No response from specialist secretary....anyone else having difficulty with communication

[Jasmin24]

I was due to have an operation on June 4th, but I put it on hold, as when having the convo with the specialist I was told things I didn't get told by my general gyane consultant, which sort of shocked me.

I asked for a second opinion and a MDT, just to understand what he will be doing and needed reassurance, as obviously, I had surgery at a general hospitals, from what I wasn't treated well and I didn't heal well.

The secretary reassured me if I cancelled, I would get another date in July or August.

I asked for an update a few weeks ago via email, but no reply. I phoned yesterday and left a message an no reply.

We are heading into July, I feel they have bumped me off the list. I have waited so long, and now if feel ignored

Anyone else experienced this?

[Florrie2]

Oh yes… I had an appointment with my consultant on 5th December. I emailed his secretary once every 4 to 6 weeks asking about a surgery date - no-one ever contacted me. I had vague replies (at least I got replies). Eventually I got her phone number - found out it was a new secretary and managed to get an operation date by having one conversation where I said I was off work with stress due to having no contact and no idea when surgery may even vaguely be (this was true - there’s more behind all of this), then left a slightly hysterical voice mail the following week. This was private, not NHS, and I couldn’t believe how ignored I was.

I do believe, unfortunately, that covid is still having a lot of repercussions on surgeries, but that is no excuse for secretaries to not contact us, even if they don’t know when we can get dates.

[Jasmin24]

Thank you for replying. I'm kinda inpatient and annoyed. I just been messed around so much, that even specialist are doing it now.I can't afford private I'm afraid, but regardless of paying or not, or with covid, your right, it's no excuse, a quick phone call to at least acknowledge the patient.

I've been off sick now, 7 months, since being admitted in December. I need to get back to some form of reality.

Thank you again Florrie2, I'm gonna continue with pestering them.

[Florrie2 in reply to Jasmin24]

Good luck 🙂

[EndoJaz]

Complain to PALS x