"Poor patient communications and delays"

I presented myself at the Minor Injuries Unit several hours after I became unconscious (for probably less than 5 mins) after a fall from the stairs at home. I could not remember why I fell - slipped, or tripped on a dressing gown, or whatever. I was admitted very quickly at 10: 30 am and seen by a health worker who took some details and blood pressure and ECG tests. I was only seen by a doctor at about 12: 30 pm who after some physical stability/mobility tests referred me for a CT head scan which was done quite quickly.

At about 1: 30 I was transferred to the AMU but wasn't told about the results of the scan - I found out later after asking the nurse at AMU (it was fine). After some blood tests and further blood pressure and ECG tests, I was seen by a doctor at 4 pm who asked similar questions and conducted similar physical stability tests as done earlier at MIU. Then I was told to wait for the consultant, who didn't arrive to see me till about after 8 pm. A further blood test was asked for. The diagnosis was that everything was normal but as I could not remember why I fell, it could possibly be a seizure. I was discharged after midnight (after more than 14 hours) and the staff referred me to cardiology and neurology for further tests. These requests were faxed through and I was told not to drive until I have been seen at the 1st seizure clinic.

The appointments or cardiology were fixed fairly quickly but not the neurology. According to NICE quality standard, for suspected epilepsy cases, the patient should be seen within 2 weeks of referral. In my case, at the time of writing, it is 11 days since the faxed referral. I contacted the neurology department and was told that they did not receive the fax in the first place. So is it a question of poor communications?

What I did not particularly like as I spent most of my time waiting, is that I wasn't kept informed of what was happening. Towards the end a kind ward sister did inform me what was going on - it takes at least 2 hours to get the blood tests results back for instance as it has to go to Heartlands. The staff at both the MIU and AMU were friendly and treated me well (thanks for that) but the lack of communication, and the delays in the post referal system are problems which the NHS should address.

I do not think I had a seizure but until I am seen by a consultant, I am not able to drive which is very inconvenient for me. It looks very unlikely that I would be seen before the end of January at the earliest; this would be more than 6 weeks after my referral, well beyond the NICE quality standard.