"Gastroenterology department"

Approximately 2 years ago I was sent to this department as an urgent referral. I was diagnosed with colitis and put on treatment. I was told I would be sent an appointment to return to the clinic in 9 months time. Two years later I was still waiting on the appointment. As the treatment wasn’t working and I was suffering horrendously, I went back to my GP. She said the clinic had not discharged me, but had not given me any follow up appointment as promised. My GP wrote to them requesting another urgent appointment, which I recieved. I saw a female doctor who was very nice, she apologised that I did not recieve my appointment and arranged some tests. She put me on steroid treatment, and said she would see me in three months to check if that had worked, stating that if it did not, I would need to be admitted for in patient treatment. The tests showed that the affected area of colitis had increased by 10cm. I got my appointment to see the consultant at the end of August, so everything seemed OK, until yesterday when I recieved two letters from this department. The first letter stated that my appointment was put back until the end of November, the second letter stated that my appointment had been put back until February 2019. Both letters were written and posted on the same day, but in different envelopes.

As I am still having a massive flare up, I just broke down and cried when I got these letters yesterday. How can somebody having “urgent treatment” have to wait 6 months to see a consultant regarding the disease?

As somebody also diagnosed and on long term treatment for clinical depression, this is also affecting my mental health.

I intend to visit my GP and ask if she can change my treatment to King Collage hospital, it may not be better, but it certainly cannot be worse than the treatment I have had over the past two years in the Lewisham Gastroenterology department.