"my experience at trafford general"

Recently, at a Pain Clinic appointment, my consultant sent me to the x ray department and arranged a CT scan for my hip and back. I went for the x ray and two or three days later, had a call for the CT scan. Afterwards, I was told by the consultant to go to my GP in two - 3 weeks time to get the results and that he would refer me an orthopaedic surgeon.

A month after the x ray and CT scan, my reports had still not been sent to my GP. At this point, I put a scathing review on the hospital website.

Another month later, I received a letter with a referral to the orthopaedic surgeon, so it was two months after the x ray that my GP got the referral letter. I think these are long delays.

I checked with my GP repeatedly about the delayed reports from my scans and was told the report had not arrived.

I eventually phoned the Pain Clinic to ask what was happening. The consultant’s PA, who normally answers the phone and has all the info to hand, didn’t pick up my call but someone else did and she said the report had not been done. The person offered to investigate further and when I asked if they would ring me back to let me know, the person asked me to ring them back.

I rang repeatedly the next day and there was no answer. I phoned the hospital switchboard to tell them that I was unable to get through and got a very blank, uninterested response from them. There have been other times when I’ve rang switchboard and no-one has answered. PALS are part time so they’ve not been much help.

As well as these communication problems, the consultants change all the time; with many leaving. This means you don't get the continuity of care.