"My Care app and missed appointment"

I’ve been waiting on an urgent gynaecology appointment. I’m 5 years in menopause with a bleed.

Was text to say there was a longer wait and did I still want it. Said yes. Got a text confirming. No appointment came. I check with hospital April no appointment and I phoned my GP told I had to wait. Got a letter through the post to say I’d missed an appointment I did not know I had.

I phoned the patient appointment line and apparently because I logged on to My Chart on the advice of my surgery to see blood results (which weren’t there) I’d activated getting letters through the app. I did not know this. I’ve never looked at the app again as there was nothing on it.

There was no notification that if something to view on the app.

Another appointment had been made – for another 4 weeks later!!! If I have cancer and if it’s hormone fed this is very detrimental for me. When this appointment was made an email came to straight away to advise logging on to the app that I had new correspondence. That did not happen with original appointment.

1. How are patients to know to check app for appointments if no email or notifications given.

2. Why have THREE methods of communication- text, app and postal letter.

3. The cost of these appointment systems/procedures/ systems to the NHS. A consultant waited for me for an appointment I desperately need.

I’m actually now thinking of going to my MLA. Can something be done?