"Outpatients long term care"

 I have a cancer diagnosis and am on what is referred to as Active Surveillance. This is ongoing for 2 to 3 years. 

This year, I have felt that I needed to ask when my next routine Appointment was going to happen. Twice since late July I have simply phoned to enquire about my next 'planned' appointment and twice things have happened immediately. Well, as immediately as things happen in the NHS. 

I appreciate that Covid has had a major impact on NHS services and I would have been happy to have been told that my appointment was already in the pipeline but no, on checking, it was agreed that I was due an appointment and one has duly been arranged in reasonable timescales. 

This last time after and MRI In mid August I had heard nothing regarding the MRI results by early November. It turns out that as a result of the MRI, I now need a small procedure.

I'm left wondering, 1 What triggers a review of the MRI results? 2 How long would I have waited if I had not enquired? 

With Covid taking up many hospital beds, will my procedure be delayed, will that have a negative impact on my health and what is the likelihood of catching Covid while at the hospital   ??

My resolution going forward is not to sit back and wait but to simply ask.