & demanded to know of witnesses; so I told him my husband, who has witnessed it many times, could provide him with the proof he thought I'd made up. Finally he said his next patient had arrived, and "goodbye" before hanging up. This was deeply distressing and I came off the call shaking, crying, and angry. Today (3rd August 2021) I received a copy letter he has sent to my GP in which, after listing my symptons including speech & memory problems (which they already knew, being my GP, and referrer), he said to note that during our 10 minute telephone call I had seemed perfectly well at speaking, had no pauses, and could easily list my symptoms. So, the good doctor thinks I have been lying for two years, as have my family, friends and work colleagues! Had he bothered to listen I told him my speech slurred and I struggled to find words or express sentences was WORSE AT NIGHT (the telephone call was 10.30AM – mid-morning. Also I had listed everything on paper so I could tell him the full set of symptons; had done breathing exercises to calm my mind, and drunk lots of water to combat my dry mouth & help me focus - all so that I WOULD be concise and plausible when using his precious time. It seems churlish to infer, in his last paragraph, that me and ALL of the people around me (who witness the slurred speech, using the wrong words, and total blanks in the middle of sentences) were peddling falsehoods! I feel so upset and am dreading having to see this man and have him in control of my next steps and future health. Dr Davey should maybe not have chosen Neurology, where symptoms can be vague, waxing & waning, numerous but not all the symptoms all the time, and distressing in their nature, as his "speciality". From my experience of his "bedside manner", perhaps he should have not chosen medicine at all.

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Specialises in

  • Neurology