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"Booking appointment error paediatric speech and Language"

About: Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) / Paediatrics

(as a parent/guardian),

My son was referred to see a speech therapist by his GP. The appointment came through and I telephoned outpatients booking to change the appointment date so that I could take him on a day that I would not be working. I remember double checking that it was to see a speech therapist as we are under paediatrics and dietetics too. The person who I spoke with seemed confident that this was an appointment for speech therapy. I then had a letter through the post a few days later with today’s appointment on. I decided to keep this even though the time and date wasn’t convenient.

I took my son for the appointment this morning at Gwithian unit. We went in to see the consultant I was told that we were in the wrong clinic and speech therapy is usually dealt with in the community. This had been picked up by the consultant 30 minutes before we arrived, on reading my sons file and seeing his referral letter from his GP. The consultant made a comment about the frequency that mistakes like this are made and it is an issue that is being addressed.

In order to attend this appointment I had to make alternative arrangements for my daughter to be taken to school, rearrange work commitments and take my son into school late. This was not just a complete waste of my time but also of the consultants. I am really angry and upset that this has happened. I am now also left wondering how long it will take for the correct speech therapy appointment to come through having already waited for this one…

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Responses

Response from Michaela Johnson, QI Manager, Quality Improvement, Royal Cornwall Hopitals NHS Trust 5 years ago
Michaela Johnson
QI Manager, Quality Improvement,
Royal Cornwall Hopitals NHS Trust
Submitted on 24/07/2018 at 14:01
Published on Care Opinion at 15:46


picture of Michaela Johnson

Dear Jenice

Firstly, please may I apologise for the delay in responding to you on here. I am so sorry to learn of yours and your son's experience regarding being referred to the paediatric consultant incorrectly, when the appointment should have been with a speech therapist. This breakdown in communication within the referral process should not have happened especially when you had gone to such lengths to ensure that the appointment you had received was for the correct specialist.

It is completely understandable that you are angry and upset by what has happened and I am sorry that after going to all that trouble to make alternative arrangements for not only your son, but you and your daughter also it is not acceptable that the process let you down.

We would really like to look into these particular event for you; if you would be happy for us to do so or if there are any other concerns we can help to resolve for you, please contact our Patient and Family Experience (Complaints) team by leaving a message on 01872 252793 or email rcht.patientexperience@nhs.net. Once we have received your details, a Case Worker will get back to you within 3-5 working days to discuss your concerns with you.

If you have not yet received you son's appointment to see a speech therapist then please do let me know by contacting me on 01872 252760 or emailing rch-tr.ppi@nhs.net and I will look into this for you.

Please be reassured that I will be sharing your feedback with the Paediatric team so that they can reflect on your son's experience and where possible make changes to avoid similar circumstances happening to other patients in the future.

I am sorry again for yours and your son's experience and I hope that we will be able to look into this further for you.

With kind regards

Michaela Brewer, Patient & Family Experience Coordinator

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