"Poor appointments information and service"

My father has been on 18-wk waiting lists for 2 day operations recently, one more serious clinically than the other. The more minor issue offered an appointment in late Jan, which he had accepted. This was done with the agreement of the two Consultants for his care that should he receive an appt for operating on the more serious issue within a couple of weeks of the Jan date, the more serious op should take precedence, and they would postpone the minor.

Good news was that he was then offered an appt for the more serious procedure in early Feb. However, when he called the minor service to discuss postponement, as agreed, he was (rather rudely) told that it was his choice to cancel, and he would have to go back to his GP to be re-referred, and thus start the 18-wk wait again.

Only after a frank conversation with the PALS team (who initially told him the same), was he able to sort the situation out and, as had been agreed with his Consultants, postpone on clinical grounds not go back to the beginning again.

My father is not afraid to stand up for himself and question the logic, sense and indeed misinformation provided to him. However, how many other patients are simply accepting this? Patients should have their clinical advice listened to, and not be dismissed, without reference back to the clinicians concerned, as "your choice to cancel". Poor service, poor treatment, and leaves us all with a poor impression of the hospital overall. Very disapppointed when we know that the clinical teams are busting a gut right now to do their utmost for patients under trying circumstances.