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Access to urgent CT scan

Posted By Briandoc

"Access to urgent CT scan"

About: University Hospital Monklands / Respiratory Medicine (Ward 17) University Hospital Wishaw / Radiology University Hospital Wishaw / Respiratory Medicine (Ward 7)

(as a service user),

I have been coughing up blood on and off for some months, I eventually contacted my GP about 6 weeks ago and they said they would refer me for an urgent CT scan at Wishaw hospital, as it may be lung cancer.

I was advised that I should get the scan within the week, and that if I hadn’t had it in 2 weeks I should get back in touch ... I waited 3 weeks and phoned back, the GP then phoned the hospital and phoned me back, most apologetic but there is a 22 week waiting list ...

It seemed absurd that patients who may have serious illness have to wait 22 weeks for a scan, 22 weeks for a potential cancer to grow and spread ...

I contacted my local MSP, who contacted the hospital on my behalf, only to be told that GP cannot refer a patient for a CT scan. I have been referred to respiratory department and I will get an appointment with them at some point in the future and they will refer me if they think it is suitable for a CT scan.

Maybe it would be best for people in my situation to go straight to A and E, maybe save the 22 week waiting list and save your life.

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Responses

Response from Sara Riddell, Deputy Radiology Service Manager, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire 2 years ago
Sara Riddell
Deputy Radiology Service Manager, University Hospital Wishaw,
NHS Lanarkshire

Radiology Department Manager

Submitted on 20/09/2021 at 11:36
Published on Care Opinion at 14:21

Dear Briandoc,

I am very sorry to hear that you have not had a good experience or service regarding referral for CT scan, and how worrying this is for you.

If you would like to get in touch with radiology on 01698 36489 we can look into this further for you.

Urgent CT referrals are seen within 2-3 weeks across NHS Lanarkshire, 22 weeks is for routine non - urgent scans.

Once you have been referred for CT we can expedite this for you.

With best wishes,

Sara

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Update posted by Briandoc (a service user)

The response from Sara Riddell would have been worthwhile if my GP practice would accept that they have sent the referral to respiratory when the should have sent it to radiology.

I have been waiting since yesterday afternoon for my doctor to return my call in order that they can get their staff to send the referral to the correct department, I am beyond frustrated.

Response from Lesley Mallon, Risk Management Facilitator, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 2 years ago
Lesley Mallon
Risk Management Facilitator, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 22/09/2021 at 13:50
Published on Care Opinion at 14:16

picture of Lesley Mallon

Dear Briandoc

Thank you for sharing your recent experience on care opinion. We very much appreciate you taking the time to do so.

I'm very sorry to read that you have experienced delays and I can appreciate how worrying must be for you.

I am pleased to see that my colleague, Sara, has provided you with details of waiting times for scans and has offered to review your case once your referral has been received.

Please be advised that GP’s are independent contractors and are responsible for investigating and responding to any concerns a person may have about their service; they are not registered to respond directly to feedback through Care Opinion. I would therefore invite you to contact the Practice Manager if you would like a direct response about the service you experienced.

Best wishes.

Lesley

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Update posted by Briandoc (a service user)

Dear Lesley,

many thanks for your response and that from Sara, sadly my GP practice seems more interested in telling me that they have carried out their referral procedures correctly rather than rectifying their mistake.

They won’t refer to Sara as I presume that would be accepting they have made a mistake, and Sara won’t phone the surgery as that isn’t her job. I really only want what I regard as a minor admin error rectified in order that I can get what my doctor considers an urgent ct scan but sadly this seems to be too much to ask for.

Since they won’t refer to or phone Sara, they tell me they have phoned radiology and arranged a chest X-ray rather than a ct scan, I won’t hold my breath waiting on the postman delivering the letter.

Many thanks.

Response from Sara Riddell, Deputy Radiology Service Manager, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire 2 years ago
Sara Riddell
Deputy Radiology Service Manager, University Hospital Wishaw,
NHS Lanarkshire

Radiology Department Manager

Submitted on 22/09/2021 at 17:29
Published on Care Opinion at 17:29

Dear Briandoc,

Following our discussion on the phone your appointment is now booked in radiology.

Kind regards

Sara

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Update posted by Briandoc (a service user)

Sara,

I cannot thank you enough, I wrongly thought the hospital was to blame for this delay when clearly they were not and I apologise for that.

Thanks again. Briandoc.

if the hospital would prefer that this thread should be deleted then please delete it, thanks.

Response from Sara Riddell, Deputy Radiology Service Manager, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire 2 years ago
Sara Riddell
Deputy Radiology Service Manager, University Hospital Wishaw,
NHS Lanarkshire

Radiology Department Manager

Submitted on 23/09/2021 at 14:29
Published on Care Opinion at 14:29

Dear Briandoc,

Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad I was able to help you.

I wish you the very best for your future and hope that your health improves.

Kind regards,

Sara

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