Fobbed off yet again by hospital

Hazbeen this is shocking treatment, l hope that you are soon sorted out. I don't want to be negative about our NHS but l think it has become chaotic.
We use Addenbrookes on a regular basis as my DH has had a double transplant. He has been very poorly the past year and they are not able to find out what is wrong with him.
When he was admitted recently, we couldn't speak to a doctor as they were too busy, the nurses actual words. I don't blame them at all as they are all doing their best. Extreme staff shortages and stressed beyond belief.
I am just grateful that my son, dil and dgd have private health care so hopefully should be OK.
I don't think we will be.

If the lack of a consultant means that there is no-one to authorise either the blood tests or the treatment, then I think you need to escalate your enquiry through PALS to a complaint. And as others have suggested, make a lot of noise.

Ignore my last comment - just saw that PALS came through for you. Hope everything goes well for you

Sorry to hear what you are going through. I would suggest contacting your local MP - this is exactly the sort of thing they are supposed to help their constituents with, and action from an MP usually gets results.

I saw a hepatologist (I think!) in February, and am still awaiting my follow up appoinment which should have been four months later.

I've left messages lots of times, but nobody ever gets back to me.

I find this outrageous and unacceptable. You can choose to have your cancer treatment at another hospital, so maybe that might ensure you can get the treatment you need. I would be very stressed to say the least in your situation and lacking confidence in the hospital. I have to wait 5 weeks for mammogram results (5 years post cancer, so this is a bit of a milestone). After 4 weeks' wait, I managed to get through to someone who said this is because of staff shortages and illness. Caused me much anxiety indeed. Haven't seen any doctors or consultants since beginning of Covid (all over the phone), except when I was in A&E, when I saw 5 doctors!

How worrying for you,its just not acceptable. Have you thought about contacting your MP

HAZBEEN - hope everything works out fine for you.

Oh Miss A - that made laugh. I needed that, after all the household problems I’ve had - had to have a new garage door. but it’s so heavy, I sprained my shoulder trying to open it. My SKY magic eye, not working. So ordered new one . That didn’t work either. So called the engineer - he came- 15 minutes and £65 later, I’ve got Sky back on. Have a nice weekend everyone

HAZBEEN

You ladies have given me such a laugh this morning when I caught up with this thread!
I now have to go into battle today to get my blood test before the appointment on Wednesday or there will not be any use speaking to the consultant! Seemingly there are no appointments at either the GP or the local hospital!

Back to PALs I would think! Honestly, when my Mother was in Mexico 35 years ago, the service was better than we are managing at the moment!

PALS managed this for you (and deserve a word of thanks) but the problem reflects the general situation in the NHS - not enough doctors etc., overwork, inadequate buildings, bed blocking, ambulance delays and much more. I doubt the government will do much about it other than making a lot of noise and looking busy.

Me too.
(Sorry for hijacking the thread a bit, but glad it made you smile)

Glad you got it sorted Hazbeen. Hope everything goes well for you

HAZBEEN, hope you got an appointment.

Sometimes negotiating the system is so difficult!

HAZBEEN

You ladies have given me such a laugh this morning when I caught up with this thread!
I now have to go into battle today to get my blood test before the appointment on Wednesday or there will not be any use speaking to the consultant! Seemingly there are no appointments at either the GP or the local hospital!

I was told by the Consultant that if I couldn't get an appointment with the nurse at the surgery or a visiting phlobetomist, there was a "drop-in" clinic at one of the large hospitals.
The trouble is that "drop-in" for me means a 36 mile round trip ?

HAZBEEN are there any walk in clinics or pharmacies near you that do blood tests? Have a look on NHS site or phone 111 and they may be able to help you.

I spoke to my GP Monday and as I was having my Covid jab yesterday at 10.20 at the pharmacy opposite the surgery she arranged for me to have my blood test at the surgery at 10. Both my surgery and pharmacy are both very busy and have large volume of patients.

It seems to depend where you live in the country what health care you get. Where I live GPs and hospitals see a very large number of people . I think it must be down to funding by the various health authorities what care you get.

I have better health here than I got where I used to live.

Hope you can get your blood test done before you see your consultant. But if not surely he will arrange it after talking to you on Wednesday and then arrange another appointment.

You ladies have given me such a laugh this morning when I caught up with this thread!
I now have to go into battle today to get my blood test before the appointment on Wednesday or there will not be any use speaking to the consultant! Seemingly there are no appointments at either the GP or the local hospital!

I thought home would be safer than hospital at the time.

I discharged myself last time I was in.
I'd been outside in an ambulance for so long, I started to feel better.

I did threaten to discharge myself once (it's a long story, I won't bore you) but I did tell the poor overworked one nurse on the ward first.

My mum was bed bound, though.

My daughter 'done a bunk' when she was in.

Callistemon21

I've heard of lost property but not lost patients.

My medic dd says they ‘lose’ patients all the time. They disappear off or discharge themselves or even have their mates come and ‘spring’ them, like they’re in jail! Problem is that they have to be accounted for so if they don’t turn up, security and police have to be involved.

Dd spent most of one night coordinating the search for a patient. He’d gone home but his family weren’t very pleased to see him and brought him back first thing next morning.

Hazbeen I’m glad you’ve managed to get sorted.

I worry I won't be able to communicate at all at some point.

I was supposed to be having a memory test but I xant remember what they said.

yes, OP, hope you get some better attention soon from the medics.
all the best.

having to wrestle with textual criticism, all those years ago, has borne some fruit ! maybe.

Apologies to HAZBEENwe seem to have derailed the thread

Sorry, I do understand the difficulties you are facing and it really is frustrating.