"Treatment once started fine - appts leading up to..."

What could be improved

I have been a patient within Dept of Urology and Oncology for the last 2 years being treated for Bladder Cancer. The treatment I have received has not given me cause to complain but what I have found very stressful is all the hanging around waiting for appts. I realise that in my particular case there have been complications due to other health factors apart from the Bladder Cancer, but even so....

I think there could be quicker better joined up communication between different departments allowing for a quicker response to the next appt. I don't neccessarily mean a quicker appt (altho' in some cases I do) but quicker notification of when the next appt will be.

My specific concern at the moment is that I was seen in Urology on Jan.3rd and due to the other healh issues I have which I accept will take longer to resolve I will not have an appt with Oncology which is the final outcome until April 19th. I feel that this has taken far too long. The CT scan was on March 2nd was viewed with the MDT on March 15th where it was seen that metasteses had occurred. This means that there will be more than a month before an Oncologist sees me and therefore longer before treatment can commence. As time is of the essence now this is too long.

Once the treatment starts I am sure I will have no complaints but until that happens my stress levels are up and that isn't good for my condition is it?

Anything else?

I do feel that waiting for appts to be sent is an area which could be looked at. My wife was treated for Breast Cancer at another hospital (not in this area) and at each appt, before she left she was given the next one. You cannot believe how much stress was alleviated because of this seemingly small but immensely thoughtful action.