This is how cr*p the NHS adminstration is. They need a good shaking out and re-organisation.

I think you're getting responses from a chatbot, MOnica 🤥

MaizieD

I think you're getting responses from a chatbot, MOnica 🤥

May very well be - from the tone of it...

MaizieD

I think you're getting responses from a chatbot, MOnica 🤥

No far to stupid to be a Chatbot.

SueDonim

Is this of any help, Monica? ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/

It’s a shocking breech of privacy, IMO.

Thank you so much for the link Sue Donim.

I rang them up, spoke to a most helpful lady and as a result sent her an email explaining the situation and including sending the chain of emails that have passed between me and the hospital.

Obviously they have to be very guarded and non-committal in their response to me, but the impression I get is that the ICO will be in contact with the hospital tomorrow if not today. I should then get a further response from the ICO.

How deluded could get. I have had a standard reply from the ICO. They will respond sometime in the next 6 months.

So much for the Data Protection Act it is all b*lls.

I don't think there is such a thing as "the NHS administration". Surely it varies between surgeries, hospital trusts etc. The admin at this particular hospital sounds poor. I've found the admin at my local surgery and hospital to be excellent.

theworriedwell

I don't think there is such a thing as "the NHS administration". Surely it varies between surgeries, hospital trusts etc. The admin at this particular hospital sounds poor. I've found the admin at my local surgery and hospital to be excellent.

I think appointments at least, are sent out by a contractor which is located nowhere near our NHS Trust.

I remember when Consultants' letters were being typed up in India, sent electronically then returned here to be (supposedly) checked, signed and posted. Does it still happen?

theworriedwell

I don't think there is such a thing as "the NHS administration". Surely it varies between surgeries, hospital trusts etc. The admin at this particular hospital sounds poor. I've found the admin at my local surgery and hospital to be excellent.

The receptionist at our surgery complained that they are not allowed to deal with some of the communications sent to patients, they are outsourced which has led to mistakes.

I am now wondering if a solicitors letter would help "kick them up the bum" into efficiency. One shouldnt have to pay for such a letter - just because they aren't getting their act together. But maybe that might help.

Hmmm....just remembered that certainly a good way to deal with the public sector in the past was to get an MP to write a suitable letter to them - at which point they would panic and deal with it pronto......am guessing that still applies...

Solicitor's letters cost money. This case is not one I am going to spend money on, but I am going to contact my local MP.

I have recently had an experiences of NHS administrative incompetence. I was booked in for as a day case at my local hospital for an operation, this had previously been cancelled at the last minute after I had waited there all day. When I arrived and gave my name to the receptionist she looked at me blankly and, at that moment, I suspected that something was wrong. Yep I had been booked at a different hospital! I was asked if I could go to the other hospital but I said no as it was miles away so we then set off to go home. However, halfway there I received a call from the surgeon who was extremely apologetic and said she was trying to get a team together to do my operation at the original hospital so could I go back to the hospital. To my amazement she managed to get an anaesthetist, nurses etc together and they drove over to do my operation. I was amazed that she would do this and so pleased that I wasn’t cancelled again. I just hope that the administrator responsible was reprimanded and made aware of the inconvenience she had caused to not only me but the wonderful surgeon and her team.

Allira I wonder who did the outsourcing as this isn't national. My local surgery does the contact.rarely by letter if you have email. They also text and use the phone.

theworriedwell

Allira I wonder who did the outsourcing as this isn't national. My local surgery does the contact.rarely by letter if you have email. They also text and use the phone.

I don't know. It was for DH's Covid and flu vaccinations but the letter arrived two days after the date of the appointment. Mine, same surname, same address and for an appointment four days after his, had arrived three days before DH's!

Unfortunately I could write a book about the NHS wrong doings over the last forty years, so it’s not a new thing. but it’s certainly a lot worse recently.
My friend had an MRI last week only to be told afterwards it wasn’t for her at all, hers should have been in three months time. They just said not to worry they’d put the report on her file anyway, unbelievable!
I have no faith in the system whatsoever.

