As my review is long, I will start by saying, in short: Please avoid this place. It is shockingly…read moreunprofessional and deeply unpleasant, not a place where already deeply wounded cancer patients should place their trust or, certainly, lives. Money is the main factor and unless you are prepared to speedily enter this route of, no doubt, quickly escalating charges without question, you are merely an irritation.
In addition, They repeatedly refuse to provide a complaints procedure (or the names of their governing bodies) when requested, which is very telling and rather scary. What could they possibly be afraid of?
Btw don't bother telephoning them or leaving a message - Calls are not answered nor messages returned. Very reassuring for a cancer clinic.
If you're lucky (or unlucky) enough to finally get through by email, you'll have "Kate Dixon" - the impenetrable gatekeeper - to deal with. Following which you'll either be drawn in, likely ending with an eventual bill of very significant thousands, or you'll wish you had never made contact in the first place. It is, in my view, essential that this awful, indeed despicable woman is not permitted to deal with such vulnerable and fragile folks as cancer patients.
Review:
With stage IV breast cancer diagnosed a few months ago, I sit here in excruciating pain from lymphedema, breast, chest and back pain thinking about my desperation to seek help in what is likely the last months of my life. I'm a relatively young lone mother of a beautiful young girl and I want to live. I don't want to leave her.
In this, I made the horrific mistake of contacting "The Yorkshire Laser Centre" run by "Dr
Moghissi". The centre's contact point is a "Kate Dixon" who seems to function as an impenetrable gate-keeper. A shockingly uncaring, deeply unpleasant and rude woman who seems to treat patients in dictatorial style, making final decisions and disallowing any form of contact with other employees.
At first I was informed that my advanced cancer case could not be taken. Then this quickly and contradictingly changed to "bring your medical notes and pay £240 for a consultation".
I explained I could not do so as I can no longer drive (especially the five hours from my home to the centre) due to intense pain and ulcerating tumours and I have no one else to help. Noting me as a lone mother with little funds and without money immediately forthcoming, she wasn't interested.
I enquired the possibility of speaking (just for a minute or two) to Dr Moghissi to determine whether they could help, in which case I would do all possible to reach him, even a five hour ill-afforded taxi. With the centre's claims of "research", I even offered myself as a trial patient. No response from Mrs Dixon. I wrote again two weeks later, this time to be met with a curt "he's out of the country". No information regarding his return or how we could proceed.
Anyone with advanced cancer, especially those of us given a six month "expiry" will know that every day is crucial, delays are not in our favour. Mrs Dixon couldn't care less.
At this stage, I had no choice but to enquire about the centre's complaints procedure and governing bodies. No response. I requested this two more times. No response. Instead, Mrs Dixion - in her by now trademark proffessional and caring manner (!) - returned with threats of libel Court action and police in the hope that I would be intimidated into silence. She was wrong. It seems she is very keen to ensure that no-one knows of her crude conduct.
I write this review to warn all potential patients of this centre. If this is the level of unprofessional conduct at the mere introduction level, I shudder to think that anyone would place their life in these people's hands or, God forbid, place themselves on their operating table. We cancer patients are often intensely vulnerable and desperate and the likes of the Yorkshire laser centre take advantage of this both in their conduct towards us and, very likely, in taking our money.
Since diagnosis, I have been in contact with a vast numbers of health professionals; doctors, nurses, Macmillan and Maggie's centres, emergency rooms etc. ALL have been extremely kind, caring, gentle and attempted to help in every way possible. They note my utterly dire situation, fear and pain and wish to help. Not so the Yorkshire Laser clinic.
One also has to be very fearful of the fact that they refuse to provide their complaints procedure. As a clinic in the service industry, this may be against the law and numerous governing guidelines. It's clear they are aware of their incompetence and fear exposure. Naturally, I will contact the ombudsman and relevant authorities to inform them of the refusal and request appropriate action be taken and can only hope it will eventually lead to investigations and the closure of this dreadful place.
I want to end by wishing all my fellow, unfortunately, cancer patients the very best.
