"Rheumatology referral update"

In my previous story it was left that I had to be referred again by my GP because I had “not turned up” for my appointment.  I had explained numerous times to the referral department that I work 8 hours away from home with my work cycle being at work for three weeks without time off and then a week at home.  On several occasions I had given the exact dates I was at home, but despite this I had come home to find a letter with an appointment date that had passed.

I contacted my GP and explained my situation, as I am running out of medication.  The GP referred me again, explaining my work situation and asking for an urgent appointment for when I was home.  I finish work at the beginning of November and could last until then.

Today, I received a letter with a new date for my Hospital appointment, again for a date when I am away at work.  I phoned straight away to try and alter it, but even though I only needed to move it by one week, I was told I could not do this as they had no appointments until next year.  I was put through to a secretary who simply kept asking “do you want to cancel this appointment” with no offer of advice until finally she gave me  a number of the Nurse helpline and suggested I phone them.

I spoke to a person on the helpline who repeatedly told me that I had cancelled several appointments and there was nothing more they could do to help me.  I kept explaining that I wasn’t being difficult and I had to work in a job where I had specific time off and indeed would be finishing for the winter in less than a month.  I further explained that on each occasion when I had tried to alter previous appointments I had given specific dates when I was away working and when I was home. Explaining I was not just cancelling appointments for the sake of it.

I repeated that I was more concerned about getting a prescription for medication I had been taking safely for almost 20 years and  asked if it was possible at least to have a telephone consultation as a stopgap.  Apparently this was not possible and, when I said that I was worried about missing medication and getting ill, it was suggested that maybe I should take time off sick.  I work in a seasonal job where there is just me and my husband, with no one else to take over from us.   If one of us gets sick, we would both have to leave the job.

At least the Helpline nurse managed to persuade the department secretary to keep me on the waiting list, which was a bit of a result, because I think I was given the impression that I had been cancelled off again.

I have now emailed the previous hospital in the desperate hope that they may be able to issue an emergency prescription for me.

I feel as if everyone thinks I am a nuisance, and that is not the case.  I would just like a little flexibility and understanding.