NO phone call

[gradyjackjacob]

I was booked in to have a over the phone call off my rheumatolagist but no one rang me,has this happened to anyone else.

[AgedCrone]

Did you tell your rheumy team you did not receive the call?

Unless you alert them..it could go down on your record that you did receive it.

Sadly these days we have to stay on top of any missed appointments .

.

[gradyjackjacob in reply to AgedCrone]

Many thanks for your reply.

[bpeal1]

There could be a many different reasons why this didn’t happen. You need to contact your rheumatology team and ask them why.

[gradyjackjacob in reply to bpeal1]

I will many thanks.

[Runrig01]

Agree with others, you need to contact the team and ask. There could be many different reasons. I have one specialist who can run 2hrs late, even when I have a face to da d with her. You definitely haven’t HC ad a message through the nhs app. I’ve had a few appointments hanged, and it was only through the app that I found out.

[medway-lady in reply to Runrig01]

Yes same here for Urology twice, and it was after waiting all morning twice for the calls. As it was supposed to be 9.30 then 10.45 so I waited as yes things get delayed so eventually rang in as needed to go out as never sure if they use home phone or mobile. To then get a reply cancelled again. Here we get notes if missed 2 then your out. So as this was second time I checked on phone no incoming numbers recorded on either so I replied and screen shot as I've noticed that the messages do get changed and said record this as to say you cancelled not me. I then got an apology and a message of an emergency occurred again and a new date. I don't mind at all but when they've now got the technology why dont they use it. I then got 3 letters saying cancelled, then you'll hear, then this is new appointment but in person. I've never minded then running late, or cancelling but now its getting silly. Hence I was very happy to go to Patient Initiated Appointments. If it works ! but my worry is like Econsult its sold to patients as really innovative etc but very soon its muddled, gone from 24/7 to half an hour a day and so complicated to use. Here if not computer literate is very difficult indeed.

[Runrig01 in reply to medway-lady]

Yes I’m in Kent as well, so have the same set up, re cancellations, and being booted out after 2. Like you I’ve had them cancel twice then try to say I cancelled. Thankfully they accepted they’d cancelled and rebooked me. Our EConsult is only open for 2hrs, I find it extremely difficult to complete when you have complex health conditions. Thankfully last time I went for bloods I asked to book an appointment with the gp. Initially she said use econsult, but when i listed the 3 separate issues, making it complex to complete, she agreed. I ended up getting a double appointment with my gp and one with the nurse, to do with slow healing wound. I now have 3 more appointments for bloods, respiratory nurse and a Doppler booked in the next week or two, as a result of these appointments. I’m sure if this had been a standard 10 min phone appointment, they would never have picked up all the issues, and done very little.

I recently had issues with Medway, when I chased my urgent ENT appointment, that the respiratory consultant had booked as urgent, and it was now 35 weeks. Pals initially responded telling me my gp had booked it as routine, which was currently a 62 week wait. Shocking that they don’t read their emails properly, which stated it was one of their consultants and not my gp. So I screenshot the letter, stressing the urgency. 1hr later ENT phone with an appointment the following week. It’s just ironic that PALs stress to staff on the wards, to read the complaint thoroughly, so you are responding correctly to the persons issues, and they cant follow their own guidance 😂. Like you I have no issue with clinics running late. The respiratory one that always runs late, never rushed you, is always thorough and listens to what you say. Medway is a 50 mile trip for me, 100 mile round trip, but she is so worth it.

[medway-lady in reply to Runrig01]

I know that I feel that it’s made so complicated that they are just unable to see that tinkering is making things so much worse. It’s worse for you with that journey and keep an eye on their website as I’ve been told that they are going ANCP so I don’t know if I have to register again the same as Council to get out of car park with blue badge status. I’ll find out next month but they’ve got to do something as a lot of problems now as people queue jumping by going in blue badge entrance. The waits for appointments these days are shocking, it’s getting very scary. I’ve been going to Alan Squirell unit and my husband dropped me off and parked in Canterbury Street. I just despair at people travelling alone and don’t get why they can’t issue parking permits to clinic patients or let us use the bus service from Dockside. There is so much parking there and it’s mostly empty. Or use part of the Lines. It’s no joined up thinking.

[Runrig01 in reply to medway-lady]

I’ll need to keep my eye open for changes in parking then. As you say too many sneak in through the blue badge entrance, then they struggle to exit, as they didn’t get a ticket on entry. I think I said before I find their blue badge system, bizarre. There’s no instructions that you don’t need to leave your blue badge in the window, as you need to show it at the car park desk in the building. I now have a screenshot of mine, but should be better system, as disabled parking is meant to reduce walking, which it doesn’t if you have to return for your badge. The dock parking would be a good idea. My morning appointments can take 1hr 45mins to get there, then time needed to park. Thankfully it usually only 3 x a year 🤪

[medway-lady in reply to Runrig01]

I think Wes the Health Secretary had some good ideas yesterday but it’s going to be a long uphill struggle. It’s infuriating that the Great Lines is empty, huge and surely they could loose a bit to improve parking. But common sense doesn’t seem to be a need these days, it’s no good the hospitals offering more appointments if patients can’t get to them. And here the oldest hospital too expensive and difficult to modernise is now extremely, extremely expensive apartments. It should never have been sold but converted to care use and clinics to release acute beds in main hospital.

