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Unforseen disruption to patient apptmts

Posted By Madge51

"Unforseen disruption to patient apptmts"

About: University Hospital Hairmyres

(as the patient),

When you have a progressive condition, it really matters when apptmts are pushed back by 2 mths. I can understand that clinics are already booked up & the difficulties in trying to slot patients back in. However, I'd like to think this was done on the basis if need & urgency, but they doesn't seem to be the case. And to be honest, I'm getting fed up with the number of times it happens to me.

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Responses

Response from Susan Friel, Director of Nursing, Acute Services, NHS Lanarkshire 8 years ago
Susan Friel
Director of Nursing, Acute Services,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 30/03/2016 at 17:02
Published on Care Opinion at 17:19

picture of Susan Friel

Dear Madge51

I'm so sorry you are having problems with appointments being pushed back. This must be very frustrating. If I can help with a particular appointment please email me directly if you still have my email address from when we've corrosponded previously, and I'll do my best to help.

Unfortunately, as you say, it can be very challenging for people when appointments are changed, especially when you have put arrangments in place to attend. We do try hard not to do this, but sometimes there can be unavoidable reasons for this.

We are constantly reviewing our processes to try to improve how we work, and I'll certainly bring your feedback to the attention of the team responsible for appointment management.

Many Thanks

Susan

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Update posted by Madge51 (the patient)

Thanks for the offer to discuss this Ms Friel.

Taking it offline doesn't make it go away.

Since the 'unforseen' circumstance was Parental Leave it makes it even more difficult to have faith in the planning aspect of staffing at Hairmyres.

I'm not asking to be seen any sooner than the 6 mth that the physician deemed necessary, just to be seen in a timely manner to avoid any other nasty surprises. Living with an incurable disease is quite enough.

Update posted by Madge51 (the patient)

When I attended a Rheumatology appointment that was arranged at very short notice (which is fine by me since I'm retired) I was absolutely amazed to find that my notes were immediately passed to the nurses before I'd even sat down in the waiting area. Blood pressure taken, urine sample tested and no inappropriate responses when I declined to be weighed. A few minutes later I was in the consulting room while all the other people in the waiting room were subjected to a 45 minute overrun on appointment times. I have never asked for special treatment or to be fast tracked through the system, especially if it is at a cost to other patients whose need are as great, and may be greater than mine. I have failed spectacularly in my efforts to encourage improvements in the system and that saddens me greatly. All I feel that has been achieved in expressing Patient Opinion is that the powers that be thought they'd come up with a 'cunning plan' to remove the need for me complain and thereby try to silence an outspoken critic,

The sooner I can be referred to a specialist centre to deal with the complex needs of my condition;, which is the excuse that is used for putting carts before horses e.g. having consultant appointments before essential regular tests are performed and results are available to inform the ongoing treatment plan since those test are designed to monitor the disease progression. I give up

Response from Susan Friel, Director of Nursing, Acute Services, NHS Lanarkshire 7 years ago
Susan Friel
Director of Nursing, Acute Services,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 13/06/2016 at 13:13
Published on Care Opinion at 16:48

picture of Susan Friel

Dear Madge51,

Thank you for getting in touch, and for participating in off line communications via email to myself.

We value all feedback we receive from our patients and I’m sorry you feel that you may have disadvantaged others. I’m unable to comment on activities in the Outpatient Department on the day, however I can assure you that no one using Patient Opinion or any of our other feedback systems is given preferential treatment to the detriment of others. We are, however, keen to help resolve difficulties that patients tell us they have had.

I’m pleased that you were able to attend at short notice and that you found the staff to be considerate, professional and prompt. As always, I would be happy to hear from you if there is anything you would like to discuss in more detail.

Best wishes

Susan

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