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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ignore the letter I've received from the hospital?

358 replies

Frillyhorseyknickers · 01/05/2017 19:08

After my 12 week scan I booked an appointment with the reception for my 20 week scan, for tomorrow.

We've just come home from bank holiday away and I received a letter either Friday or Saturday stating a different day (the day after) for my scan.

I was really miffed because I'd been looking forward to my scan (first pregnancy) and my diary is full now for the next few weeks. I had kept tomorrow afternoon free for the scan, but otherwise I am between four offices and I can't just free up a few hours at short notice.

My DH says we should go to the appointment tomorrow as booked and just discard the letter and deny all knowledge of it.

I feel really bad about doing that as it's NHS and they are obviously busy. DHs point is that we booked the appointment weeks ago, they have given us less than one working day's notice of the change and they are taking the piss.

WIBU to just turn up to the appointment I had arranged prior to this letter?

OP posts:
ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 12:27

Frilly, can I suggest that if you've not heard back from them by 2/2:30 that you call to chase them up? Normally they call back at the end of clinics (morning clinic should finish about now) but it's worth chasing to make sure that the message isn't overlooked.

RoseGoldProsecco · 02/05/2017 12:29

first and foremost, good luck with the scan, whenever you have it!

my experience with having DD was that the medical staff were amazing, but the admin was unbelievably incompetent. for the first scan, we were given a date, we duly turned up - and a first scan is nerve racking! - only to find that they don't even do scans on Saturdays... it was all downhill from there.

recently I've been attending an NHS course. the guy on the phone said it started on 29 april and he would write to me. letter duly arrived on 28 april. telling me about the course start date on 22 april....

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 12:29

Giles - yep, quite possibly. Depends on the set up of the clinic.

Nousernameforme · 02/05/2017 12:30

That is totally crap that they moved you with such short notice and not your fault you can't accommodate them.
It is lucky you can afford to go private other people would be stuck and the 20 week scan is quite important. I would phone your mw first and see what she says and if she has some recommendations for private scan clinics. I hope it all goes well with you.
Now repeat after me everybody,
The NHS isn't over stretched it's underfunded

GloriaGilbert · 02/05/2017 12:30

Of course they have to have permission. This is part of the form that I've filled out for my dentist's office (NHS) and they text me confirmations/cancellations/reminders.

My point is, I don't think any business would consider it a 'luxury' to have a text confirmation system in place in 2017. They'd (quite rightly) worry that they'd either spend a lot of time confirming via other means, or deal with a much higher no-show rate.

The NHS managers would have you believe that if they could redeploy all no-show lost time, they could improve their service. Well, sure.

This is the sort of example that makes clear the difference between the private and public sector.

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/05/2017 12:32

Well I for one now feel awful for all the times I thought people were being rude and unnecessary arguing with receptionists. Clearly they quite possibly moved geavwb and earth to get to their appointments dragging their sniffley kids with them or having shelled out for taxis and trains etc only to discover their appointment no longer existed and they missed the new one through no fault of their own.

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 12:36

Actually, I'm not saying that DNAs aren't a problem- they are- but my personal belief is that rates are artificially inflated by patients telling us that letters are not received. Which of course may or may not be the truth.

I've been on a desk before where a patient and her mum were waiting in the queue. The conversation between them revealed that patient had missed an appointment and mum told her to just say that she didn't receive a letter informing her of it (this was so, so clearly a lie and the poor patient looked so embarrassed). I absolutely cringed for her Sad

Things happen - we're all only human and mistakes happen. But the number of patients not attending is scary.

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 12:42

Oh yes, some patients are MORE than justified in "kicking up a fuss". Sometimes things go horrifically and patients are expected to just suck it up Sad

But don't forget that there are a fuckload of entitled pricks out there who actually just want to have their own way and sod everyone else. Including other patients.

Gloria, the problem is that there is no joined up thinking - especially between services. Things are being rolled out, but it's very, very slow.

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/05/2017 12:44

In my case though I had two appointments. So people could needlessly have been bumped and or inconvieneced/out of pocket etc because someone couldn't read a diary.

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 12:51

Bloody hell, classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing Sad

What a waste of time and effort- that second appointment could have been put to so much better use Sad

Appointments are such a precious resource. Every single one of them.

When I has ds1 he was a bit poorly, and they wanted to keep a close eye on us. An appointment was made for us with a midwife at the children's centre the week after we were discharged- except no fucker told us about it.

One of the midwives called me and gave me a bollocking. She soon apologised when a furious, postnatal Fox put her straight.

Mercifully my lovely midwife visited me at home later that week, but the time wasted between the DNA'd appointment and putting the bollocking right, and the further appointment needed was ridiculous Sad

terrylene · 02/05/2017 12:51

It makes absolute sense that someone should be unable to attend a rescheduled appointment the next day with no reasonable notice, as they would have had to move all their work to accommodate the original appointment day. So it will be catch up day.

This would apply to someone with a high flying career with plenty money, but also to a SAHM with little back up for childcare who will have had to pull favours to make it happen.

Do make that complaint to PALS, OP.

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/05/2017 12:51

I've also turned up for appointments with someone befire only to be told it was unnecessary as results from a previous admission could be uses.

