nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Where can I post about health hospital appointments issue please?

flatmovebenefits

I'm finding it difficult to get appointments, follow-up appointments at the hospital for my health, and have done all I can emailing them and complaining etc. I have mental health and Autism. Can you please let me know in which category I could post about my situation?

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Albus_Alumni

Heya @flatmovebenefits if you just wanted to post what you need to, we can always move the discussion if it looks like it's in the wrong place, that's no problem at all. 😊

Sorry to hear you've been struggling to get appointments, that's a story we currently hear a lot of. Has your GP been able to recommend anyone to speak to?

flatmovebenefits

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/910894#Comment_910894

My situation is as follows. Since around 2020/1 I have been finding it difficult to get follow-up outpatient appointments in a hospital department. Physical health. When they say we'll see you again in … I do not get the appointments. By the time I do get an appointment it has been 12 months later, 6 months later, 4 months later. Meanwhile my condition is worsened and I may need an operation to deal with it, because of the delays. Had it been dealt with earlier, I would not be in this situation where I may need an operation.

I was last seen towards end Aug 2024, told me would be sent an appointment for 2 weeks time, beginning of Sept 2024. Said then will treat me and then refer me to have a CT scan to see if going to need an operation.

I told the medical person, about issues with appointments, the last time, let alone times before. He said leave it with me, you will get appointment. I trusted him, but I was sceptical. I was right, I still did not get the appointment. Which has left be very worried depressed etc. conditions I suffer from plus OCD, panic attacks. and Autism. Asperger's traits.

I contacted the hospital, told to email here and there, I did all that. One response said I was not sue to be seen when I said I was beginning of sep 2024. But I was that's what I was told, I have a voice recording, plus meanwhile (late: can see by the envelope frank, different date to the latter) received copy of the notes when I was last seen, and clearly reads to be seen again in 2 weeks. emailed hospital about this, but they ignored me did not write back.

As I stated emailed other departments that department told me to email within the hospital. But still no joy, no response. Contacted PALS, they not interested, told me to email yet other email addresses. I'm doing their work. Did what they told me, still no reply. Called PALS again, told me to forward to them all of the emails I had sent, did that. But on the phone she said might get a reply, was not sure, said was busy etc etc.

I also contacted the other organisation about complaining but they said was busy was a waiting list.

tried to see my gp but could not get an appointment, waited in practice 3 hours said i would be seen, then told me i would not be seen. tried to email practice to complain, still no appointment. and kept being told it is for me to chase the hospital. i am disabled and distressed, practice ignoring me too.

So I've run out of options. My condition the longer it is left the higher the chances it could kill me. They know this too. So in a way they are exposing me to death by their negligence and it appears to be deliberate.

So I have done all I can to try to be seen when they say I should be seen. And I can't get the appointment. The last time I should have been seen again in 1 month turned into 4 months, for this same condition, medical situation.

I contacted a lawyer but they said wait for the result of the scan. That's all they can do. But I just wait to be treated on time, and they promised me I would be seen on time and they misled me.

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

jabbers1

Unfortunately, the way you are being treated is not an isolated case. I am in the exact same boat as you and have been passed from pillar to post. No one seems interested and I’m told there is no help available. Last appointment I had I explained to the consultant that I felt so hookless that I felt suicidal. I was told to contact the Samaritans! The NHS is now totally ineffective in my opinion.

flatmovebenefits

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/910948#Comment_910948

sorry to learn of it. if you don't mind me asking, what it a body condition or mental one you went about trying to get appointment?

jabbers1

in my case I have both physical and mental health/developmental disorders. However my experience of every department within the NHS over the past 5 years have been the same. I made a decision a few weeks back that I am no longer going to put myself through the hassle and upset of making appointments thinking they’ll finally find a solution and offer me some kind of help.

jabbers1

hi there

Yeah I have contacted various charities and support groups who have offered support and advice.

