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"Urgent Referal and poor communication"

About: Craigavon Area Hospital / Dermatology

(as the patient),

I am writing to raise serious concerns regarding my recent experience with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, specifically the Dermatology Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital. What has unfolded over the past three weeks has left me deeply frustrated and anxious, and I believe it raises wider questions about the functioning and responsiveness of urgent referrals within the Trust.

I attended my GP following advice from my local pharmacist, due to a lump that had developed on the left side of my temple. The GP immediately recognised the need for further investigation and submitted an urgent referral to Craigavon Area Hospital’s Dermatology Unit, supported by photographic evidence.

Over three weeks later, I had received no communication from the Trust. I phoned my GP surgery and was informed that they had not received any update or correspondence from Craigavon. I then attempted, unsuccessfully, to contact the Dermatology Unit directly by phone on multiple occasions.

Given the seriousness of the situation and lack of any clear information, I took the decision to travel to Craigavon Area Hospital in person. There, I was informed by an administrator that the consultant had reviewed the images and deemed the lesion to require urgent treatment. However, when I contacted the Booking Centre as instructed, I was told that the current waiting time for urgent dermatology appointments is now over six months.

To say this is unacceptable is an understatement. A three-week silence following an urgent referral, no communication back to my GP, no ability to speak with anyone by phone, and an urgent waiting time of more than half a year—this is not a health service that is functioning properly. As a patient, I am left in limbo: anxious, uncertain, and increasingly fearful about what this lump may represent. I now find myself in the deeply unfair position of either waiting many months for an urgent appointment or seeking private care, which is neither affordable nor equitable.

I appreciate that resources are stretched and that the Health Service is under pressure, but this is a breakdown in basic communication, follow-up, and patient care. If the system cannot cope with genuine urgent referrals, then patients and GPs deserve to be told that up front—and a plan must be in place to address it.

I am asking for your help to raise this matter directly with the Southern Trust and with the Department of Health. It is clear to me this is not an isolated case and reflects a wider systemic failure that is placing patients at risk.

Thank you for your time. 

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Responses

Response from Carrie McCann, Dermatology/TVN Manager, Medicine and Unscheduled Care Directorate, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 3 months ago
Carrie McCann
Dermatology/TVN Manager, Medicine and Unscheduled Care Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Submitted on 15/07/2025 at 18:07
Published on Care Opinion at 18:07


Good afternoon Roccobaxter

Thank you for taking the time to share your personal experience of care to date with our service. Firstly, I would like to apologise to you for the additional stress and anxiety that this has caused you.

I can reassure you that all referrals are triaged by a Consultant and placed accordingly on the relevant waiting list. This would include viewing of images and assessing the information that the GP has provided.

If you would like to contact me to discuss your referral in further detail, I would be happy to do so.

Kind regards,

Carrie McCann

Lead Nurse Dermatology

carrie.mccann@southerntrust.hscni.net

02837565950, 02837565959, 02837567910

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