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Original poster

Can I have a little rant about my cancelled hospital appointment.

32 replies

Avocando · 17/04/2024 16:45

I have just received a message telling me my appointment with the recurrent miscarriage clinic is cancelled tomorrow. I’ve been gearing myself up for it, it’s in the same place my losses happened/were diagnosed and it’s really been difficult for me to even step back into the clinic.

I’ve been waiting months for this appointment, after having to fight for a referral, and now it’s been cancelled. I don’t know how much longer it will be before I get a new one.

I can’t even ring the hospital appointment line to ask because the line closes at 4pm yet I didn’t get the text until 4.10.

I am just so gutted I could cry

OP posts:
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pelotonaddiction · 24/09/2024 17:25

My appointment was made for Feb 2025 so I rang and got one for Nov 2024
Then they cancelled AGAIN, as the consultant is off sick until 2025
Meanwhile my MRI results have come back with a 9cm endometrioma, stage 4 endometriosis including my bowel and adenomyosis

I've complained to PALS

BabyR · 24/09/2024 17:12

I hope you’re ok. It could work out better for you that it was cancelled as now you have the additional medical info.

Original poster
Avocando · 24/09/2024 17:04

I’ve been given an appointment in endo clinic!!! So happy, it’s a start, and I didn’t think I was getting one but I called and they confirmed it. Fingers and toes crossed now for no cancellations

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MinnieGirl · 22/08/2024 12:43

Avocando · 22/08/2024 12:29

So we looked at going private and the only place close to us (by a lot… the next is like a 3 hour drive) is the hospital where we had a really dreadful experience when we lost our first baby, we both agreed we don’t want to go there.

I rang the other day to ask if there was any update and I’ve been lost in the system. They are trying to rectify it but I haven’t heard back yet.

I have had a long chat with my GP and have got an IUD in the meantime- a break from the stress of TTC and a little relief from endo symptoms is going to be good for me I think. DH agrees and is quite relieved to have a break too. It shouldn’t stop me from still having an appointment with miscarriage clinic when it comes along.

I was tempted to go to PALs but a friend of mine told me that your clinic knows about your PALs complaints and it’s not anonymous… I would be mortified to walk in with them knowing I’d put in a complaint

Edited

Go to PALS. The whole point of them is to prevent an official complaint. They are the middle guys that liaise between you the service user, and the service provider, ie the staff. Retired nurse here and I used to work with PALS a lot. So what if the clinic know you’ve been to PALS? They probably would too in the same situation! You’ve been lost in the system and had two cancelled appointments. CQC look at things like that so the hospital should be keen to avoid. I would expect you to get an appointment fairly quickly once you talk to PALS.

Original poster
Avocando · 22/08/2024 12:29

So we looked at going private and the only place close to us (by a lot… the next is like a 3 hour drive) is the hospital where we had a really dreadful experience when we lost our first baby, we both agreed we don’t want to go there.

I rang the other day to ask if there was any update and I’ve been lost in the system. They are trying to rectify it but I haven’t heard back yet.

I have had a long chat with my GP and have got an IUD in the meantime- a break from the stress of TTC and a little relief from endo symptoms is going to be good for me I think. DH agrees and is quite relieved to have a break too. It shouldn’t stop me from still having an appointment with miscarriage clinic when it comes along.

I was tempted to go to PALs but a friend of mine told me that your clinic knows about your PALs complaints and it’s not anonymous… I would be mortified to walk in with them knowing I’d put in a complaint

OP posts:
Roundroundthegarden · 22/06/2024 14:42

Go private if you can. I did, the treatment care and results are not even comparable.

Original poster
Avocando · 22/06/2024 14:26

We got given a new appointment which was cancelled again a week later. The lady said “we are seeing most people on the waiting list when they are pregnant again to be honest.” And tried to give me advice on ovulation testing.

very tempted to go private at this point

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Snowyymum · 08/05/2024 23:47

Aww thank for coming back to share your update. Glad to hear you feel some relief- it’s another step in your journey. Hope now you have diagnosis you can get treatment soon.
You should be proud of yourself for advocating for yourself in the medical world.

Original poster
Avocando · 08/05/2024 23:18

Still no appointment but separate investigations which I’ve had have now confirmed PCOS and endometriosis with an ovarian endometrioma of 12cm.

it’s been 8ish years of pushing to investigate this and I feel so relieved in a way because I knew there was something going on but no one was taking it seriously.

At least I can go armed into my miscarriage clinic appointment (when I get it) with this information. It may not be great news but it is answers!