And yes staff had been informed of said appointment.

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 12:53

Head => desk

Again, what a fucking waste Sad

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/05/2017 12:57

And then there was the time jynthej 2 yr old dd had an asthma episode. I was told by the OOH clinic (see I was trying to do the right thing and not waste a&es time ) to get down there asap and that despite my appointment being much later taht afternoon that theybwould squeeze me in.

I sat in an empty waiting room for two hours being told I was next seeing the odd person cone and leave but mainly Drs chatting to the receptionist who continued to lie to me and denied shed told me I was next. No one saw me we ended up in a&e bit least I didn't interrupt an important conversation Hmm

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/05/2017 13:05

And as for staff working latebajdbthrough breaks . Would that he the same staff who argued the toss over a chest x ray on a three week old baby with breathing difficulties as her shift was over in five mins...

GloriaGilbert · 02/05/2017 13:10

Actually, I'm not saying that DNAs aren't a problem- they are- but my personal belief is that rates are artificially inflated by patients telling us that letters are not received. Which of course may or may not be the truth.

I agree with you. One more reason that letters are a terrible idea - the Royal Mail is an easy scapegoat.

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 13:14

Did you complain Giles? Asthma + a child really should have been seen very urgently Sad

OOH really can be a waste of space. I went in with an asthmatic episode- all I needed was a nebuliser and I would have been fine. But they insisted that I had to go to A&E in a bloody ambulance Shock

Dh was with me and we could have easily made our own way. Then when we finally got to A&E it was a quick check over and I was fine to go.

I know they wanted to "make sure" and everything, but it was such a waste of resources Sad

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 13:17

WHAT?!!!!????? Angry

What an absolute fucking disgrace Angry

3 week old vs working a smidgen later? Whoever that was is an absolute bloody disgrace to the organisation. Giles I hope with all my heart that you kicked up a shit storm following that Thanks

Original poster
Frillyhorseyknickers · 02/05/2017 13:18

Right, well the ward sister called back to confirm an appointment next week, which I will obviously move things round for. I asked whether she could call if there were any changes and she said "we make every effort to contact you if anything changes" which doesn't really fill me with confidence.

She did say that I had employment rights to take time off work for my appointments and work should have accommodated my appointment tomorrow, and it is likely to be "lost" now, due to the short notice of my cancelling my appointment tomorrow. Sad

I'm afraid I got a little bit fractious at that comment as I don't feel I have wasted an appointment nor do I think my missed appointment be tallied towards the number of appointments wasted by "bad" patients.

My DM is an NHS patient and usually has to book 2-3 weeks in advance for a GP appt so I can't see by that reasoning why they think the notice I was given is adequate.

I think in light of the sisters comments to me I will follow up with PALS as I don't think they were fair and justified. A struggling and stretched system isn't really an excuse to speak down to people who can't make appointments.

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 02/05/2017 13:20

Triage took one look at her sats and stuck her on a nebuliser we were in for 2/3 days and sent home on pref and abs and inhalers.

Luckily a&e was round the corner as it's in the hospital anyway.

Even if it's empty they won't see you u less you stand outside the door and phone them Hmm

I'd understand almost if it's busy but two Drs three patients walking in and out and id been there nearly 2 hours befire it actually started to fill up. They had 2 mins to spare to listen to her chest could have done that on the way to the toilet ffs.seems they cared more about sticking to appointment times even if that meant chatting up the receptionist in between than seeing patients there alredy

GloriaGilbert · 02/05/2017 13:21

She did say that I had employment rights to take time off work for my appointments and work should have accommodated my appointment tomorrow, and it is likely to be "lost" now, due to the short notice of my cancelling my appointment tomorrow.

It's your right, innit.

What if you're running a business?

Gileswithachainsaw · 02/05/2017 13:22

On that occasion no I was too worried about my baby who ended up in cpap. To kick up a fuss.

Ironically the arguing amongst the staff and the PA huffing and puffing took longer than the x-ray did...

grannytomine · 02/05/2017 13:23

I had an appointment with my Consultant, first appointment for that pregnancy, he asked how I was and I said I was worried as I had been bleeding off and on for a few days. He asked if I'd like a scan and I said yes please. He phoned the dept and said to go and wait in waiting room and they would call me. After scan I had to see him again, thought he was going to tell me something awful and he said everything was fine and he just wanted to check I was happy.

I think they can probably fit someone in as situations like mine must happen.

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 13:25

Oh for the love of god Shock

There will be stacks of patients waiting for an appointment. I used to keep lists of people who could be contacted to come in at short notice. It's amazing how many cancelled appointments you can fill if you just try, and she's being bloody nasty to suggest you are at fault Angry

I'm dying to know which hospital this is now- just hope it's not the one I'm now associated with (don't take that as a hint at all Frilly, I'm just musing Thanks )

ohfourfoxache · 02/05/2017 13:32

Oh Giles Sad

There is absolutely no justification for any of that, what a shit service Sad

I mean, that's reception 101 for starters- kids and anyone who appears to be in difficulty (breathing, bleeding, questionable consciousness etc) needs to be escalated quickly. And that's across the board, not just unplanned care Sad

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