"Communication"

Last week I had a CT neck, chest, abdomen and bladder with contrast I assume that is the dye. This morning I received an appointment letter for a NM Whole body PET FDG for next Thursday. I was discussing this on the throat cancer group I belong to on Face book, don't have cancer there now, and someone mentioned it seemed suspicious that I received a appointment letter. I told him that is how things are done in the UK, in America said he would have been contacted via the telephone where any fears and questions would have been answered.

I think my experience in particular shows there is a distinct lack care or interest shown to patients in these matters. I can imagine many people having sleepless night on receipt of this type of letter. Why cannot we be called or is this yet another strange interpretation of the Data Protection Act which NHS Lothian uses I wonder?

I had a similar when I waited 7 weeks for biopsy results which is bad enough for anyone but an ex cancer patient. And the consultants reason for the delay was, 'oh the results were negative so did not think there was any rush to inform. ' Not for the first time have I experienced this sort of arrogance with consultants.