"Quick answering of main line call ..."

What I liked

Quick answering of main line call and quick putting through to Anticoagulant Clinic

What could be improved

Link up with GP and records of patient appointments on a database. Letter given to patient showing current medication and next appointment, especially when Yellow book retained. As this was not available it has caused great anxiety and to us is something which should be looked at and improved please.

Anything else?

Before Xmas my mother-in-law said she was due an appt. at DCH. She was poorly (first took her to GP on 17th) and becoming confused saying she had to go on Xmas Day for a blood check. Her older sister normally took her but was away. We searched and couldn't find anything to substantiate this. Her GP had no record and contacted DCH. On Tues 23rd Dr King, DCH rang me at home saying he had tried many departments finding no record of any appt. I became concerned about her medication and took it to GP to tell me what she should be taking. It was unclear about the Warfarin! This time I rang DCH (because I had found out the name (Anticoagulent Clinic) and asked to be put through. I discovered that her book had been retained because she had been asked to go back on Xmas Eve! Unfortunately she had no record on her for us or anyone else to know that. Over Xmas she became worse and is now in EMU. The Warfarin was a factor to her condition.