She called us Reader to report that at St. Luke’s Hospital, “an appointment with a specialist is made conditional on having a homocysteine level test”. She added that until recently, a notice about this test had been displayed on the doors of all outpatient clinics in the hospital.

She told us that when she went for an appointment with one of the specialists at the end of October, the doctor allegedly asked whether she had undergone the aforementioned test. When she replied that she had not, the doctor stated that he would not see her and asked her to leave the office.

Ultimately, however, the woman was seen. (Without undergoing the aforementioned test.) The lack of the result did not affect the quality of the appointment.

According to the complainant, situations of this kind had been occurring since at least June. In the Reader’s view, this is a “practice” and the hospital is misleading patients by suggesting that the test is mandatory. She considers this “reprehensible”.

Then, in November, when the Reader wanted to collect the result of another test, she was not given it. Instead, she was told that she would be scheduled for a homocysteine level test.

– Is there some serious money behind this? – the woman wonders. She adds that this borders on violating patients’ rights and the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.

We asked St. Luke’s Hospital in Bolesławiec about the matter. Director Kamil Barczyk:

Appointments at all specialist outpatient clinics take place on the basis of a referral and prior registration for a scheduled visit.

Homocysteine concentration (HCY) is measured to assess the risk of diseases associated with atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

For appointments at the neurology, hypertension, endocrinology and other outpatient clinics, this test is essential for an initial assessment of the patient’s condition. The test is performed on site, without unnecessary waiting at the laboratory sample collection point, saving the patient time and effort.

Undergoing this test is voluntary, and the patient incurs no costs in connection with it.

The patient was registered at one of the outpatient clinics, where the doctor informed her that the test was necessary for an initial assessment of her health. During a subsequent visit to the same clinic, the patient voluntarily underwent the test.

On 22 November 2022, the patient went to one of the outpatient clinics to collect the test result. Since the result required discussion with a specialist doctor, the patient was asked to come to the office an hour later. She did not take up this offer.

He adds:

Our hospital runs many preventive programs, including cervical cancer prevention and breast mammography screening.

We strongly encourage and invite patients to take part in all preventive examinations.

Participation in these examinations is voluntary and free of charge.