Appointment permanently cancelled? 🙁

[Yumz199725]

Checked my NHS app to find that my hospital check up for November has been cancelled, but what makes it even more odd is they phoned me few days ago to tell me that they still wanted to see me in November?? So I'm confused

[JHutton1994]

Phone cardiology to double check. My app never tells me when appointments actually are just that I am waiting for one to be allocated in perpetuity.

[10gingercats]

this has happened to my husband twice recently...once for an eye appoint. and the other for respiratory .....both in the same hosptal.I put it down to staffing problems.We are in Oxford.

[Lezzers]

I would phone tomorrow and find out why it's been cancelled. I would guess it's either a administrative error or, hopefully, there's an earlier appt in the pipeline for you 🤞

[Turnipgirl in reply to Lezzers]

What I do when there's a booked appointment is I give them a ring beforehand to ask is it still on or not as often it's a case of messages not being passed on!

[Turnipgirl]

Give them a ring to clarify is the appointment still on or not for November?

[Blearyeyed]

Ring them, if it is cancelled ask why because you had been told they still wanted to see you in November.If they have changed their mind tell them that you still require an appointment

[Farmer87]

The systems a joke, I had 2 cardiologists leave that I'd never met then the 3rd one wrote me a letter to say I'm fine and if I have any problems to go back to the doctors and be referred again - I'd never spoken or seen this guy. It is dangerous what they are doing and literally playing with peoples lives.

I'm only taking beta blockers morning and night, sleep sitting up because of all the extra beats and have mild to severe regurgitation I have no faith in the system of me being treated correctly.

[Beamgirl in reply to Farmer87]

I agree.It has taken a whole year now and many chases to finally get a telephone appt later this week.

This is after I insisted that after a heart bypass in 2022, and not feeling great, that I have another angiogram in 2023 and promptly told my bypass had failed and that they weren't going to redo as too much trauma for my body. Then letter to g.p states no referral needed.

Since then I have been left with the g.p doing nothing and the hospital passing the buck. So went from 50% blockage to now 100% blockage with no med reviews nor check-ups.

My worry is am I on borrowed time.

I am only in my early 60's and feel.so let down by the lack of care.😪

[Botolph in reply to Beamgirl]

I found your treatment, or lack of it, really upsetting. I do hope you receive a more positive response later this week and someone who will listen and act on your worries.

[Sambobs17 in reply to Farmer87]

Hi thereFarmer just jumping on your reply - think I’m in the same boat as you propped up at night hoping to get some sleep! Absolutely shattered with it, the ectopics are just horrible they always seem worse at night I’ve had the relevant tests done, now it’s a question of referral to advice and guidance cardiology just hoping they respond quickly - are you any further on in your situation - it’s knowing what to do to try and get rid of them I’ve tried the usual things not much success hope you get some sleep soon I just wanted to sympathise with you, sorry one other question do you get aches and pains in the chest area - I’ve previously had trop test which was fine take care 😊

[Taviterry in reply to Farmer87]

I too feel that I'm being passed around the NHS, and I'm losing faith. On Friday A & E referred me to a cardiologist about my fatigue, but my "journey" started with my heart surgeon last November - he could find no problem. On Tuesday I had an appointment letter to see the cardiologist next month (so prompt action there), but it's at 0840. Part of my problem is feeling terrible on some mornings (and oh! the relief when I come out of it), so I'm going to seek an appointment later in the day. It helps that I don't think there's much that the cardiologist can do, and that my treatment should continue with Haematology who, to put it tactfully, seem to be understaffed.

[Taviterry in reply to Taviterry]

I rang Cardiology this afternoon and they readily changed my appointment to mid-pm two days later.

[Beamgirl in reply to Farmer87]

Totally agree with your comments I have had very similar, it leaves you stressed which is not helpful considering but I am not sure there is much we can do as no.one in the system wants to help!Playing with people's lives is spot on.

[Sambobs17]

hello Yumz this can’t be right surely - it needs clarifying as to what is going on hope you’ve found out more since you put your post on 😊

[Jedi14]

Maybe end of November? I hope it all turns out well! I think the system in the UK is already overstreached and the following apply:

1) Staff shortages/changes.

