"Chose & Book: Length of time"

Firstly I would like to say the consultant and staff have been great and I have no complaints at all on that front.

I recently chose Doncaster RI via my GP for investigations on my foot for a suspected stress fracture. Whilst I was seen quickly I was incredibly frustrated to find out 3 days before my MRI that the appointment for the results of the MRI (which was Monday 6 Feb) had been moved back to end March with no explanation for why - and it was moved back before my MRI so it can't have been because the results showed nothing of concern.

I am not sure of the logic of doing an investigation then waiting 7 weeks to communicate the results to the patient.

Surely in 7 weeks time the situation and therefore prognosis and care management could be very different (either worse or better).

It doesn't make sense to me.

I have been assured via the appointments office that if there was anything of concern on my MRI eg. an actual stress fracture, or if I need to do anything different to prevent it from getting worse then someone would be in touch.

So I guess I just have to wait and hope that is true, as right now, with every day that passes, my foot appears to be getting worse not better.

As general feedback for the hospital - I think it would be helpful to tell me that is the case in writing when putting back my appointment so as to save unnecessary worry and stress, If I had not rang the appointments office trying to get an earlier appointment I would not have been told that and would consequently have sat around for 7 weeks worrying about the results.

I do appreciate that the NHS is stretched and that cancelled appointments are par for the course but, for me running and sport is my life - as soon as I have a diagnosis I will be more than happy to go away and sort my own self care to try improve things be that physio, diet, homeopathy, acupuncture, complete rest etc - I'd try anything that might help..

Unfortunately, I am left disappointed that I chose Doncaster RI.

I know other people at my GPs who have recently chosen other places for very similar tests and have been seen, had an MRI and been given the results in less than half the time I have been waiting.

Again, I want to reiterate, the staff have been great could not be nicer.

Its just the communication, where tiny changes could make a big difference to overall experience and of course a 7 week delay in treatment isn't great!