Cancelled appointments

[ElenaJune]

Hi

Just a query, does anyone else keep getting their hospital appointments cancelled at the last minute and rescheduled for 6 months later ? I was due to see my consultant in October 2023, but it was cancelled on the day, an hour before in fact. I wasn’t notified so arrived for the appointment. I was made to feel that I was in the wrong for being there as they were “busy with patients who did have booked appointments” and despite having the appointment letter in my hand they insisted I should not be there. It was rescheduled for March 2024 and has just been cancelled again, 2 days before the appointment and is now rescheduled for August 2024. This has happened before as well, in fact I have only seen my consultant twice in the last 3 years. I’m at Doncaster Royal Infirmary in a general gynaecology clinic (I’m still waiting for referral to a specialist endometriosis clinic!) but would be interested to know if anyone else has had the same experience of repeatedly having appointments cancelled and never getting to see a consultant. I’d take a phone appointment but they don’t do them!

Thanks

[Tangoandmax]

I haven’t experienced this exactly, but from what you’ve said it’s absolutely worth making a complaint to PALS.

Just reiterate your symptoms, lack of support/treatment and how it’s effecting you mentally, you shouldn’t have to but it’s the only way to get seen sometimes!

Good luck!

[ElenaJune in reply to Tangoandmax]

Thank you for replying, I’ll definitely look into making a complaint to PALS, like you say sometimes it’s the only way to get anywhere!

[h0lli3]

Hey! Not at the same hosp but I had my appointment cancelled 11 times over 3 years, then when I did have it and turned up to see the consultant, he wasn't there and I was seen by a general GP in the endo clinic! I contacted PALS and they said I had to make a formal complaint but it wouldn't change anything 🤯 anyway... I explained to my GP I wasn't happy with how I was being treated and asked for a referral else where, giving them the details of a different NHS Endo Centre that accepted national referrals. See if there is one near you and ask for a new referral elsewhere.... you are allowed to have more than one referral then choose where you want to go, you can even wait and see which can you see you first then cancel the other. You also have the right to second opinion.

[ElenaJune in reply to h0lli3]

Thank you very much, that’s really helpful, it’s crazy how the hospitals can just cancel appointments one after the other, from your experience it sounds like making a complaint isn’t going to make a difference! I will look into asking for a new referral though, I didn’t know you could have more than one & then decide later which to take up.