"Frustrating"

What could be improved

Follow up of appointments ( information passing between hospital and GP )

length of time between appointments (7 months between appointments is too long )

time in appointment ( felt rushed )

Contact point to chase up information - telephone calls responded to!!

Anything else?

Being seen as an out patient is fine .. but any appointments to get to see the neurology dept are a lengthy wait, I think my first appointment was just over 2 months. The follow up appointment was made for 7 months after that.

I understand diagnosis can not be made that day .. even a week or maybe a month - but 7 months to be called back in to be seen again, certainly felt unfair. After much harassing from my GP, I went back in to see the neurologist in 4 months. I was informed that the brain scan that was taken 4 months previously was clear .. not to panic ..nothing sinister, however as i was the last patient of the day the appointment felt rushed and my concerns / issues went unanswered as I was in with the consultant for less than 10 minutes, I was informed in that time however that I would be referred to another consultant in another department, but in the meantime a change of medicine would be prescribed and that would be forwarded on to my GP, which would be there in approx 10 days.

Although i have tried to follow this up with my GP, I have been advised that they have not received any communication, I have tried to contact the consultants secretary, which goes straight to voicemail every time and none of the 3 messages left (over a 10 day period) have been responded to which more than anything is frustrating.

I understand that there are time constraints, that there are inevitable delays, that all of the NHS staff have to prioritise their workloads ... and that they are doing a difficult but worthy job... I really do ... but a little bit of bedside manner never goes a miss, waiting for a patient to finish their sentence so that there is no jumping to conclusion about how 'I' feel and finally following through on expectations ... if I am told that new medication details will be with my GP in 10 days, or that my case is being referred,or that my calls are to be returned.. I expect these things to be done in good time, not a month later!