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Original poster
Avocando · 18/04/2024 12:59

For anyone interested,

I spoke to the booking team today and the consultant is having changes made to their rota effective from this week so appointments were being cancelled and rebooked. I wasn’t very happy because surely this is something agreed further in advance and I could have been notified of before now.

they said I should get a new appointment come through in 1-2 weeks but they can’t tell me how far in the future the appointment will be.

so… more waiting

OP posts:
Original poster
Avocando · 17/04/2024 18:11

Well thanks for the lovely replies. I am still feeling very a sorry for myself but sure I’ll get over it. Will sting a bit tomorrow thinking “we should be getting some answers today” but hopefully they’ll be able to give me a new appointment quickly

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MathiasBroucek · 17/04/2024 17:53

Sadly the "systems" of the NHS often come over as lacking any compassion. Of course, it's not hard to imagine a perfectly reasonable explanation but that's not the point when you're all geared-up emotionally and practically for an appointment... A vet wouldn't cancel like this but then: a) vets are generally not bound to the same extent by the "system"; and b) vets know that most people have a choice of provider

neverendingcold · 17/04/2024 17:52

Avocando · 17/04/2024 17:45

Exactly 😭😭 it’s so upsetting and I know it’s not fair of me but I just feel like I’ve done my waiting and now this is another hurdle

Show quote history

Them being treated won't make yours go slower though. They'll rebook you in. Let them know if you're available for cancellations on the day too

Original poster
Avocando · 17/04/2024 17:45

neverendingcold · 17/04/2024 17:39

They will. People who are seen in the days between now and your next appointment will be moved on to next steps quicker if you both have identical situations.

Show quote history

Exactly 😭😭 it’s so upsetting and I know it’s not fair of me but I just feel like I’ve done my waiting and now this is another hurdle

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pelotonaddiction · 17/04/2024 17:41

This happened to me
Gynae appointment, 1 year wait. They cancelled 6hrs before the appointment (this was feb) and said I could rebook for Dec
I ended up ringing the secretary and sending a video of how much pain I'm in and I'm not due in next Tuesday

If it gets cancelled again, not sure what I will do

LabradorVibe · 17/04/2024 17:40

I'm sure it varies by clinic / hospital etc. But I had a series of cancellations for gynae related appointments (surgery cancelled twice on the day while I was in the hospital waiting, a clinic appointment cancelled about an hour beforehand while I was travelling). In all cases, they fitted me in for a new appointment pretty quickly rather than putting me to back of the line.

I'm sorry you've had losses - I hope the next appointment happens soon, is easily organised and helps you with your journey

fedupandstuck · 17/04/2024 17:39

I would really hope that people with cancelled appointments are top of the list after emergency appointments and that they will give you the next available appointment that comes up.

neverendingcold · 17/04/2024 17:39

Avocando · 17/04/2024 17:36

That was my thinking but it just said “we will be in contact to rearrange”

I know I shouldn’t begrudge anyone an appointment but it did make me cross because it makes me wonder if I’ll be bumped further down the list behind people I was ahead of and who will have future allocated appointments in place?

I have this appointment for about 4 months after months and months before that of waiting

is it going to another four months time before they see me?

Show quote history

They will. People who are seen in the days between now and your next appointment will be moved on to next steps quicker if you both have identical situations.

neverendingcold · 17/04/2024 17:38

I think its the thing with the NHS. To them you are a number and that is all. The texts read cold and factual. Like they are a business. But it could so easily be transformed. So "sorry we've had to cancel your appointment, we know it was important to you. The booking team will be in touch in the next 2 days to reschedule". Much better.

Anyway it's shit OP but you won't be back at the bottom of the list if that helps at all (it doesn't I know
)

Original poster
Avocando · 17/04/2024 17:36

fedupandstuck · 17/04/2024 16:48

Oh, that is awful and I'm not surprising it's having that effect on you. It's totally understandable. A rant is totally justified.

It's a shame they couldn't have given you a date for the appointment within the same text. They must know when the next available slot could be, or have a policy for how to fit in appointments that they have cancelled rather than been cancelled by patients.

That was my thinking but it just said “we will be in contact to rearrange”

I know I shouldn’t begrudge anyone an appointment but it did make me cross because it makes me wonder if I’ll be bumped further down the list behind people I was ahead of and who will have future allocated appointments in place?

I have this appointment for about 4 months after months and months before that of waiting

is it going to another four months time before they see me?

OP posts:
Original poster
Avocando · 17/04/2024 17:33

Doseofreality · 17/04/2024 16:56

My Aunt’s CT scan just got cancelled as well, to see if her cancer has spread.

That’s so shitty, I’m sorry.

I am so aware that compared to a lot of people I’m really lucky, it’s not a cancer appointment or something like that poor little girl in the news who had her spinal surgery cancelled repeatedly. But I do still feel so overlooked

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Doseofreality · 17/04/2024 16:56

My Aunt’s CT scan just got cancelled as well, to see if her cancer has spread.

VestibuleVirgin · 17/04/2024 16:53

I believe such cancellation texts are automatically generated, and thus purely for information. Hopefully a human will get in touch with a new date tomorrow.
Anyone around irl to give you a hug?

ToxicChristmas · 17/04/2024 16:53

I'm so sorry OP. I can imagine how gutted you must be. Fingers crossed for you that you can be rebooked ASAP.

BobbyBiscuits · 17/04/2024 16:52

You can call the secretary as soon as they open. It's awful when you have such anxiety and adrenaline to build up to something, then it doesn't happen. I hope you've got people to talk to not connected to that clinic?
Sadly cancellations do happen really frequently.