"Referrals - no way of chasing them up!"

I was referred to neurology after a small nerve sheath tumour was found to be in my spine after I had an MRI of my back. I had been experiencing various neurological symptoms for months, however my doctor insisted that I saw a neurologist before a neurosurgeon to ensure that surgery was the last resort.

I saw a neurologist, who seemed quite cross that I was there at all (through no fault of my own), had further MRI scans, which showed the lesion to be slightly larger, and the neurologist said that I should indeed see the neurosurgeon and washed their hands of me.

This was over a month ago and I have received no referral to the neurosurgeon. My GP has tried to chase up my referral and has advised me to do the same but whenever I attempt to contact the department I am unsuccessful - the secretary to which my GP refers does not seem to exist, or at least is as elusive and unreachable as the doctor themselves!

With my symptoms worsening and with my lesion apparently growing I am keen to get on with treatment as enough time has been wasted with a specialist who had no interest in treating me - the least they could do is pass me to the right specialist quickly and keep me or my doctor aware of any expected delays.

Absolutely disgusted that this has been drawn out this long and again, not my fault that my doctor insisted on this path.