I had a missed phone call from the hospital today, when I rang back it was a recorded message saying that Oxfordshire hospitals has tried to ring and will try again, I panicked because I had a mammogram yesterday, and they said they would ring if there was a problem, but my friend said why not ring rheumatology to see if it's them. It was them cancelling my appointment for 19th september and making another appointment for sometime in October, I said this was not good enough as I am supposed to be an urgent referral, she said the consultant had requested that they move me from the GCA clinic to the arthritis clinic. It's ridiculous, I havn't got arthritis. I explained that I'm supposed to be being checked for GCA, and that I have PMR, she just said she's not medical and is only doing what's on her screen, I asked if I could speak to someone medical, she said someone will be in touch. I feel like they are really messing me about, all the doctors i have seen since Monday are under the impression that I will be seen urgently. If no one rings me tomorrow i will speak to one of the doctors at the surgery to see if they can help.
Not happy: I had a missed phone call from the... - PMRGCAuk
Not happy
Back to the surgery and make a fuss.
A fundamental problem - here where I live too - is that the appointments are not made by the doctors who understand the disorder being referred but by a clerk who only sees "rheumatology". And things are dictated - but not checked. So that similar sounding words that might make sense (or not) get mixed up.
So frustrating. Hang in there and push for what you need. Mistakes are made and you don’t want to be one of them..🌺
Yup - I've been through this too with several doctors, ambulance people and admin staff over the last 4 yrs. "Arteritis" is often confused with "Artheritis" amongst all the less informed, admin, or non specialist doctors.
What I do the moment I sense a misunderstanding is refer to my GCA as "large vesel vasculitis". It soon focuses them when I explain that my immune system is attacking the large tubes attached to my heart and organs from the inside.
Once they realise it's a chest complaint it seems to suddenly elevate to a priority and proper doctors are soon on the scene. Hope that helps
Oxfordshire is awful, awful, awful. I have been tortured this year with misdiagnosis and in competence. Your only option is to be a complete pest and cry over everyone. Well this is my experience. Recovering from a private hip replacement which I would still be waiting gor in inhuman agony if left to the NHS. I'm in the throes of putting together a complaint.