"E-Referral - Patient Choice - not when it comes..."

Having had a 'problem' with my left knee for over 9 months - which wasn't going away naturally I finally decided I should see my GP - all went well - she understood there was an issue but without a soft tissue scan was unable to resolve. Just to make sure no other issues existed an X-ray was organised - seen within a week and as expected did not reveal any cause of the problem.

Waited for the referral - heard nothing and after 10 weeks we went away on our planned holiday but could hardly walk or exercise as we would usually but did spend some time swimming. On our return still no letter but leg had become unbearable last 2 days of holiday and thankfully a spare seat on the plane home meant I could keep it elevated. Having had a Baker's cyst once before I was reasonably sure it was another but concerned due to flights and wanted an update on the referral as now over 12 months since I was last at Zumba and fitness level is suffering.

GP said they would chase the referral as clearly something is going on which needs investigating. An e-referral letter arrived and gave choices of suitable places. Having gone on-line the first place on the list happened to be the nearest and miraculously the earliest available appointment was just a week away. Duly booked and felt relieved - progress at last. How wrong could I be?

The confirmation mentioned it was a provisional appointment but no more. Then I got a call asking for my BMI as it wasn't on the referral - odd I thought - out of context. You may have guessed...........I am not the lightest being on the planet but due to my current situation I am apparently not in the acceptable range and my appointment was simply rejected!

Now I know why they had the shortest waiting list and the earliest available appointment!

What is not clear, however, is how does response help. Why are they even on the referral list if they are not even prepared to see appointments and give their informed diagnosis. The rejection then also means you cannot amend the appointment to somewhere hopefully more wiling to help and able to treat. Therefore, I now have to waste my GPs valuable time with a further appointment to get re-referred - the problem hasn't gone away and is unlikely to except the cyst had obviously burst and I have had less pain this week than for the last year.

Whatever damage is causing these inflammations has been there since I was probably within the 'acceptable' BMI range as the first problem was some years ago.

Now I still cannot exercise as I do not want to exacerbate the situation without the benefit of some investigation so I doubt my BMI will improve any time soon.

To say I am livid is an understatement. I do not smoke, I am not on any medication and I am a rare user of the NHS who I have always championed - this cavalier attitude has done nothing for my wellbeing on any level and I would not want to see anyone else similarly rejected out of hand and left without options - do not use this hospital option.