MRI appointment on a Sunday

[RunnersWorld]

DP slipped on the ice a few weeks ago and hurt his back and wrist. After 3 weeks it wasn't improving so he went to GP who sent him for X-rays. When he went for the x-rays, GP hadn't completed paperwork properly and they only did the wrist, wouldn't do the back without the GPs say so, it was late in the day and GP couldn't be contacted.

Next day GP phoned all apologetic and said actually, on reflection an MRI scan would be more appropriate anyway and that as he'd been messed about, he'd arrange for an appointment on Sunday (tomorrow)

Now, I'm worried. He's suffered with back pain for years and there's a definite lump close to his spine (GP has always said nothing to worry about) As I understand it all but the most urgent cases take ages for an MRI appointment to become available. Is the GP more worried that he's letting on?

[IncognitoIsMyFavouriteWord]

No your GP won't be lying they can't.

Usually with an MRI there's each specialist for the certain areas of the body all have to come at certain times.

Yours works on Sundays as there's a good chance he's had a cancellation.

I know I cancelled my Sunday MRI because I couldn't get anyone to look after DS.

[Doinmummy]

It was probably a cancellation . We work on Sundays and scan all parts of the body. It's the consultant radiologists that specialise in different parts of the body . Although the spine is an area that they all look at and report on.

[CMOTDibbler]

My mum has had MRIs on a Sunday and at other odd times - they are expensive machines, so people try and keep them as busy as possible. And slots are always kept for acute injuries, so it sounds reasonable that the gp would ask for one in your dh's case

[DameSaggarmakersbottomknocker]

My dd had a routine MRI on a Saturday. It's not uncommon to have weekend appointments. Hope all is well.

[Erebus]

In fact, it's the routine stuff we scan on Sundays! The knees, & spines, mainly.

It can be surprisingly hard to fill out of hours appointments. We always get no shows. Where I work we did a survey a few years ago about providing OOH scans. The overwhelming response we got was 'I think the scanners should be running at least 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. But personally I'd only take a 9-5 appointment on Monday to Friday because of blah blah' . So people like the idea of extended hours provided it's other people who attend the OOH appointments!

[Doinmummy]

We get that all the time erebus people phone for appts saying its urgent . We offer a weekend appt and the patient says they can't make weekends because they are going out! Can't be that urgent then !

[Erebus]

yes, indeed.

There's a very hot OP re 'How crap the NHS is' happening at the mo. I bowed out because I was a-feared I'd resign if I read any more bile heaped upon us.

So, so many people just don't 'get' what are very common mindsets.

Chap today arrived 25 minutes late for a 30 minute time slot (routine appt). Because we were chock-a-block with urgent inpatient scans to be done, I had to tell him we wouldn't be scanning him today. He was outraged- saying he'd been unable to park, so I told him that's why the patient advice and appointment letter told people to use the park and ride as there is such limited parking on site (JUST LIKE ALL THE FRIGGING STAFF HAVE TO AS WE AREN'T PERMITTED TO PARK ON SITE!!). He said he hadn't received that letter. So I pointed to it in his right hand. To which he said he hadn't bothered reading it all. No 'ah- sorry', more a 'so what? I still expect you to scan be and bugger everyone else whose turned up on time or whose need is way more urgent than mine'...!)... THEN he said he was late because 'his car broke down'.....

What can you do? (other than send him away which is what I not only did but had to, really!).