Someday my appoinment will come!

[Bonnie]

I have been waiting since December for my referral to Rheumatologist.  2 weeks ago I booked a holiday and called my local NHS hospital to inform them of my Holiday dates (don't want to miss my first appointment).  Can you imagine how I felt when I found out that I have apparently cancelled the appointment when visiting my GP in January.  (grrrrr)  Visited my GP last week and the first thing he asked me was how did I get on at the rheumatologist, when I explained what the hospital said, he was unhappy.  I guess I am now back on the list (probably bottom of the list)  My GP thinks there has been a clerical error (ya think!!)  How much do we want to bet that they will manage to fit me in and it will be when I am on vacation.

[Scottietottie]

Hi Bonnie

I can imagine just how you're feeling. It happened to me with a neurologist once quite a few years ago. Totally frustrating, annoying and demoralising!  I do hope they get it sorted out for you and that its NOT scheduled for when you're on holiday.
In the NE of England now, we get letters to phone up and arrange the appointments ourselves. It's quite good because I can usually get appointments outside of work time now, which helps.

Hope you hear soon.

Take care - Scottie 

[Chickpea]

Hi Bonnie

That must be so annoying for you!  If you hadn't phoned about your holiday you wouldn't have found out that they'd cancelled your appointment and you'd be waiting for months and months wondering why you hadn't heard.

It sounds as though the 'clerical error' happened somewhere between the GP's surgery and the hospital, and didn't involve you at all.  Will your GP organise a new appointment for you or is it up to you?  Maybe you could phone the consultant's secretary and explain the situation?  And then offer to take a cancellation - even at short notice - if they can phone you?

Take care - Chickpea

ps hope you have a lovely holiday!

[JannaLee]

I would lay odds they will call with an open appointment while you are away!

Murphy's Law.

[lynnmarie219]

Hi Bonnie,

I can imagine how you felt when you found out that little tidbit of information.....probably pretty angry and frustrated to put in lightly! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr is right!


I hope you get in soon and that its not during your holiday....enjoy your time away!

[JJ]

Before anyone thinks I would do something like this you are VERY wrong but

I wonder if there are people out there that call an office about the day and time

that they would want or need an appointment and say they were scheduled for

that day and time so a secretary will cancel it so they could call a few moments

later and schedule it for themselves. I've had that well you canceled your appointment

statement made to me before and I know good and well it takes to long to get

to an appointment date WHY would I cancel...I actually thought at one point to make

sure the office people knew to not accept a cancellation from me over the phone..

which would never have happened. It's a crazy world. I hope they get you in before your

vacation!

JJ

[Linda196]

I'm sure there may be people who would stoop to that level, but (at least with any doctors I've dealt with) when I have to cancel an appointment, I'm asked for my provincial medical number for verification.

I realize that our systems are drastically different, but there should be some kind of ID safeguards, especially since personal identity security has become such an issue.

[JJ]

I can't say that is what happened...just thought about what could have happened

that caused the office to cancel my appointment. Other than maybe a friend of the

appointment taker needed to get in or something and I got bumped...I know I have

brain fog and all but I know for sure I would never just cancel an appointment....to

hard to get in while your still having a problem...usually by the time you see the

doctor all your symptoms have just about gone....frustrating....and I know they are

suppose to do verification but the last time I was at a doctors office was three years

ago and I do not think the staff was properly trained...I know this because it seems

they were always having trouble locating my file...do to HMO...did not have a lot of choice

in that area of what doctors I could see....arrgghhh.

[wednesday mc haggis]

Bonnie

you must want to scream, my advice is phone the rheumatology secetary,just call hospital youd be reffered to and ask switch board to put yyou through to the secetary , explain the situation to them, also if you can take a cancellation at short notice, tell them that would be possible, i had a date for 3 months time, i phoned on the off chance and got seen that week , always worth a try , you never know.

make sure your GP had rereffered you , so that you are on the waiting list, and just phone secetary saying what youve told us, my betting is if theyre a nice person, they ll try to help, worked for me, always worth a try, dont get if ya dont ask

T x

[Red]

Bonnie:
I have had success 1 time by talking with the nurse and telling her that I need appointment 1st available. I told nurse of situation and asked to see if I could be put on a list for them to call if anyone cancels their appointment. When I did this they told me I had to be willing and available to come within 2 hour timeframe. I was willing and I was able to get into Rheumy 3 months before they could actually schedule me in. It made all the difference for me.
Just thought I would share this with you. Not sure if your Doc would do that or not?
Hang in there....I understand the frustration of the mixup at the Doc's office.

Red

[Bonnie]

Thanks guys for all your advice, I spoke to the secretary at the rheumatologist, she was the one who told me about the problem in the first place.  My GP seems to be on the case.  I have told him that I am willing to take a last minute appointment.  (work is really happy about this, but my health is more important)

I guess there must be someone else who has an appoinment even though they tried to cancel it.  Going back to see GP this week for an update.

Fingers crossed

Trudie