To refuse to travel to another hospital?

[buttermellow]

I am currently awaiting being admitted to hospital for gynae treatment..

Have received a letter from the "medical secretaries" at my local hospital this morning (by local, I mean 30 miles drive)..

"We are currently working to a twelve week time guarantee. In order to have your admission and surgery within 12 weeks, there is a chance we will admit you to a hospital not within our NHS boundary. We will contact you to organise this if it becomes necessary."

What?!

My NHS area covers around 200 sq miles, my local hospital is the only one that has operating theatres. The next hospitals with theatres are 100 miles to the south (2.5 hours driving or 2 hours on the train) or 150 miles north (2.5 hours on a train!). I have never been to either of the two except as a visitor when relatives have been in.

If I'm admitted elsewhere I will struggle to travel, it'll mean getting the train down on my own before and again afterwards. Family will be unable to take me. It's also probably the wrong thing to be upset about but I wouldn't know the staff, I'm comfortably familiar with the gynae/theatre staff here!

Unless they're talking about being admitted to a private hospital.. which may not be so bad except again, I've never been there and won't know the staff.

WIBU to phone the telephone number on the letter to ask that they don't even consider that option?? Or should I just wait and see what happens?

(I know IF and MIGHT are the big words here but still worried!)

Don't meet trouble 1/2 way. Wait and see what you're offered and on what terms - eg transport may be part of the deal.

I had an MRI scan at a private hospital which my local were using to try and fit everyone in. Wait and see.

They're just letting you know it's a possibility. And often when things become a reality you stop fretting and get on with it better anyway. I think it's a good thing they're keeping you informed and trying to get you seen in good time, however difficult that may be to accomplish.

Appreciate what you're saying about knowing the local staff, but that's very much a 'nice to have'. Most people don't know their hospital staff.

Hope it all works out okay.

Sounds like a standard back-covering form letter. I wait and see what you're offered rather than kicking up a fuss now.

They provide travel IME. Some people still decline as they want friends/family to be able to visit so they wait longer for a local option.

If you definitely want to be treated at your local hospital the you have the right to insist on it, but that may mean that you wait longer for treatment.

I agree that you should wait to see what you are offered, and then if you don't like it, ask what the alternative is.

That way they stick to their 12 week guarantee, because they have offered you treatment, but unfortunately what you can't expect is to be treated in the timeframe, at your choice of hospital.

It is more likely to be in a private hospital if they are desperate to meet a time specific target.
If they offer you a slot somewhere that is not acceptable to you and you decline they have nicely got around their obligation. They have offered the service, you have turned it down, hence they have fulfilled their duty to provide a service within a set timescale.

Just wait and see what happens is my advice. It can also help to let them know if you are able to go at short notice, as cancellations can be offered sometimes.

hospitals often use private facilities to meet government deadlines. you might be in luck. I doubt they would send you completely out of your area. it does say not within our NHS boundaries,

ring and ask!?