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trying to contact St George's MRI scanning department

Posted By Bunch

"trying to contact St George's MRI scanning department"

About: St George's Hospital (Tooting) / Older people's healthcare

(as the patient),

My letter for an MRI appointment with contrast, said to let them know asap if you had surgery within the last six weeks. I have and rang them to say it was three days short of the six weeks and as I have a husband with Alzheimers and the family are trying to arrange for him to be looked after, could they tell me if it was still OK to come?

I have been on the phone twice already, but does anyone pick up these messages? I rang just after 9 this morning and again at 11. 30.

I have to go out and cannot do so as my husband is incapable of taking any messages at all.

If it is not alright to go ahead, as the scan is on my neck and I have had a hemithyroidectomy, someone else could be given that appointment. As it is I don't know what to do. Can I expect a phone call?

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Responses

Response from Graham Richardson, Deputy Manager, PALS and Complaints, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust 7 years ago
Graham Richardson
Deputy Manager, PALS and Complaints,
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Submitted on 22/06/2016 at 17:56
Published on Care Opinion on 23/06/2016 at 10:46

Dear Bunch

I am very sorry to learn that you have encountered problems in clarifying whether you should attend for an MRI scan. Unfortunately, all posts to Patient Opinion are anonymised so I cannot help immediately.

You do mention that this relates to the scanning department at St George's Hospital, in which case you may wish to contact their PALS office on 020 8725 2453.

If your appointment is at Croydon University Hospital, then please contact our PALS office on 020 8401 3210 and we will ensure that you get an answer yto your questions.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Bunch (the patient)

I got through just after 2pm, confirmed my appointment and got the go ahead over my query, But I have worked in diagnostic radiography all my life and know how busy these departments get and I also know how stressed people get when they are trying to get to a certain department.

Surely an unpaid volunteer could be on hand to man the line and take calls confirming that the patient is keeping the appointment? If any queries come up, as in my case, that volunteer or whoever could then get an answer from a member of staff and then ring the patient back. It is such a little thing, but would mean so much.

Having been on both sides of the fence so to speak and however sensible and knowledgeable you are it is very difficult to avoid getting stressed in this sort of situation

Thank you for listening.

Response from Graham Richardson, Deputy Manager, PALS and Complaints, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust 7 years ago
Graham Richardson
Deputy Manager, PALS and Complaints,
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Submitted on 23/06/2016 at 14:35
Published on Care Opinion at 14:36

Dear Bunch

I am pleased that you have finally managed to resolve the problem. However, I am still not sure whether the difficulties you experienced relate to us (Croydon University Hospital) or St George's Hospital. If it was us, please contact our PALS office on 020 8401 3210 or email at ch-tr.pals@nhs.net so that we can take up your concerns with the department.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Bunch (the patient)

It was St George's MRI department.

Response from Gina Alexander, Director, Care Opinion Scotland, Care Opinion 7 years ago
Gina Alexander
Director, Care Opinion Scotland,
Care Opinion

I'm one of the Care Opinion Team, leading the work in Scotland!

Submitted on 24/06/2016 at 16:04
Published on Care Opinion at 16:05

picture of Gina Alexander

Thanks for this info. We've retagged to St George's and let them know.

Best wishes

Gina

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Response from St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 7 years ago
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 24/06/2016 at 17:21
Published on Care Opinion on 27/06/2016 at 10:47

We are very sorry that your you had difficulty contacting the MRI department. Good to read that contact has been made since you posted your comments. Anonymous postings are difficult to deal with if assistance is required straight away in future please try contacting the Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

St George's Hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is available to investigate or feed back comments on services that patients have experienced. By providing PALS with more information on yourself PALS would be able to feed back to the area your dissatisfaction in the service and this can help with communication.

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