Forgotten Patients: Overlooked Diseases
Visiting your GP?
Read our patient GP guide
We help people with complex symptoms find a diagnosis and access support. Some will have a rare genetic cause for their symptoms while others may present with unusual features of a recognised disease. Many affected individuals feel lost and forgotten in the health system and that their medical issues are being overlooked.
Life without a diagnosis can be difficult. Our multidisciplinary group seeks to provide evidence-based signposting, resources, and education for individuals, families, and healthcare professionals. This is a diverse and poorly understood area of medicine, so another aim of our charity is to facilitate research.
Do join us on our journey by attending our regular online meetings, helping us build resources and deliver research or by providing much needed funds.
​
Terminology can be very complicated. Here are some definitions
Challenges in the consultation:
A joint meeting between the Guild of Health Writers (GHW) and the Forgotten Patients, Overlooked Diseases charity (FPOD, CC registration 1202442)
26th June 2025
Medically unexplained symptoms and the problems of doctor-patient bias, ‘persona’, ‘gaslighting’, and acknowledging diagnostic doubt.
​
We will explore the complexities of Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS) through clinical, patient, research, and media perspectives.
We will also dive into the challenges of doctor–patient bias, gaslighting, diagnostic doubt, and the impact of ‘personas’ in the consultation room.
Featuring doctors, patients, educators, ethicists and journalists, this event aims to open up vital conversations and push for more compassionate, inclusive consultations.
​
Medically unexplained symptoms: Our multidisciplinary conference
1st May 2024
Breaking the cycle of tests, referrals and unsuccessful treatments
Trying to help people with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) is challenging.
​
This remains a widely ignored and under-researched topic despite the large number of affected individuals and huge sums of wasted money and resources. Healthcare professionals feel frustrated whilst patients feel lost, overlooked, and forgotten in the health system. Without a clear diagnosis, sufferers often find themselves in a cycle of tests, referrals, and unsuccessful treatments without achieving a resolution of their problems. Many experience mental health problems.
​
These problems were recently discussed during an intensive 1-day conference at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine.​​​​​​
​​
Conference report
​​​​​​​We are pleased to share the report from our conference, "Medically Unexplained Symptoms: A Multidisciplinary Conference – Addressing the Challenges of Medically Unexplained Symptoms." This event brought together experts from various fields to explore the complexities of MUS, discuss innovative approaches, and highlight the need for improved patient care. The report captures key discussions, insights, and recommendations from the conference. You can access the full PDF here: