Slow or referrals not actioned

[REVet]

I'm a ex-serviceman now 65 years of age, my last colonoscopy was Sept '18 after my test results showed blood in my stools. Everything seemed ok until 29th Jan '19 when a kidney stone gave me some severe pain then as that started I started to have painful cramps in my lower bowel and there was dark blood clots in my stool.

I went to A&E and was seen by a consultant who just sent me home again, a week later I went back as the pain had intensified.

I had a CT scan and it showed up various problems, severe fatty liver, a 6mm kidney stone stuck in my ureter on the left, this was referred to Urology 18th Feb '19 and diagnosed with colitis on the bowel, this was back at the beginning of February '19 I also had a gastroenterology consultant appointment 7th March '19 so I waited to see the result and they referred me to the Colonoscopy dept.

Two days ago I phoned up appointments at the hospital to check the status of my two referrals only to be told they haven't been sent through, a computer says no problem.

Got hold of my GP and asked if he could chase these up...no response!

Still in pain and passing blood and it just seems nobody gives a damn.. hit a brick wall now so I have given up, I don't even have a number for the Bowel screening program people in Chester.

The NHS doesn't seem to have noticed that just because I'm 65 I am not retired and have to work on until the end of May '19, very difficult when you can't get of the loo until about 10:30 in the morning. No worky no bill pay.

I'm not the best of patients when it comes to tardiness and punctuality, I hate both and find it unacceptable.

[22Mermaid]

Hi REVet,

So sorry to hear of your experience. Please ring up PALS, you should have a telephone no. as they are associated with the hospital, they will certainly chase this matter up for you. All the Best 😇

[REVet in reply to 22Mermaid]

Tried PALS but were even less help. All they said was there is a 13 week lead time and not guaranteed that I'll get an appointment then and it'll just be a consultation...not much good when you are suffering and have no medication except paracetamol, GP seems to not or won't supply anything stronger. Going to give CBD oil a try next because over the counter painkillers are no good.

I have never been in need of the NHS for 60 odd years and have always been fairly healthy, and now I need it seems out of reach. I have now given up because I don't really get any answers.

[22Mermaid in reply to REVet]

Please don't give up! It can be draining and frustrating.

The cut backs in the health sector doesn't help either. You need to see you doctor again, perhaps they can jump a few hurdles or get you fast tracked as an urgency, due to all your symptoms. You just have to be assertive, it's hard when poorly. Good Luck. 😇

[SORRELHIPPO]

If you have the name of the Gastroenterologist you saw (or the consultant of that clinic) you need to ring up his secretary, (they all have someone who acts as this) and leave a message askng them to chase this up, as not got through. Explain how bad you feel and how urgent you think it is. Keep calling until someone speaks to you, who can tell you what is going on. Speak clearly, do not shout, just make it clear you at the end of your tether, and finding a referral has not got through worries you a good deal. Also explain you still have to work. You could always ask your GP if this is somthing he/she can chase up, usually only a consultant can chase up their referrals.

[Valbaty54]

Hello REVet, I've had colitis for four years and life certainly does seem to pass by in blocks of a few weeks waiting for the next appointment, test result, etc. In the early stages of diagnosis I can understand that you want everything to happen tomorrow but our NHS under pressure can't always do that. A call to your gastro consultant's secretary, as someone else suggested, could help to check the colonoscopy referral has been made. I had to wait about 7 weeks for mine recently - not unusual. You could ask your GP to organise a Faecal Calprotectin stool test which shows inflammation, if you haven't already had one. If it's high, that would be a reason to speed things up. I live not too far from you but under a different hospital trust. Good luck.....