M0nica, they have given themselves until December 28th, is is for them to honour that. If they do not you have every right to escalate your complaint. In England you can do this by complaining directly to NHS England complaints team and/or the PHSO (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman).

sadgrandmasounds like DD's experience. We were with her, at the local hospital at 7.00am. The receptionist looked us blankly and told us to sit down, 30 minutes later she was called to reception. There was the consultant. It seemed his operating session had been cancelled the previous day, DD and one other had not been told. Neither had the surgeon!!!

He was a very nice man but also assertive and authorative. He told the administrator firmly that as he and two patients were there. They would be getting their operations and he would be doing them. He was right. They did get their operations and he did do them.

petra

I could cry as to what’s happening in our NHS.
In the past two weeks 2 close friends have come close to being seriously ill.
One was with a dentist who did such an awful job of an abscess and refused her an appointment 3 days later when she was still in agony.
She was fortunate enough to get an appointment with another surgery who told her im phoning the dentist dept at a hospital and I want you to go NOW
The other friend had an accident with a drill ( through his finger) Treated at A&E.
A few days later he had a lot of pain going up his arm and across his back. We are fortunate in that we have a walk in clinic.
The first words from the Doctor were who did this They had done such an awful job of cleaning it up.
This poor man is already fighting a negligence case over the death of his father. 😥
I hope you get this disgraceful situation sorted MOnica

1. Dentists now have NHS guidelines NOT to prescribe anti-biotics for abcess but to remove tooth (as if that would actually fix the infection).
Doctors now have guidelines to refuse antibiotics and refer to dentist. Tell your doc that you have a throat/mouth infection.
2. I had jaw correction 20 years ago. At the time, I was give retainer correctors to wear ongoing. Due to an accident my teeth were reset incorrectly in A&E and my corrector no longer fits, but the hospital now "do not provide that service" and it will cost me £60 just to see a dentist who may be able to do so

Letters! One from the GP telling me they have put me on the waiting list, one from the hospital saying the same, plus a text message, plus an email (I did opt for paperless)
Six mhs later and all 4 again giving me an appointment for the general surgery dept, which is NOT what my referral was for!!

On a different tack, I went in for Day Surgery recently and found that there were just two of us in there that afternoon, for very minor procedures and we were outnumbered by the staff on the ward by 4:1 and the theatre staff by twice that. Surely they could make more efficient use of the time, ward and theatre space?

I had a telephone GP appointment this morning only to be told that a follow up urine test done 4 weeks ago after a uti (not had one of those for 5 decades) and immediately followed the shingles vaccine), was entirely the wrong test when the GP was looking through my notes. They want me to do another one. 🤦‍♀️

The last time my late DH was admitted to hospital as an emergency I stayed with him until the early hours when he was much better. When he was discharged his documents had a completely unknown name and address of next of kin! If he had suddenly got worse overnight then I would never have known and vice versa for the 'other' next of kin.

I had to cancel an appt recently and rang and rang the number given to do this and got no answer so I just didn't turn up. I did complain though and a lady rang back and said they're just starting work on a website that allows you to cancel.
so fingers crossed for more efficientcy soon!

FindingNemo15

Send a copy and details of everything to Wes Streeting.

Great idea.

spabbygirl

I had to cancel an appt recently and rang and rang the number given to do this and got no answer so I just didn't turn up. I did complain though and a lady rang back and said they're just starting work on a website that allows you to cancel.
so fingers crossed for more efficientcy soon!

This happened to me too. I was unable to keep an appointment because nobody answered the phone. I rebooked. When I then went for my appt the receptionist apologised and said there was no way of cancelling one unless you phoned.

My OH got 4 NHS letters today. 2 were giving him a hospital appointment he already knew about in April , 2 were cancelling the appointment. So has he got an appointment or not?

Make an appeal on Facebook. If name of proper recipient is on the results just leave out some letters in order that person is openly identified. Someone somewhere may see the post. Or go on NHS website and do the same. Just awful situation.