Cancelled appointment

[Anastasia17]

My appointment with the Consultant was cancelled this week. I have been waiting for this appointment for 7 long months. Ive called the Outpatient booking number today and I have been told that the next available appointment is on 2nd December. Which is far too long and late. Would someone know if in the case of cancellation the NHS has to give an earlier appointment? Or do we just go on the normal rota (i.e December appointment).

[KGDI]

They should give you an alternative date or at least in my experience, the hospital I’ve used offered a date. But every NHS hospital is different. You could phone them and tell them 2nd of December isn’t feasible and you’d like a more closer date. If they refuse to give you a date saying there’s a long list within the Gynae department, perhaps explain the severity of your symptoms so it is an urgent appointment you are looking for before the situation worsens. If they still refuse, perhaps contact their booking team supervisor or service manager. This information should be available in the hospital website.

[Anastasia17 in reply to KGDI]

Thank you KGDI for your kind reply. I have tried his secretary but she is on holiday for 2 weeks. Ive left a message with the uro gynae part time secretary who is due back on Tuesday, we are trying different ways...

[Christin_a]

Try contacting the PALs department of the hospital. They might be able to aid in speeding up the appointment, they deal with complaints and patient experience.

[EndoJaz]

This happened to me, my April appt was moved to August, my dr wrote to them but still no luck, I complained but kept being told that secretaries and consultant was on annual leave! Its awful. Eventually I was given an appt one week earlier than the Aug appt with the endo nurse who was better than the consultant as she is now sorting my next lap. Its terrible treatment and so wrong to be pushed back again and again when we r suffering. Keep badgering them and ask ur gp to write, it may help. Good luck, I feel ur frustration. X

[Anastasia17 in reply to EndoJaz]

Thank you. I am asking them questions via PALS, etc.

[Anastasia17 in reply to EndoJaz]

Thank you. Hope it goes well for you too.

[Northernmonkee1]

Complain, go through PALS in the hospital. It is amazing how things move if you get them involved. They are sometimes called different things in different hospitals. If you go on the trust's website and look up giving feedback. If there is an endo nurse specialist they may be able to advise and support, mine has spoken to the consultant on occasions for me and got me seen in the clinic. Good luck and the service you are being offered isn't good enough xx

[Anastasia17 in reply to Northernmonkee1]

Thank you. We have emailed PALS, and also put a complaint in and also written to the Consultant, so....

[wanwood]

Try going other routes too as has been suggested, but it would also be a good idea to find out who normally has the ability to make appointments or to ring you if there is a cancellation, and keep ringing that person once you find out. It may not be the consultant's secretary if it's your first appointment, but rather the clinic secretary or the outpatient booking person you've been speaking to. If you keep ringing regularly, say every week or twice a week, and a cancellation does comes up or the consultant puts on an extra clinic, they will remember you and fit you in, in my experience!

[gertrude1]

I feel very sorry for you it's absolutely outrageous. Keep ringing the consultant secretary.

[Anastasia17 in reply to gertrude1]

She's on holiday for 2 weeks, so we calling elsewhere. Thank you.

[SiobhanG]

I'd like to echo everybody who suggested PALS. They really do get things moving! I'm so sorry this has happened, the same happened to me and it was so gutting. Good luck!

[Lovepenguins]

Yeh definitely agree with ring in and emailing pals and the consultants secretary daily or even contacting you local MP as they have helped me in similar situations. I've finally had my laparoscopy with 3rd stage Endometriosis and had to wait over a year at times so don't give up hope xx

Hope you get it soon it's horrific waiting xxx

[Anastasia17]

The waiting is beyond appalling.

[Ginger24]

Most of my appointments have been rescheduled at some point by my consultant, you’ll find with consultants who are able to look at endo in the NHS are part time NHS and part time private. On top of this they are likely to be specialist in other similar areas like ovarian cancer so these cases can mean last minute changes. My first laparoscopy got cancelled the day before it was due to take place at around 3pm and I’ve heard of cases where same day cancellations have occurred. My advice would be don’t let it get you down, your getting there! And try contacting your consultants secretary most of them you can find their email address online and/ or when speaking with the booking line ask to be put through. They have the consultants full diary and know their schedules best and in some cases can arrange for a member of that consultants team for your consultation as an alternative. The booking team can only do so much with the dates they are provided with unfortunately

[Louiseboo77]

Hi. I know how fustrating this is. I have been through it lots. Go see your GP and ask them to contact them and say you need to be seen asap. Get them to explain how long you have waited and your on going problems. I did this in April when mine was cancelled and told September to be seen. My GP had it changed to mid June. Sorry you are having this trouble.

Best of luck. Hope it gets sorted. Take care. X

[StefaniaJW]

I would switch to another BSGE centre or contact a Nancy Nook doc unless they give you a date sooner than that

[Anastasia17]

Thank you. I am not under any BSG centre. As I have not been told the level of the endo, nor its location since lap in Sept 2018, I have received no care whatsoever. And the GPs have told me in Feb this year that for endometriosis Nothing can be done (their exact words). as far as I am aware NHS=No Help 'Soever