MRI completely cancelled

[Rayagoldensun]

I have a soft tissue disorder and have had ankle problems for about 7 years after a bad sprain. I finally got an MRI arranged for this month which was cancelled due to coronavirus. I completely understand that it can’t happen now but I got a letter yesterday saying it was cancelled completely and to contact the the referer (which was a hospital foot and ankle trauma consultant ) to re-refer if necessary. Why would it be totally cancelled if a consultant at the same hospital wanted one doing?

I’ve waited for ages for the damn thing and when the coronavirus crisis has calmed down will have to start again with another referral and going back on the waiting list. Postponing it I understand but not complete cancellation. Does anyone know why they would do this?

Not sure, maybe because they don't have a date when they will re-open the service and so cant just rebook?

MY DHs post chemo check up which includes scan, biopsy and blood tests has been changed to a telephone appointment. We cant wait to see how that works!

Checked my DH's CAT scan at the Royal Free Hospital for end of April and still going ahead - 'we haven't cancelled any pre-booked radiology appointments'. Might be nearer the time though.

I work in a radiology department and we’ve cancelled all non essential scans - basically anything that isn’t query cancer - and sent letters to patients with the same information as you’ve had
The biggest problem is that we don’t know how long this will last and the clinical history provided by doctors is only considered relevant for up to 3 months. If we’ve already had a referral for 6 weeks then it’s only going to last a maximum of another 6 weeks and unfortunately there’s no chance of anyone getting scanned within that time.
We’ve also told patients that if symptoms change or worsen to contact their referring doctor for advice and we’ve sent letters to all the doctors as well explaining why scans have been cancelled

thanks everyone. That makes sense Makeupgirl. Frustrating but it’s not life or death and will just contact the hospital when things are less frantic for them and say I’m still in pain and Could they rearrange a scan when they’re able. How on earth a telephone appointment can replace your DHs appointment BringMeSunshine is a real wonder. Basically the NHS has been forced to grind to a halt even for massively important appointments. Truly scary. lifetooshort I hope your DHs scan isn’t cancelled 🤞🏻. A bad ankle is one thing but there are so many people who truly need their appointments to go ahead.

lifestooshort123 I had to take my mum to the Royal Free last week for a PET scan so scans are still going ahead. They usually do the report a week or so after, then it goes to her usual hospital for another report. They started looking at the scan there and then which was the only unusual thing.

I was due for an MRI at my local hospital mid-March which went ahead. But the ECG and appt at my GPs that week was cancelled.

I also had a phone call to say my mental health review with my psychiatrist had been cancelled last week. Fair enough, they don't want people going to face to face appts but no telephone appt was offered

It's basically repeat prescriptions and emergency healthcare low. Not much else seems to be able to run. When the system can get up and running, there'll be massive waiting lists and more complications than there were preCorona plus all the other people who now have something they didn't before.

The deaths and long-lasting ill health caused by corona are not constrained to breathing issues.

Basically the NHS has been forced to grind to a halt even for massively important appointments

They've shut for urgent, life threatening, things too. My OH's cancer treatment was cancelled and they won't even return phone calls to tell us if/when it will start again.

I’m seriously worried about how the NHS will cope after this crisis is over! There is going to be so much work to catch up on it will be impossible. I sincerely hope the Government are trying to come up with a plan for that. I think the private hospitals that have been taken over by NHS at the moment should be kept solely by NHS for at least 6 months after the crisis is over to help with the catch up.

I’m also very worried about the health of people who aren’t receiving the important care that they need right now, there will undoubtedly be deaths related to that.

My MRI is still going ahead. I had the choice of going to the main hospital or the private hospital.

I was hoping it would be cancelled considering the MRI dept is near the mortuary and it spooked me last time and that was pre corona

missyB1 it is so worrying. It was such a struggle keeping on top of care for all those needing it before this crisis. As you say, how on earth will they/can they ever get back to having everything in some sort of containment situation afterwards. If even vital tests and procedures are being cancelled god knows how many patients are going to be compromised.