2) Information is not updated/passed on properly therefore follow ups are being missed.

3) Grading of individuals according to levels of urgency.

This could mean a longer wait for non-urgent cases as urgent cases are cropping up daily. There is a procedure called "waiting list times" also, you should have a limit and then they should see you, have to see you! I think they will call you soon.

[Collectone]

Received a letter informing me that I've been discharged from refactory angina clinic because my Cardiologist has retired and that the clinic status will be reviewed next April .No follow up to testing that was in the pipeline.Left hanging basically !!!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Collectone]

I am sorry to hear this.

I live with refractory angina due to coronary vasospasms.

Are you referring to the Bradford Refractory Angina Clinic?

Perhaps ask your GP to refer to Leeds where they are carrying out more detailed testing?

[Collectone in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Yes Bradford .Before discharge I was told if I was to go for intra coronary testing it would be done at L.G.I. .I will speak to my GP about referring me back to Leeds as I was under their Cardiology dept a few years ago .Thanks for your reply .

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Collectone]

I have messaged you with the names of some Cardiologists who maybe able to help.

The BHF 'Understanding Angina' booklet lists this group as a resource and for further support, for people who have microvascular and vasospastic angina.

internationalheartspasmsall...

[Collectone in reply to Milkfairy]

That's great .Thankyou.

[Digger0]

Perhaps the time has altered? Same day, different time?

[Yumz199725 in reply to Digger0]

Wish it was that simple but all it says is cancelled x

NHS notification.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Yumz199725]

I was 'accidentally ' discharged from a service that was supposed to be bringing me into hospital for a minor procedure.

I spoke to the head of the service 3 weeks ago. I am still waiting for my follow-up appointment and procedure date.

I have a phone number, but nobody answers the phone!

Have you been able to actually speak to anyone at the hospital?

[Yumz199725 in reply to Milkfairy]

Yeah I phoned up and I got through and they said I was on a waiting list and that they would contact me, it's been ages and I ain't heard nothing 💔

[serenfach]

Me and 7 other people waiting in the hospital waiting room, to be told the appointments had been cancelled. No one had told us. A 60 mile round trip for nothing!

Do hospital staff know how an appointment affects our lives? How we cling to hope that something will be resolved? How we have to change our schedules for days to make room for the appointment? We seem to be inconvenient lumps to be moved around at random!

(puts soapbox away and kettle on...)

[Turnipgirl in reply to serenfach]

I hate that when you have psyched yourself up to do something and then it's all for nothing!

I find its worse at the last minute finding out things aren't going ahead than if you get a few days notice and you can fit something else in instead!

A couple of times I have rung places just before an appointment is due to ask if it's still going ahead and on one occasion I got snapped at down the phone that if I don't hear things assume it's going ahead and I said sometimes things don't get passed on and how its not very nice turning up to places all for nothing!

I thought that kind of attitude was extremely rude myself talking to me in that kind of manner!

[SuperFluff in reply to serenfach]

Thanks for making me smile - love the line 'puts soapbox away and kettle on'. Totally agree with your sentiments.

[Taviterry in reply to serenfach]

Could have been someone reporting in sick? About 14 years ago, I reported at 1000 with an eye problem, one doctor had rung in sick and I sat there for two hours watching his colleagues come in to the waiting-room, glance at my bulky file and put it back. I was the last patient to be seen by the senior consultant, whom I had come to trust. I explained the problem, she didn't even look at my eye and told me to come back if it got worse.

Around then, half-a-dozen of us were waiting for cataract operations but were warned that the team might run out of permitted theatre time, and so it proved. At least I was fitted in the following week.

Originally I was due to have my TAVI at Hammersmith NHS hospital, but would have had to ring up after midday on the day of admission to check there was a spare bed ....

In these circumstances it's not just the patient who's inconvenienced but their friends/family who have made arrangements regarding transport and after-care.

[Yumz199725]

Ended up making a formal complaint instead and this is there response

Email from PALS

[Sambobs17]

hi Yumz this should prompt things having contacted PALS there usually is a follow up fingers crossed 😊

[Beamgirl]

In my experience PALS is also useless and nothing is done🤞you don't have the same experience