flatmovebenefits

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/910971#Comment_910971

I will follow up with complaints in time. But it's the practice staff that block me from obtaining appointments. I filled in an online consultation and sent it, they claim they did not receive it, I sent emails they say takes 3 business days to deal with, and 10 days goes past and no reply, i go to the practice they stay i can wait then i will be seen, as i wrote i wait 3 hours, then ask when I will be seen, and they then tell me I'm not on their system down to see anyone! I try to complain to the hospital about not receiving appointment, PALS tell me to email them all the emails I have already sent, as if they do not believe me, but they can find out that I sent the emails without me having to forward to them the emails I sent. But still after forwarding emails I still did not hear from them. She said on phone to email best rather than complain, I got the impression that she did not want to take my complaint, and she even said when i forward the emails not to mention her name! So I can't get to see a GO, I email the hospital all the departments, still no reply - no appointment, still not been seen, and not had the CT scan. It's clearly discrimination too on grounds of disability and possibly race. It's a horrible situation and I pretty sure if people knew what was really going on they should be shocked. The people working in the gp practice and hospital see names and book in the people who they want to, people of the same race as them. That's what I think is going on, and I have first hand experience of this at my gp practice, when I was waiting 3 hours, people was coming in and getting appointments, they had the same race as the reception staff. I telephoned the Equality Advice Support Service and explained all the details, much of which I'm not including here, and was told it is direct discrimination. So I'm forming a letter to complain and intend to take the matter to court re my gp. denying access to gp also is a serious matter. My medication run out for another issue that just came on and I did email the practice about this, I got the medication via the A&E, the practice said they would deal with it, days have gone by, the medication run out over 1 week ago and I am suffering as a result, they did not deal with it, why not, because they are discriminating and victimising, because I did let them know that I would be writing a letter of complaint regarding discrimination. Therefore much more serious now. The legal fees it will cost their side will be immense.

jabbers1

I am not aware of your personal experiences regarding racial discrimination. However, I am white English, as is the reception staff at my GP surgery and both me and countless other white English people are treated just like you. It’s a major problem within the NHS. There is no longer continuity of care where your GP oversees and chases hospital reports etc, nor does there appear to be an awareness around what “duty of care” means. I have told my GP at my last appointment that my family are keeping a record of every appointment I attend, every phone call I make relating to my health and should anything happen to me while the NHS are ignoring my constant requests for help then they will hold the NHS responsible and will pursue all avenues to have this investigated. They don’t care; whether this is due to exasperation or burnout due to lack of support or available services to refer a patient on to. It’s a bad day when the NHS mental health services are telling patients who are suicidal to phone the Samaritans!

Like you, I initially thought that I was being discriminated against because I have mental health issues, however, I soon realised this wasn’t the case after hearing similar stories from numerous patients who do not have mental health issues

flatmovebenefits

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/911759#Comment_911759

My GP receptionists are most (at the the ones I've dealt with) of the same cultural background (and from the same country: or their parents are from) and of the (I believe) the same religion. It's the same with the medical secretary, and the practice manager.

I am not of that religion, cultural background or from the country they are from and/or their parents are from. And they know this.

This is why I receive worse treatment. This is why if I was like them I would not be going through what I am now.

It's the same in hospitals. Because there are simply too many many in the UK, moreover big cities, the staff who book appointments prioritize their own kind over other people. This is what is really going on. People sit back and think they are not being seen because there is a big waiting list on the NHS. Yes there is, but in big cities what they don't realise is that they are being discriminated against because of their race.

Jimm_Alumni

If you believe you are being discriminated against there are complaints avenues as well as the ombudsman to eventually go through!

I will say, if you are in a big city it's very likely that multiple GP surgeries overlap where you live. I know when I lived in Glasgow I had an option of 4-5 GP surgeries I could register with. Is that a possibility with yourself?

flatmovebenefits

I emailed the CQC as well as sending all other emails. Suddenly I got two appointments, not sure why, for same department on different days, one by text and one by email. Not sure if they know they have sent me two appointments. I dread asking. Will just go to the first one which is today 25Sep.

Otteline

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/911827#Comment_911827

I am someone who works within the NHS system (in a city hospital) and most of us as too busy to even notice what race people are let alone think about their religion. The facts are that the systems are unfunded and people are doing their best. It is soul destroying to read some of these posts constantly complaining about the people who I see working ridiculous hours and coping with a lot of abuse from patients. You should try walking a mile in their shoes.