"Urology Consultants - beyond the pale"

I have been having ongoing issues with the Urology Department - trying to schedule catheter changes, as I have an indwelling catheter in my mitrofanoff stoma. I have yet, in the past 18 months, to go 8 weeks before *I* I have ring Urology to remind them that it is time for a catheter change. I have ended up in A&E three times in the past 13 months because the Urologists do not schedule the catheter changes in a timely manner.

Don't even get me started with A&E - I've had a couple nurses who were pretty good, but overall my experience has been lacklustre. Because I have a bladder issue I'm not considered a priority - because it's just a bladder, nothing major. Even though with multiple surgeries I am very much at a higher risk of bladder rupture, but that too isn't taken seriously.

Today, after multiple conversations with Patient Support Services & the Urology Department itself in the past 3 months, I have discovered that yet again the Urologists have made a unilateral decision to not schedule me for a catheter change - as they are working under an assumption that I will transfer my care to London. I will and that is my plan, but until the entire fiasco around my bladder tumour has been dealt with (another issue) I need SUHT to actually do the catheter change. These need to be done every 7-9 weeks, and if I were to transfer to London it would take longer than 5 weeks (which is when I'm due) to get to see a new consultant.

I would highly recommend that if you have any major chronic condition which requires careful maintenance & care by a competent consultant, go elsewhere. SUHT is not a centre of excellence. Go to London if you can.