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Appointment cancelled at short notice

Posted By Jaja

"Appointment cancelled at short notice"

About: University Hospital Wishaw / Gastroenterology

(as the patient),

I had a pre-booked appointment (made approx 4 weeks ago) for a gastroscopy. Yesterday someone telephoned and left a message on my home answering machine at approx 4. 45pm, whilst I was at work, to advise that the appointment had been postponed. This is extremely frustrating as I have had to stop taking medication for 2 weeks prior to the appointment, arranged time off work, arranged for someone to cover me at work and also had to have a relative take time off to take me to and from the appointment. As a result of having stopped medication, I have experience extreme discomfort for 2 weeks unnecessarily. Trying to get through to someone within the department for an explanation is a nightmare and, having left a message this morning for someone to call me back (having tried for over an hour to get through), I'm still waiting.

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Responses

Response from Ruth Thompson, Chief of Nursing Services, Monklands Hospital, NHS Lanarkshire 9 years ago
Ruth Thompson
Chief of Nursing Services, Monklands Hospital,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 04/07/2014 at 15:38
Published on Care Opinion on 07/07/2014 at 10:58

picture of Ruth Thompson

Dear Jaja,

I am very sorry to hear of your experience and appreciate your frustration. To allow me to investigate and explain the circumstances which have led to the cancellation of your appointment at such short notice, it would be helpful if you would contact the Patient Affairs Department at Wishaw General Hospital on Tel: 01698 366558, we will do our best to help you.

Kind Regards,

Ruth

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Jaja (the patient)

My rearranged appointment on 25 July was cancelled, once again, at short notice, apparently as a result of a problem with the machine. I was offered another appointment for August which, given I had to stop taking Omeprazole for 2 weeks prior to the appointment, would have meant I would have been off the medication for 7 weeks so the appointment was not accepted. One of my colleagues who also had an appointment on 25 July was offered an appointment for today! I am not impressed! Whilst I appreciate it is not the fault of the staff in the booking office something needs to be done about late cancellations, particularly for people who are having to stop taking their medication.

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