Re Changing hospital

[Jewels94]

I wrote a few months ago about changing hospital from London to Colchester. I decided on the end to go for it and at my last appointment in January I discussed it with my rheumatologist. He agreed it made sense for me to change and said he would write to my GP and ask him to refer me to Colchester. He also said to make my next appointment in case the referral took a while to go through. He was very nice about the whole thing and even gave me a little hug as we said goodbye. Anyway on Friday I missed a phone call wanting to arrange a short notice appointment at Colchester. I tried to phone back but couldn’t get through so will try again today. In the meantime I received a letter from Mile End Hospital in London cancelling my next appointment in June and rearranging it for January. This is not the first time they have cancelled appointments on me. It seems like I did the right thing in asking to be referred to Colchester and at least my blood results will be accessible by my rheumatology team.

[Matilda_1922]

Hi Jewels 94 I live in Essex too but south of the county I’m considering Changing my hospital because I am nearer and my GP will receive my bloods which at the moment are hit and miss.

Hope you get an appointment soon with Colchester soon

Matilda

[Jewels94 in reply to Matilda_1922]

Thanks Matilda. I phoned this morning and got told an appointment had been made for me for 10th April. Letter came in the post a bit later. Hopefully things will work out better regarding the blood tests. Good luck if you do decide to change hospital.

Julie

[Matilda_1922 in reply to Jewels94]

Not too far away.

Good luck with your appointment

[barbieg]

Hello, Colchester is my hospital and I see Dr Davies, a very nice lady. I see her once a year and a Rheumy nurse once a year so that means I am seen every six months . Ask for the phone numbers of the appropriate consultants secretary so you have access if you have a problem. I’ve had to use it a few times and always had a phone call back. Good luck.

[Jewels94 in reply to barbieg]

Thanks. My appointment is with Dr Ahmad Al-Shami. I’ll definitly take your advice on board with regard to getting the secretary’s phone number.

[barbieg]

Think he must be new, not heard of him. Keep your eye on your next appointment as they changed the system last year . I used to be given an appointment as I left the hospital but this changed and I was told one would be sent. It wasn’t , so had to ring to ask why I hadn’t been sent one. It seems I and many other patients had been forgotten in the new system!! No idea if they are still using this new booking system. Good luck with your appointment.

[Jewels94 in reply to barbieg]

On the top of my letter it says extra clinic, so I think they must be trying to clear a backlog of appointments ready for the merger with Ipswich hospital. I can’t find any information about the doctor I’m seeing but when I search his name comes up at Peterborough so maybe they’ve recruited more doctors,

[barbieg in reply to Jewels94]

My appointments often say extra clinic although they do have a backlog of patients at the moment. It’s sad that so many people have RA. I googled his name too and noticed it said Peterborough.