How do I rebook cancelled NHS appointment???

[NoFUturREforYOU]

I'm sure other people must be in the same position, so I am hoping someone can help me.
NHS appointment we've been first on the list for for months, nearly a year has been cancelled because the day it falls on clashes with that day everything is standstill.
Can't get through to the department.
Can't get through to rebook, lines say it's busy.
Need a special login to book online, but don't have as for a child.
Only have the appointment date, NHS number, doctor, department etc.
I can't wait another year for this appointment, which is how long we've been top of the list.

Has anyone managed to get through and rebook please?

I've no real advice apart from you need Sharon.
A year ago when I was chasing about 4 appointments for my dd, I rang the gp surgery and asked if there was anything they could do because I was literally stuck unable to chase anything, they said "We'll put you through to Sharon" and I've no idea who she is but she range every single hospital/department and got them all booked by the end of the day. Angel woman.

Maybe call your gp surgery and see if they have a Sharon, someone who works in patient care type thing?

I am in a similar position, except they haven’t made a decision on whether they will be cancelling or not.

It's not a gp appointment. It's a specialist appointment we have waited almost a year for.
Can't even get through to the dept easily on a regular day. Today is just cutting off after a recorded message saying they are very busy.

Ours wasn't gp either, one was a children's hospital on a different county but she still sorted it. Worth a try.

Then there's probably nothing you can do except for calling them at inervals and hoping someone eventually picks up or responds to your voicemail.

Or you could go there in person.

Dm called first thing but was told her nhs trust had not yet decided whether to cancel.

They usually send out replacements automatically. I would give it a few days and see if anything comes through. If its a big wait then complain

Can you email them, check online and any letters to see if an email is tucked away somewhere. Then you have a record of your contact too

I can't get through to anyone on the phone full stop. No voicemail option, just cuts out.

I doubt I'd have any joy going there because they gatekeep and don't even let you in without an appointment.

I also am really upset it's been cancelled as we've been waiting so long and don't trust myself not to burst into tears.

Try PALS if there is one, they should be able to find out the information for you.

Unfortunately we've changed specialists so email won't be relevant either.

Do you have the doctors name? If so call switchboard and ask to speak to dr/mr/miss whoevers secretary. Or one of the (insert speciality here i.e gastro) secretary's. Switchboard number will be on hospital website.

They'll put you through. Number on letter will be the outpatient department. They won't answer phones.

Also don't assume they'll be cancelling. I don't think they've confirmed yet.

Call your GP and ask to speak to someone in social prescribing, they can chase and hunt for you. They're great advocates.

They already told me they were cancelling. It's definitely cancelled.
I have tried all the normal.routes, switchboard etc. All with the same we are busy messages.

couple of options
1 - Call the GP and ask them for the ERS number, which they will have as they made the referral, and then you should be able to log in online

2- Go to the dept

3- Email the dept

4 - Email the hospital (do they have a bookings email address, ours do)

5 - Raise a complaint

Well 5 is more than a couple, but yknow, Momma been on the Gin

Just jokinggggggggggggg haha

What is an era number? I doubt the GP have it as they didn't do the referell, the initial one, yes, but that was about two years ago and several appointments since we moved to specialists. As far as I know gp have nothing more to do with it?

Are you trying to ring the department itself? Because as others have said your best bet is not to ring the outpatient department directly but to ask for the consultant you’re meant to be seeing’s secretary and discuss with them or leave a voicemail message for them to get back to you.

Both, but it is a small dept so anything for specialist or receptionist automatically goes through to a cut out message.
I don't know if it's switching me to the outpatients or whether they just all have the same recorded message.

My usual "worth a try" is to ring again but one digit different as it might be someone else in the same department (Eg number is 123456 so try 123457 and 123455). Occasionally it works!!

Do you actually need to organise rebooking - I work in secondary care and right now I would be looking at where I could squeeze in extra appointments ASAP and sending the letters out or more likely phoning first to make sure it was a suitable date and time. Luckily I'm not responsible for any clinics on Monday.

My trust are automatically rebooking people into either additional clinics or the next available so they will most likely be in touch with you asap anyway. Appreciate its devastating and terrible timing though.

as others have said, ring PALS or switchboard and ask for the directorate manager of whatever specialty you’re under and speak to them!

Well, our first appointment was cancelled and not rebooked for half a year during COVID.
I've literally been "at the front of the queue" for nearly a year. Hearing that today was gut wrenching. I can't wait another amount of time like that.
It's actually ridiculous how we've been abandoned constantly.

Ds big appointment next week has been cancelled but I have just had a call to say they have just pushed it back a week thankfully.

can you find the details for the secretary of the consultant and email them? I have always found them very helpful

They will probably be working on sending out an alternative appointment now
That's what I've spent doing all day today!