Not again

[DDKRM]

Third appointment with rheumy cancelled. This time with no alternative follow up date given. Fortunately I’m getting on fairly ok at the moment and have a very good gp. Is anyone else finding this is happening?

[Hidden]

I did read either on the forum or online that some hospitals were using cancelling appointments multiple times to get past the red tape regarding waiting time. I have had one postponed but got a new date within a month.

[Jeanjean16 in reply to Hidden]

Saw mine last November, said she would see me in four months, still waiting!

[Hidden in reply to Jeanjean16]

Sounds about right these days .

[Marijo1951]

I had a rheumy appointment cancelled once and was given an alternative date several months ahead. I rang the rheumatology dept assistant who told me that rheumatology had been re-classified and was no longer considered urgent. He advised me to keep calling him to find out if there was a cancelled appointment that I could take. I did so and got an appointment within 3 weeks of the cancelled one. If you have a number for an assistant or secretary within the department, I recommend you try calling in the same way.

[whitefishbay]

Yes. I like to blame it on Brexit and lots of EU staff leaving but it is worrying. I find it takes twice as long for results and/or you have to chase things up at least twice. I had three standard heart tests over 1.5 months. Never had results. Had to write and phone twice. Not good.

[Poppylop]

Hi DDKRM, I was diagnosed with PMR and possible GCA last monday, told by Dr that I would get a rheumy appointment within 48 hours for a scan and biopsy, hadn't heard anything by Thursday so went back to the dr, he rang hospital, told them it was urgent, they said they would be in touch that day, they came back with an appointment for 19th september which was two weeks later, she said I had been fast tracked and that was the only appointment they had. Yesterday they rang to say they were cancelling it because I was being moved from the GCA clinic to the arthritis clinic, I don't even have arthritis, I don't think they know what they are doing up there,considering i may have GCA they don't seem to be in a hurry to diagnose me, I'm having really bad side effects on 40mg pred and am desperate for it to be lowered, got to have blood tests this morning to check CRP and ESR so will see if I can speak to a Dr about it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Poppylop]

They don't know what they are doing - it is clerks in admin with no medical training who arrange the appointments, It is utterly ridiculous. The wording used by the referring doctors doesn't help - they use the word urgent which means sooner than routine which is months and months in some cases since the government removed the waiting times directive. The word required is EMERGENCY!

[Marijo1951 in reply to PMRpro]

Maybe they confused ''arteritis'' with arthritis as people tend to do. It must be worth pointing out to them that untreated GCA can lead to blindness... If necessary I suggest you go to A&E and insist on seeing somebody from Rheumatology.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marijo1951]

I think that is very likely. I think GCA needs a new name because even medically trained healthcare professionals manage to mix them up!

[Marijo1951 in reply to PMRpro]

A name including ''vasculitis'' would seem appropriate. I see there are similar points being made on Poppylop's post ''Not Happy'',so it seems these problems are widespread.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marijo1951]

It is, of course, cranial GCA, cranial vasculitis/arteritis

academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...

[Thelmarina]

Yes! Fortunately only once so far but very tiresome. I wonder if it’s worth contacting the rheumy’s office and asking to be contacted in the event of a cancellation?

[Hidden]

That’s happened to me with my Rheumatology & Urology Appointments so l suspect it’s to do with Meeting Targets ie you receive the Appointment within the allotted time, box ticked ✅ then they reschedule it......

The transfer of my care to the Breast Clinic Team was with its usual speed - seen within two weeks of referral......

You really do need to bring someone’s attention to the fact that this is the third time your appointment has been rescheduled, ring the Number on the top of the letter or his Secretary directly, if you have a particular issue you can tell the Secretary & she’ll inform the Doctor, you may well get a phone call with a response. It’s worth a try.......

MrsN