I cannot get a proper appointment for hospital visit.
Hi everyone I am Samantha, I have not posted for awhile as most of my problems have been sorted out. I have a whole set of new problems which started since October 2024 and now I feel I am back to square one in knowing what to do if anyone can give me some advice please do. My main disability is long term back problems and arthritis all assessed and showing up on M.R.I. scans so no problem with that. In October 2024 I collapsed in the supermarket nothing like that has ever happened to me and I have no history of blackouts/ fainting or seizures. There was no warning to this passing out and I woke up in hospital. There is a new consultant for this latest illness and he is a neurosurgeon, and he has told me that I could have a benign brain tumour and his team would be looking after me. To cut a long story short I spent 10 ten days in hospital where I was only monitored, the nurses there were wonderful but nothing much was done about the fact I passed out. I was discharged from hospital with a new lot of medication and was told appointments would be sent for me to attend out-patients clinics. The problems then began to start I would get letters for appointments and then two or three days later they would cancel the appointment for a new one then the same thing would happen again. I needed a head scan and because I do not like closed in scans an open upright scan was found for me so I was very pleased. The hospital I was in are supposed to lay on transport but they are telling me now the only transport is for people who will be on a stretcher. The hospital is about one and a half hours by car from my home and my daughter has been excellent to me but she cannot drive. I cannot do the public transport because of my back and mobility issues but hospital transport just said they cannot help. I know the head scan was extremely important and almost two weeks ago I arranged a deal with a taxi company as the clinic was in Marylebone in London it cost me £140 pounds but it has been done. I had an arrangement set up by my consultant that on 10th March he would do a telephone consultation with me to give me my results and let me know how we would go from there. Last Thursday the consultants secretary phoned me saying he cannot do the 10th March and could I wait until April. I told her I have had enough of all these cancelled appointments and she is supposed to be phoning me next week on 6th March with at least some news. I have completely had enough of all of it now does anyone know who I can get further information about this from or complain to as it is really starting to get me down and is messing with my mental health Sorry this is so long but any replies will be much appreciated.
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The PALS department of your Hospital is who I would recommend contacting:
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In my experience, the fact that they have moved the appointment to a later date is generally good news. It may be that the original diagnosis is correct or even that it is something less significant. So I wouldn't worry (or try not to) too much. Of course, that's easier said than done. @kimmy87 is right; you should contact the PALS team to make a complaint, although they won't be able to change the appointment.
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Does anyone know if there is a service like this in Wales? Specifically Pembrokeshire. I tried searching but the only links I found are no longer working. Maybe it's called something else in Wales? TIA :-)
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Does these links help?
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Seems particularly for the course I'd be over the moon having to only wait a month for an appointment, I'm currently on 3 lists all with a 16 month waiting list. & A 2 month wait for supposed emergency MRI with contrast considering I'm just in remission from cancer not ideal. I'm actually taking legal action against my NHS trust for failure of duty of care.
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This link should help you
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You can ask for mild sedation or something to relax you if you are really anxious about the MRI. You would need to see your GP in advance of the scan and they can give you a one off prescription for medication to help you get through the scan. I know they can be very scary to have done especially the claustrophobia but maybe it would help you to access transport to have it done at a local hospital if you need another scan in future.
I hope your issues with the hospital get resolved and the news is good reference your scan results.
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Hi @samantha21 I'm so sorry to read what you're going through. It sounds like a really long journey, and continuous cancelled appointments are bound to effect your mental health. PALS is a good place to start. I can see some of the members have shared the link/s. If things don't progress, you also can complain to the NHS. Here's the link - NHS England » Feedback and complaints about NHS services. But hopefully the PALS team can support you.
I hope your call goes ok, and you get a firm appointment scheduled in.
Best wishes,
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Hi. Re an appointment, I suggest emailing the consultant's secretary politely giving the number of the cancelled appointments in the last x months together with the dates (make this as concise as you can). Tell them of your concerns and worries and see what they come back with. Try and word it so they 'feel' you're concerns but don't overtly say "if you were me" statements.
Another idea might be to add something in the subject line of your email such as "due to cancellations looking for a rebooking in March". Together with the body text of the email this may focus the mind of the recipient to do what it says on the tin.
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Hello Holly, and thank-you for the advice also some of the others provided links as well. The hospital wanted me to go for an Echocardiogram once discharged also the chest clinic where they do a respiratory scan. I was okay with that but both clinics have cancelled my appointments five times since the beginning of January and now both appointments are at the end of March. I have spoken to P.A.L.s several times but have only been told if the clinics are busy then I will have to wait. I also enquired about the transport to P.A.L.s and was told if the transport cannot help me then I will have to use public transport. I am already on benefit for long term chronic back pain and mobility issues so public transport is out of the question. I did get to my head scan which was in London and paid for a taxi as the head scan is important and the hospital transport refused to help me. The consultant in charge of my care that wanted the head scan told his secretary to call me to tell me he cannot fit me in for the arranged telephone consultation and she is supposed to be calling me next week to give me further news. You are right Holly this is messing with my mental health and I did not realize that the N.H.S. was in such a mess. I think I may put in a complaint to the N,H,S. about all of it and it is certainly not helping me with the recovery after the fall and being in hospital. Thanks for your help
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Thank you, that is very helpful :-)
Carl.
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