"Communication"

After much debate with family and health professionals GP, Health Visitor and Speech and language therapist, we asked our GP to make a referral for an ENT appointment for our daughter. We felt that it was important for her hearing to be tested before she started school as her speech has been delayed and her hearing could be part of the problem.

We received the normal communication to let us know she was on the waiting list. After the 12 weeks had passed I called to find out how much longer she would need to wait. I was told there was a very long wait - 18 months. The SLT asked the school to make another referral, to speed up the process. A few weeks after this I received a missed call notification on my phone. It was from an NHS number but I was unable to return the call due to no number or message being left. This happened a number of times as I am at work during the week. We then received a letter asking us to confirm of we still want an appointment. When I called the very helpful staff member informed me that they were unsure if my daughter still needed the appointment as a note had been put on her file to indicate that her ears had got better as I hadn't answered or returned the phone calls. 

This is extremely infuriating. If the staff member had been able to leave a message on my answerphone saying please call back on this number regarding an appointment I would have called back. Other NHS departments do this. Keeping their message confidential.  NHS Lothian please look into your policy. This has wasted precious NHS resource and delayed my daughter's appointment. She has now been at school for 4 months and still no sight of an appointment.