No word from counsellor re appointment

[Eleanor02]

Appt was made for a first counselling session at my GP's surgery. I thought that I wouldn't be able to get to it (interview) so I phoned the service that set it up and they said they'd pass a message onto the counsellor - she would contact me directly for another appt.

Didn't hear anything so phoned again - another email would be sent reminding her. This has gone on for several weeks and still no contact.

It's not the GP who organises though they did refer. I'm wondering what to do. Phone for a third time - or go through my GP? I don't want to get on the wrong side of the counsellor but, on the other hand ....

[Selks]

Is there a main phone number you could ring to speak to someone else in the service, maybe the counsellors manager?

[catsofa]

Don't worry about "getting on the wrong side" of anyone, you were supposed to be given a new appointment and you haven't heard anything, you're quite right to chase it up.

The GP is ultimately responsible for your care even when you are referred elsewhere, so if the counselling service is not doing what they're meant to do then it's fine to ask your GP to chase it up for you.

Whatever your circumstances I'm sure the last thing you need is to have to run around for the appointment you need.

Good luck with it x

[Eleanor02]

Thank you, selks and catsofa, for this encouragement so soon after I posted. I will certainly think about going back to the GP who (very wisely I thought at the time) made the counselling referral.

[Millie2013]

I'd phone and ask the receptionist. When I worked (as a counsellor) in primary care, the receptionists were generally the best people to liaise with
Definitely follow it up, occasionally messages get lost or forgotten and I'd hate to think that a patient of mine was worried about not hearing about an appt

[Eleanor02]

Thanks for your replies - I'm very grateful for the reassurance. I've left a couple of messages with the receptionist and was told that the counsellor would phone me. No word at all. However, on a train to work yesterday, I received a text reminding me that I had an appointment early that morning - tried to text back but as it was a 'reminder' call, couldn't. Didn't have the service tel no to phone and had no access to phone numbers till I got home late.

Obviously, an admin error of some kind but there were dire warnings in the original letter from the service saying that no shows meant you'd be removed from the list.

Will phone, quite calmly, this morning but after all this time, with no phone call and with receptionists saying they can't make the apps on behalf of the counsellor, feel pretty downcast about continuing - though the need is still there.

[dontrunwithscissors]

Have you tried contacting the practice manager to complain?

[Eleanor02]

Hi again

Just phoned receptionist - records haven't been kept of my calls and I can now expect a '10 day' letter which basically says that if I don't get in touch, they'll discharge. My phone records demonstrate that I have kept in touch but clearly records haven't been made of my calls at the service end. Receptionist also said that the counsellor had left a message for me a week ago, making yesterday's appointment. She said that was quite rare - normally the counsellor etc likes to get confirmation from the client that the day/time is OK. But I didn't receive any such message - I'd have acted on it pronto.

Receptionist said not much I could do expect speak to the locality manager later today but said that she herself may not be able to make any changes to my record which presently doesn't look good at all. Makes me look like someone who doesn't turn up to appointments.

I know this all sounds a bit petty but rather fed up as it's not a good start to something that I very much hoped would lift me rather than get me involved in having to defend myself!

[Selks]

That's really poor. Do speak to the manager. They need to apologise and get it sorted for you.
Do persevere, it will be worth it. Good luck.