Disappointed

[Mostew]

My long awaited appointment with Integrative London Cancer Care hospital has been cancelled until August as Dr. Is off sick.

I had to remind myself to be sorry she isn’t well .

My platelets have come down a bit and still feeling well . When I decided I better take HU I Had felt less energy and more lightheaded .

So much better now

SO unless it feels it’s time I’ll hold off till Aug

[JediReject]

Hi Mostew , it really is disappointing when ones appt is either cancelled, rearranged, or simply doesn't materialise. I'm sorry you're now having to wait. It can be hard to get seen in a timely way due to the massive backlog that Covid has caused. I'm waiting to hear about 3 appts , 2 hospital and 1 my dentist. I'm seen in clinic about every 6 mths and video calls in between which work quite well.

What I sometimes find hard to accept is that there doesn't appear to be a back up plan to cover a person's sick absence. My wife needed bloods at our GP but 2 nurses down due to illness so was referred to a walk in centre where she had a 40 minute wait in a busy area in spite of having a specific appt time. Not ideal but I think we will all need to get used to reduced service levels in our wonderful NHS for a long time to come. I think many staff at all levels are feeling the effects and when some inevitably go down it puts additional pressure on those remaining.

I hope your August appt goes ahead ok.

Regards - Chris

[Mostew in reply to JediReject]

Thanks Chris

My goodness you have made me feel very lucky indeed!!!

Do hope you get your appointments sorted

As always support on here helps ….

Carolyn x

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Mostew]

I'm the lucky one. Having been refused a DEXA scan over and over because my last one was less than two years ago, I was given an appointment this week for August. I rang them up and they had a cancellation for yesterday, which I took. I had to cancel my optician's appointment to do it but am relieved to be on the way to finding out whether I have osteoporosis or not and if not, why I suffered those excruciating compression fractures. I should get my letter by tomorrow, which is PD good.

[Trocken in reply to JediReject]

As someone who’s working in the nhs, you sum the current situation up very well. Expect more sickness amongst staff, everyone is burnt out, we’ve all been running on autopilot for the past 15 months. We all have families who have taken a back seat as work as been the priority, the crunch is yet to come 😬🥲

[JediReject in reply to Trocken]

Hi Trocken, , firstly a big Thank You for playing your part ! Secondly I had a feeling I vastly understated the true position because I recall my Consultant at Manchester Royal saying they were at least 300 nursing staff down across the hospital and that was well before Covid. They just couldn't get enough recruits and many of the nurses were leaving to either go back to their home country (I had 2 Portuguese and 2 Romanian nurses care for me) or to work in the private sector in the UK or even in places like Dubai. It stands to reason those left would be required to take up the slack. I'm sure though despite folks having a moan including me sometimes we all appreciate that everyone is doing their best in very difficult circumstances, especially those poor front line Covid Doctors and Nurses. I'm not sure I could walk in their shoes.

I'm sure as you say the fallout hasn't fully happened yet.

Take care - Chris

[Trocken in reply to JediReject]

Wow 300, I wouldn’t be surprised and that’s just nurses 😬🤷🏻‍♀️ Think of admin, therapy services and support staff etc etc! I have to say the families I work with have been incredibly understanding, I think it’s been a big wake up call for us all how valuable our NhS and its staff are, when it’s not running the way it was (all be it over stretched then) we realise how lucky we are to even have it!

[JediReject in reply to Trocken]

Yes we are very fortunate and long may it continue and not go the way of a number of other once great British national treasures. . Would hate to see the divide between the haves and have nots widening and meaning those who can't pay don't get good or any health care. . . .

[Wilma66]

Hang in there. It will get better Take care 😊

[Mostew in reply to Wilma66]

Thank you for your kind words . Much appreciated x

[MPort]

Very frustrating when you had done the research and were all geared up for it. Since you feel better on HU this delay will give you more time to monitor how you are feeling generally and keep note of areas that interest/concern you. You might get a cancellation! Hope you don't have to wait too long.

[Mostew in reply to MPort]

Thank you . I’ve not been clear though ..

I havnt started HU yet as wanted to wait until appointment and took a chance because I feel better .

I’m reluctant to take it while my body seems to keeping good energy and head not to bad …

Will discuss on Monday with Ayurvedic Anne who I know supports me starting HU but listens to me …. And my doubts!!x

[Wyebird]

Is this the royal London hospital . I’ve just searched the web. Find it difficult that there is no other doctor covering. I hope you are sorted soon

[Mostew in reply to Wyebird]

Thanks

Yes royal London . I had asked to speak to someone in particular, so I guess they are rebooking with her .