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"Taking time off work then appointments cancelled"

About: North Devon District Hospital / Gastroenterology

(as the patient),

Re referred by my gp to the gastro team as my colitis symptoms have been bad. On the day of the first appointment, as I work that day, I had to book a days holiday at quite short notice for my work. The appointment was the changed to over 2 weeks later!

It was too late to cancel my days holiday with work so in affect lost a days holiday for no reason. As I wasn't at work on that day I did not need to book a day off.

Now they have cancelled that appointment again and made another for over a month later, yet another day when I am working! I have phoned the hospital and they are trying to have a nurse call me early next week as my symptoms have been bad since early 2025 hence being re referred.

I am very unhappy, they do not seem to realize people work and keep changing appointments causes issues with work and having to keep booking days off then finding they change thigs.

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Responses

Response from Ali Cousins, Operations Manager, Medicine (Northern Services), Endoscopy, Gastroenterology, Hepatology (Northern Services), Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 2 weeks ago
Ali Cousins
Operations Manager, Medicine (Northern Services), Endoscopy, Gastroenterology, Hepatology (Northern Services),
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 30/09/2025 at 15:51
Published on Care Opinion at 15:51


Dear Sprouty14,

I am sorry to hear of your experiences with multiple appointment changes and the impact that this has had on your work.

We try to ensure that appointments are only rescheduled if absolutely necessary, I am sorry that this has happened repeatedly for your gastroenterology appointment.

I would be very happy to investigate what has happened to date with your referral and appointments. If you are happy to do so please could you kindly send your details to me via email to alison.cousins2@nhs.net.

Kind regards

Ali Cousins, Operations Manager

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