"lack of communication and waiting times for appointment"

This is the second time I have had to write to you, and again can I say I do not take this lightly, but due to the pain I am in I feel I have no option.

I am registered with Mrs Davidson, Consultant, Plastic Surgery Clinic at Haddington and in February saw Mr Smith the Registrar. He suggested that I have two injections in my left hand but that he would refer me for an MRI for my right hand and that once I had received and attended both these appointments I would receive a follow-up appointment six weeks later.

  attended my MRI at the Royal Infirmary in March and then attended Miss Simpson (Associate Specialist) clinic in April. The consultant I saw at St Johns again informed me a follow-up appointment was to be arranged for six weeks time. He spoke with the receptionist once my treatment was completed to check if one had been arranged but there was a problem with the system so I was advised to get in touch with Mrs Davidsons secretary.

I telephoned end of April and explained the situation. they asked if this was to be a face to face or telephone appointment, as far as I was aware it was to be face to face. So was informed that due to school and public holidays etc Mrs Davidson was only holding two clinics – one in May and one in June – and that Mr Smith was not a consultant only a Registrar. However, she would speak with Mrs Davidson and get back to me in a couple of days. I informed her that I would be quite happy to take an appointment at short notice. A week passed as I still had not heard from her I tried calling on Beginning of May but all calls went to voicemail and although I left a message have still not heard anything.

I was informed after the last mix up, in 2021, that this would not happen again, but here we are. I know there is a backlog due to the pandemic but surely if you have had tests and are waiting for the results you should here back within the timescale you are advised.

I look to any advice you can give me and look forward to hearing from you with your comments and hopefully a solution.