AIBU to be angry that my Obgyn cancelled my ultrasound?

[Lulu1027]

Today my obgyn canceled my 20-week ultrasound and informed me that I'll have to reschedule it with another doctor. Their ultrasound technician is out on medical leave and did not return as expected. They did not make any effort to transfer my original appointment to the new doctor and simply told me to sort it out myself. I made this appointment a month ago, and they have only notified me two business days before my expected appointment. During my last check up I overheard nurses talking about the situation, so they knew this might be a problem a month ago. Eight calls and two messages left for the new doctor have resulted in no reply. AIBU to be miffed about this?

I probably wouldnt be angry about it. This sort of stuff happens all the time in my public health service.

You've made eight calls and left two messages for the new doctor in one day?!

NHS, massively unreasonable.

Private, a bit unreasonable.

Calm down now, and give them a chance to respond to your calls and messages.

Have you given them a chance to respond to your EIGHT calls?! Seems excessive!

I assume you’re in America (using the term obgyn) so it works differently from over here. I would expect to be given an alternative scan date here on the NHS.

I made eight calls only because no one picked up the phone and I wanted to make sure I left a message today. Once I finally got through to a human they said they'd call me back by the end of the day but never did. Yes, I'm in the US, and it works differently, so it's interesting to hear how it would work on the NHS. I would have appreciated it if they offered an alternate scan date. I was miffed because they instructed me to sort out an appointment with a new doctor who has no obligation to see me since I'm not his patient. Seems very unprofessional to me. I should note that I have decent insurance, and these services are not inexpensive.

It doesn't say which country you are in, but I have the impression it's not UK, maybe US?

If you are in the UK, then definitely complain to PALs or somewhere, because it is unacceptable to not rebook you.

If you're paying for it in the US I think you have very different expectations of customer service than the NHS. Conversely it would usually be the NHS's responsibility to fix a problem rather than yours.

The not answering the phone and not returning calls straight away suggests that they are very busy. If this doctor is picking up all the work from the absent doctor, they’re probably overwhelmed right now. Perhaps every single person on the previous doctor’s list is phoning the new doctor today.

Your appointment isn’t urgent. You can wait a few days before you chase it up again.

In the NHS you'd just get a new appointment.

Don't know why the OP is getting a hard time for following up with a lot of calls. The 20 week scans are important! A lot can be identified in a 20 weeks scan that can't be at later dates.

Not sure how if works when you have to 'have' a doctor like in the US but can s/he not just take you on as a new patient?

It sounds like the NHS is much better! I can assure you I have received absolutely no customer service perks whatsoever. I get about 3 minutes with the doctor at each appointment and she barely communicates. They email me lab reports that are indecipherable for someone who is not a medical professional. I've been relying on my uncle-in-law, who is an obgyn, to decode my lab reports.

HeddaGarbled--my thoughts exactly. Now I'm going to have to compete for an appointment with the new doctor's existing patients and all those who are being transferred from my practice.

Frangipani--this has been my main concern. Isn't it a "20-week" scan for a reason? Yes, the new doctor can take me on as a patient but there can be a considerable time lag, which is exactly why you sort this all out at the start. I had no idea I'd be scrambling to arrange a new ultrasound at this point.

Can your uncle in law not recommend you a new Dr?

Well it’s inconvenient but hardly the end of the world. They notified you as soon as they knew. She could be gravely ill, for all you know. What do you expect them to do? Magic up a technician from thin air?

I can see it would be a bit annoying but frankly you're making a mountain out of a molehill. It doesn't matter if your 20 week scan is a week or two late. Presumably your current Dr was hoping the staff member would be back in time and couldn't do anything about the fact they are still off sick (yes they are off sick - so presumably there is something wrong with them).

The new Dr is presumably also very busy. When you get your new scan appointment would you be happy for them to leave the appointment half way through to take a call?

Relax, wait for them to get back to you. If they don't in a day or two call again or try a different Dr.

Yanbu. Really bad service. I see an obgyn privately in the UK and I would expect better.

@MyOtherProfile

It really does matter - the scan should be between
18 and 21 weeks and it’s to detect significant anomalies. You need the time to make any difficult decisions.

@Lulu1027 The NHS is unbelievably better than your experience here but generations of people in your country have a mistrust of a nationalised health service and ‘communism’ (which is not the same thing).

Here in the U.K. I mostly use the NHS but I also have access to private healthcare. I am always shocked by how much general admin I need to do personally in order to use the private stuff. Phone calls, booking stuff in, etc.

On the NHS all you have to do is see your GP and the rest happens. But some things do take a long time, especially routine/non life threatening/elective procedures. Maternity is generally pretty good in that there is a system, and you just flow through it. Cancer is another area that the NHS does really well.

The best thing about the NHS? Totally free at point of use. Doesn’t matter how much you earn/what you need/how often you use it. Absolute heroes in my eyes, and a disaster if they dismantle it.

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. This is my first pregnancy, so naturally, I'm concerned that they aren't following protocol in the timing of this important scan. As I mentioned, I overheard the nurses complaining about this particular employee during my last visit, so it's a longstanding problem that the practice failed to account for in a timely manner. They could have instructed me to make alternate arrangements at that time. I'm also confused because my ob did my first scan, and another technician (who was in the office during my last visit) did my second. I've got no clue why neither of them can do it. The practice is part of a large hospital. They really can't find anyone to temporarily meet their patients' needs?

Medical care is a nightmare in America and our collective prejudice against a nationalized system has long been incomprehensible to me. I say that as someone who has experienced the full gamut of the American medical system. I was on Medicaid (public healthcare for the very poor) as a child, and as an adult, I've been lucky to have "good" insurance provided by my employer. In times of desperation, I've even paid out of pocket for doctors who won't accept any insurance. Good care has always been the exception, rather than the rule. I've always made do, but am feeling particularly vulnerable in this situation.

In the USA my ultrasounds were done with a sonographer not the obgyn. You can pick another one or get a separate scan at any of the clinics. You simply need to phone and request a scan. I did this and I don’t even live there permanently.

In the U.K. you wouldn’t have the luxury of having an obgyn to call unless it was deemed necessary or you paid privately. There are VERY few private options. None in my area.