Question re waiting for hospital procedure and PALS

[PunishmentRoundupWithJoon]

Did a long post going into detail about this issue, but didn't want to put people off reading! So tried to condense it - more information can be provided if required (also didn't want to drip feed.)

Have been waiting over three months to be referred for particular medical procedure. In early December the consultant's secretary said she was dealing with it and the information had been passed to the consultant. Since then, on numerous occasions she has said she will be in touch regarding it, and hasn't. Even spoke to someone else in the department and she said she would also look into it and call me back (nope) After three months fruitless waiting and empty promises, I contacted PALS. Lo and behold, they had a response very quickly and they were told the necessary information had been passed to the relevant department that had to organise this procedure. Why this hadn't been done in three months I'd been waiting, I don't know.

Last Friday PALS sent a message to the secretary to ask her to contact me (I just wanted to confirm some details) So far she hasn't (surprise, surprise). I felt very strongly that PALS felt I was being a nuisance - all I wanted was confirmation that the email they'd send asked the secretary to contact me. I'm hesitant to get back in contact with PALS now as I don't want to feel I'm nagging. My question is: How long would be reasonable to leave it before asking if any information has been received? Honestly, the way the PALS woman spoke to me made me feel quite small.

All I want is to be kept informed. Even if they say no, I can't have the procedure, at least it's an answer and I can go ahead and save up to have it privately. So, again, how long is reasonable to leave it before getting back in touch with PALS (if I don't hear anything from them)?

I'm so sorry if this is garbled. I feel I've lost perspective and my head is all over the place.

Without wishing to sound rude OP, they have told you it's been passed on, and as waits for a hospital procedure go, so far yours isn't that long. I have a lot of interaction with hospitals due to serious ongoing medical conditions and have waited years for procedures and appointments with no contact, particularly since covid. PALS don't appear to have really done anything that had not already been done. Your information has been referred, they have confirmed this, and is in a system. There will be waiting lists, pre operative assessments etc to happen before any procedure might be done.

If you've checked you're in the system, and so have PALS, there isn't much you can do or need to do. It wouldn't be normal procedure for clinical staff to call you just to let you know you are on the waiting list, or that emails have been received albeit you can call the department directly and ask where on the list you are, or call the switchboard and speak to the secretary yourself but again, they are very busy and I'm not sure what it might achieve because I suspect the answer will just be that you are in the system and will hear at some point like everyone else.

If you have questions about the procedure I would book an appointment with your GP and ask them, or go back to PALS and enquire. As you've not said what it is it is a bit harder to advise and it seems unusual that you have been referred for something that you feel you might not be able to actually have? but if it is something non urgent, some sort of cosmetic issue or you are not in significant pain or with reduced mobility I would expect to not hear anything for a few months.

Perhaps save for it anyway and make private enquiries while you are waiting to establish costs and affordability. It probably isn't what you want to hear and I'm well aware of the anxiety these things can cause but I don't think is a great deal you can do otherwise at this time.

Thanks @dontgobaconmyheart - I appreciate your reply. Actually, when you say PALS haven't done anything that hadn't already been done - that's not the case. My details were only sent to the relevant department on PALS becoming involved.

It's an MRI scan - unfortunately, I wasn't able to go through with the regular MRI due to claustrophbia (I tried twice!) so have requested, if possible, on open MRI scan. On 13th December I was told the information was passed to the consultant so he could refer me. Also on 15th February to someone else who said she'd speak to the consultant. Plus numerous messages in between those dates due to the secretary promising to call me back but not doing so.

You're absolutely right, it really isn't that long as wait times go. I'm not actually quibbling about the wait time (I did get my appointment for the regular scan, after all) - my issue lies with constantly being given the run around, and consequently, not knowing what's happening. If I'd been told, back in December, that I'd have to wait several months, I would have accepted this. Unfortunatly, until I have the scan, we don't know how my condition (scoliosis) is affecting my gait.

Thanks again for your reply.

@dontgobaconmyheart I really hope that didn't count as drip feeding, by the way, I agonised for ages on what to put in the original post!