What the fuck do I do?

[Bakewellisntjustacake]

I have suspected lymphoma but they can't rule out breast cancer because after my MRI which showed 3 big lymph nodes in my neck and chest, I did a breast exam and found a sizeable lump that I hadn't noticed previously . My issue is my referral to the breast clinic has been cancelled because the hospital I have been referred to has been inundated with covid patients and they've moved staff from out patients to covid wards.

They have cancelled my Wednesday appointment and rebooked me for November, all the rapid access appointments have been cancelled and my county won't allow my GP to refer out of area. My Gp is beside herself because she's so angry, but says there is nothing she can do other than write me a letter I can take to other hospitals. I have 4 hospitals near me but none can accept a direct referral from my GP because they're not in the same area.

I've written to my MP to complain but it just feels like an absolute death sentence

Signed, and sending you every best wish, I can only imagine how frustrated and angry you must feel.

I’m so sorry you’re in this situation OP. Some hospitals are really overrun with acutely sick people including many covid patients (another reason to continue wearing masks and get vaccinated!!!), but I thought cancer services were being protected? Certainly are in my trust (SW london). We have no inpatient gynae service, the gynae ward is now a mixed ward with covid patients, so women having early miscarriages (up to 16weeks) are sitting on mixed wards not getting specialist care from gynae nurses.

Definitely speak to PALS. I hope you get this sorted and get an earlier appt

I have signed too!

I have just followed your like to sign it and it says we have to check back in a few days to sign it while they check it, so you might need to promote it again a bit later @Bakewellisntjustacake

[quote Bakewellisntjustacake]@TILFA I really didn't mean to cause offence, I'm so grateful for your offer. I just feel awkward about money I always have and my amazing in-laws and a good discount have made it affordable but thank you so much. I really didn't mean to upset you. [/quote]
I'm sorry a,I hope I did not upset you either.

I hope all goes well for you

I shall promote in a few days when the government have decided if it's good enough to be a petition. Thank you :)

@TILFA honestly you're so thoughtful and kind of means a hell of a lot! Thank you x

Have you written to PALS at the hospital already? I don't think I saw mention of that but I admit to skim reading.

Do you have any way to get hold of the oncology consultant you should have been seeing eg by ringing their secretary incessantly and demanding to speak to them? Often you do need someone powerful to take your case on and advocate for you. It's easy for managers to 'just cancel a clinic' a bit harder for clinicians to face up to denying correct treatment to a fellow NHS worker.
You might find that somehow they can squeeze you in after all if you make enough nuisance of yourself to the right person.

People in Covid affected specialties don't want to have their work cancelled or do a shit job for patients so you will be banging on an open door. They might just need to be able to say to managers 'well I had to see her because she is making a formal complaint'

I think I would
Write formally to PALS saying that at a minimum the cancellation has caused you distress and that if it affects your access to care and your prognosis then they will be responsible for the consequences. I like to quote NICE guidance as that is pretty binding. If they are breaching it 'due to COVID' then at least they can admit to that in writing.
Find out the consultant in charge and ring their secretary repeatedly until they give in and call you back (which they will) and ask them if they think it is clinically acceptable for you to wait for this procedure and who will be responsible if your treatment is delayed and your prognosis is affected.
Polite but firm tone 'I'm sure it isn't your fault but whose decision is it? Can I write down the name of the service manager to direct my complaint to?'

@CovoidOfAllHumanity I have spoken to PALS, I also work for the trust that I had the appointment for , so I've emailed the consultant from my work email and I've spoken to his secretary. I've got an appointment now on Wednesday at a hospital that sees private patients but I really shouldn't have to pay for cancer screening. I've also started a petition but it's currently being vetted before I can share it widely.

So glad you have the private appt
The PALS complaint and the petition may still be very helpful though so it's great that you have the motivation to do that because there will undoubtedly be people who don't have the knowledge, money or confidence to challenge this crap.
There will be a lot of Drs in that hospital who don't agree with this decision and the more formal complaints there are the more the Trust might be forced to take a different line

The CCG are the other people worth complaining to and they should have a PALS too that you and/ or the GP can write to. They are responsible for commissioning healthcare to meet the needs of their population and currently that is not available to you. The Trust really listen to the CCG because they fund all their activities. If this Trust can't provide care to its cancer patients then the CCG should surely commission alternative care from neighbouring trusts rather than just saying 'no can do' I would be telling them that you hold them responsible for any detriment to your health as well.

I hope everything goes well for you.

For your petition if approved, it might be worth sharing with Professor Karol Sikora on Twitter, he has a large following and has been raising these issues:
twitter.com/profkarolsikora?s=21

I'm not on the mainland, so not part of the NHS, but I'll sign your petition if it lets me.

I'm coming up to what should be my biennial mammogram time, but I've no idea if they are back to routine here for those. I hope they are - although my history would suggest no reason to suspect any issues, so they may choose to delay for women like me. But I would like to have it done to make sure!

Cancelling appointments for women like the OP, who clearly has symptoms of something sinister, is unforgiveable. Covid is here to stay, and from what I've read about locally, deaths from cancer recently have outnumbered deaths from Covid by about 5 to 1. And some of those cancer deaths were young people who could have responded well to treatment if it had been caught in time. It's the health service for all of us, not just those with Covid.

We're sitting on a time bomb of undiscovered/untreated cancers which will become untreatable/terminal cancers if they don't get their act together.

OP, good luck. No, you shouldn't have to pay, nor should you have to 'call in favours' from old colleagues.

Let us know when the petition is up and ready to sign. I'll spread the word to my mainland friends to sign it too.

Quick update from us - PALS came good - my sister has her Biopsy (originally due 15th July) first thing Monday and has her DRs direct phone number - he has spoken to her and apologised