"No appointment with Rheumatology"

I am a front line clinical worker for the NHS in Lincoln and my physical health has deteriorated significantly over the past 2 years. Yes, I worked through the whole of Covid and saw more patients than any doctor.

I am being pumped full of medication as an excuse for lack of care. I was referred yet again to Rheumatology in July 2021 due to how bad my spine has become. Nobody has bothered to get back me still and now I will end up off sick due to the pain and lack of sleep this is causing me. As a front line clinician this isn’t good enough. One of my own patients was referred 5 weeks ago and already have received correspondence from Rheumatology so there is something significantly wrong here.

I was diagnosed incorrectly in 2009 and this has been ignored for far too long. I am not willing to lose my job because this department cannot get its act together and sort appointments out for people. Don’t blame Covid as I am sick to death of hearing this. We kept services going during these 2 years so don’t make this as an excuse.

I am a veteran as well and was medically discharged because of my spine and I actually have the Ministry of Defence letter stating that I receive priority treatment because of this. I have never used it but I will do if I don’t get an appointment or communication in the next week.