OPD appoinment so annoyed now.

PALS is only available in England, sorry to all others!

DD turned up for an appointment to be told it had been cancelled because she had not turned up for a previous one, which she had not been informed about.

She was told the only way she could continue a treatment programme that had been going on for over 4 years with never an appointment missed, was to go back to her GP to get a referral. The GP had never been involved, because the treatment followed a hospital admission via A&E, but there was information on her notes, so he was able to write the letter. Before it had a chance to get to the hospital, they rang her up and said there had been a mistake, could she come in the following day!

My Daughter attended a 3 pm appoinment for her 5 year old daughter (one of twins) so had them both with her and was told "we rearranged it to 10.30am this morning and have sent you a text, did you get it?". Well obviously no, she didn't get it! (They were very offhand with her, but the department did see fit her in and DGC was discharged). My daughter did say, the twins had great fun, weighing and measuring themselves whilst she was trying to listen to the Dr!

Trouble is GrandmaMoira the appointment in question is tomorrow so I needed clarification quickly, as others have said you often cannot speak to the relevant person and PALS is often the same with an answerphone on all the time.

As an ex NHS employee, I would recommend PALS as a go to with these sort of problems. I've often seen it suggested that a consultant's secretary will help. When you get a helpful one, they can be great, but at my local hospital I can rarely get through to one at all and have not had any help from them.

I worked in the NHS for many years, and, while things were better once upon a time, the basic flaw in the whole caboodle has always been communication - with the advent of outsourcing this has rapidly got worse. There are times when the right hand has not the vaguest clue what the left hand is doing.

Good luck!

Just a quick update, hospital just rang to say no don't come tomorrow as there were two appointments tomorrow only one had been rescheduled, they are supposed to be on the same day so they are now rescheduled for late April. So that's a six week delay from my original appointment date, one does wonder if this is how they delay things without people blowing their top.
Thanks for listening anyways.

Thanks everyone I've calmed down now . I've decided I will go along and hope for the best I can't deal with another run around on the phone today as I'm also waiting a call about a repair to my car.

Oh Tanith, that is more than frustrating- the word incompetence springs to mind. Sorry I have no more useful information to offer.

How frustrating Tanith i do feel for you. Its crazy that you can't speak to the dept you need too. Fingers crossed that they don't tell you appointment has been cancelled when they get there.

PALS?
I feel your frustration and anger at being messed about (plus certainly a waste of NHS resources)

I suggest that you go on to the hospital website, and look for what used to be (and in some cases still is) PALS (Patient Liaison Service). There will be something indicating where patients who are unsure should phone.
If not, ring the main switchboard and explain that you have conflicting information, physio department not answering, ask for whoever can help you with it. Explain that you wish to be an active and engaged patient, doing your best to aid your own recovery.

I did this in a similar situation when the PALS weren't answering (turned out it was a department of one person who had gone off sick and it was no-one's job to change the answerphone message). If completely stonewalled - and I don't think you will be as individuals try to be helpful, try one of the following:

Ask to speak to the named consultant's secretary -they are sadly used to untangling these sort of things

Finally - say that you need to make an urgent and immediate complaint -there is no such thing but the word 'complaint' usually triggers some sort of reaction

good luck