"Coping with the unbearable"

My sister was being treated for bronchitis/pleurisy in December 08. Following an x-ray at Scunthorpe General Hospital, she was told that she had terminal lung cancer and her condition was untreatable and inoperable. As well as coping with the shock, as she is 54, she was assured that further tests needed to be done. She was told they would be completed within the target of 14 days and then she could have an action plan for palliative care. This procedure began early Jan and to date she is still waiting to go into Castle Hill Hospital for the procedure. She has contacted both Scunthorpe and Castle Hill Hospitals to try and get information as to why there was a delay. She became over-wrought and distressed as no-one seemed to be telling her anything. We both contacted the MacMillan district nurse for Scunthorpe, and she managed to see the consultant on Feb 24. We hope my sister will have her procedure next week - but we are still not sure. This seems to make a mockery of the initial dramatic response to my sister's x-ray results. Her fears were ratcheted up and then she is left waiting for a follow up which did not happen. There are clearly problems with the communication processes between the two hospitals and between consultants and secretaries. My poor sister is somewhere in the middle!