[KASHMIRI1 in reply to Runrig01]

I have used E-consult twice this Autumn and the GPs definatly hadn't read them when I went for the follow up FTF appointment. I cant see the point in even filling them in ant more

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to medway-lady]

That’s the worry isn’t it. Two cancellations and you’re out but if it is them who cancel does that still apply. I have just waited since August for an ENT appointment. Found out from the NHS website that I had an appointment for November 11 which had been cancelled - not by me it wasn’t - but if I hadn’t heard from them by November 12 I could call a number which I did only to be told that I could be put back onto the list - when I asked how long it would take I was told 9-12 months.

So they give you an appointment which they have no intention of honouring then cancel, they really just want to make it look like they are doing something to make it look like their waiting list isn’t as long as it really is. So I might get seen in another 9-12 months.

I asked about hurrying it up and was told to get back to my GP and ask them to accelerate things which I think will be a total waste of time as the somewhat hostile GP I saw and who I have never seen before was like a toddler whose favourite word was ‘No’. It was like she was sitting in charge of the practice budget and was seeing off anyone who was likely to need something that would cost money. Trouble is, and it’s my own fault, but I just don’t have what it takes to go pushing and pushing. The receptionists don’t want you to speak to a doctor, the doctor doesn’t particularly want to speak to you let alone see you in person and then the hospital doesn’t want to see you either 😱 and I’m getting too disillusioned to even want to bother.

[medway-lady in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I know how you feel one and possibly the only thing which gives me an edge is the CKD and they know it’s in the process of waiting now for a date so am a bit wary as this cookie ain’t going to give up. I really wish the GPs would go back to sit and wait as it was 50 years ago but so many go to A&E as can’t see GP and sit and wait in conditions like a MASH unit. I think it’s a disgrace the NHS has got to this stage, I worked and paid in all my life and now we are paying to go private and see the senior GP partner at my practice working solely in local private hospital. That was a shock we’d made the appointment and thought a coincidence then she called my husband’s name out. What is going on? Xx

[Runrig01 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

That’s shocking, that they cancel and remove you from the list, then offer to put you on and start at zero time again. I’d be raising a complaint with pals, there is no reason that you should be penalised by their cancelling your appointment. Mine was classed as urgent, as I get frequent laryngospasms, my specialist wanted to be sure there wasn’t a structural reason for the spasms, which stop me breathing or swallowing. Yet they invested a routine referral from my gp, which had never been the case. It was one of their consultants that referred me, stressing the urgency in her letter. I just feel for others who wouldn’t push accepting the 62 week wait they quoted me, which was for a routine gp referral. Definitely email pals 🤗

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

That is disgusting. I’m sorry to hear that. I’d be sending a letter to the hospital management re their cancellation saying that as a result thereof you are now on a long waiting list. Our letters say that if you cancel twice/fail to attend without informing them of why then you may be returned to your GP care. You can rearrange appointments as long as you give as much notice as possible and not less than 24 hours beforehand unless an emergency.

Going to be honest here … your GP sounds a twit. 😑 Saying no and not being interested. I understand you are disillusioned but hope you can find strength to get the care and appointments you need. 🩷 x

[Stills in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Here here

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Stills]

Thanks Stills, Neonkittie17, Runrig01 and Medway-Lady. I took the plunge and contacted PALS outlining the problem. See what transpires although I have to say my expectations are very low 🙁

I just can’t understand how *they* can cancel an appointment and *I* seem to be rejoining the queue which appears to be adding on 9-12 month waiting time. I keep telling myself maybe she meant 9-12 weeks but I’m pretty sure she said months not weeks.

Considering I was first referred in March 2023, saw the consultant in February 2024 that’s almost a year - who just decided I was a deaf old biddy and packed me off with a single hearing aid.

Then I was re referred in August 2024 I suppose I was a bit over optimistic about expecting to be seen in November 2024 - but another 9-12months, that will be another year. Goodness, the NHS operates in mysterious ways.

[Stills in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Pun intended I presume 😀

[aliplayspiano in reply to medway-lady]

I just had experience of Patient initiated appointment and it has worked well. Rang rheumatology a week ago due to big flare. Spoke to receptionist who arranged a phone call with rheumatology nurse for later that day. After explaining to her my issues I was booked in for a face to face appointment a couple of days ago. Was given a steroid shot which has really helped.

[medway-lady in reply to aliplayspiano]

That’s good to hear, thank you.

[gradyjackjacob in reply to aliplayspiano]

Thank you for your reply.

[gradyjackjacob]

Thank you for your quick reply.

[Madmusiclover]

Yes. Ring them to enquire.

[Neonkittie17]

Yes, I was apparently booked into a non existent phone appointment slot last year and I sat and waited and no call. The appointments centre said no idea how it happened. Consultant wasn’t aware.

[pammi2]

pick up the phone and call them, you have to look after your self , no one else will

[Impie in reply to pammi2]

Yes I've learned this one and if you need to get your GP to write to them so it goes on record x

[gradyjackjacob]

you are right there,many thanks.

[pammi2 in reply to gradyjackjacob]

i was ill but still went int oGP without an appointment to tell them where they had gone wrong and let me down with my medication

[allanah]

So frustrating. Feel for you