well this is new one on me. My RA consultant has semiretired and I have been transferred to someone new. I was expecting a f2f appointment in November but nothing heard until today. An email stating ‘there are appointments available on December 24th in the morning and other availability. Please phone if you would like an appointment ‘
Does anyone else have this appointment system, just phone?
Lucky you. So many missed appointments last year with letters delayed in Christmas post. Perhaps they have had patients cancel at last minute and don't want slots to go to waste.Hope everyone finds ways of having a good Christmas and hope for 2025
sounds odd. I would expect a dr very distracted and not focused. And yet you’ve been offered an appointment and if you don’t go you may have a longer wait. I just write from an experience yesterday when I went to an eye appointment expecting a macular injection and was told I was making no progress so not to have one. This was not nhs incidentally.
Are you on the patient led initiative scheme? As that’s how it allegedly works there no appointments made for you but you ask for one when you need it.
Yes it does sound a bit like it. I have had no other communication to say this was the way appointments were going to be made in the future. I wonder if we shall be going into a triage system via the rheumatology nurses.
Maybe sounds like with the delays There are slots or cancellation appoints because it's Christmas eve ,and over festive period ,
Maybe could be a good system if was the case
Not rheumatology but urology department rang me on Thursday to ask whether I would like an appointment today (Saturday) as they are running an extra clinic to try to clear some of the backlog. Now panicking to try and fit in all the jobs I have planned for this weekend. Perhaps this is what your rheumatology department is doing.
I have had this once in a while and have jumped at the chance of an appointment because they usually do this when I’ve been in touch with them and I’m in a mess. I’ve been waiting for a steroid shot for over 3 weeks and heard nothing yet so no doubt I will have to chase it. It may not be that that is the new system but they’ve probably noticed you haven’t seen anyone for a while. Go for it if it’s convenient and I hope it goes well. I’ve never had an email though our hospital is too archaic for such wizardry haha.
Apparently this is the way it will be in future , everything is changing.
Don’t knock it…..I bet it’s more than most of us are offered.if you want an appointment…...just do as they ask…..phone!
If it’s the patient led initiative I think it might work well for stable patients. Then it will open up spaces for new patients.
It depends very much how efficiently the practice is run!
It’s hospitals that do this, as new patients wait so long as only get on books with horrendous waits. Why see a consultant when alls well. It seems such a waste to go and just say all is well. If someone needs to see a medic then being able to when needed it’s far better. If it works, of course.
I agree with you, I am in no hurry to see anyone as I am quite stable at the moment and stopping routine appointments, even telephone appointments will free up time for the patients in need.
I always understood it was a good time to get an appointment, a friend had his open heart surgery done a couple of days before Christmas. I think many people don’t want to deal with a hospital at that time so if I were you I’d phone and bag it asap.
Hi Pythagorus
No, I don't have that. I still get the traditional letter. It is a shame its landed on Christmas Eve, but I suppose it depends if your are desperate for an appointment.
I remember when my consultant of over 30 years decided to move into a more specialised area and I had to change rheumatologist. I was so upset about it that she kindly said she would stay with me for another year and hand over slowly to my new consultant. I have a great relationship with her now too. Good luck with your appointment xx
Appointments, or lack of them!
well 2 appointments today
How long to get letter from rheumy after appointments?
An eye test over the phone
