To think that if you cancel on the day with the NHS, you should be put to the bottom of the list?

[SaltAirAndTheRust]

Unless you have a good reason of course!

I’ve just started and I’m in my first week, in this week we’ve had multiple cancel due to nerves or just not turning up. Seeing the amount of work that gets them to this point, it’s staggering! I just can’t get my head around it

The smug attitude saying that because other people can't get seen, we must all be idiots and martyrs.

I've been waiting for knee replacement on the NHS since May, and now due to go on holiday in 4 weeks. If I get a date before my holiday, can I postpone operation for few weeks without ending at bottom of list again.

That’s what insurance is for - cancel the holiday

The way some parts of the NHS do appointments is annoying.

They unilaterally send appointments instead of letting you know you are OK to book.
They cancel appointments by letter, in once case earlier this year my DM turned up at an appt to be told it was cancelled, she got home to find the cancellation letter had just arrived.
They unilaterally move appointments from a convenient date and time to an inconvenient one.
etc.

Other places let you book a date time and place convenient to you, which you are therefore far less likely to miss.

If you get a date that clashes with your holiday I'd check with the department. I got a date for a scan (different I know) and I was going to be on holiday so I phoned them and they told me roughly when the next date would be. In fact it was earlier so I had to postpone again

Not everyone has the luxury of transport that is reliable. For those with disabilities it is particularly difficult, transport options don't exist, carers can let you down & illness stops you in your tracks. Gow would the NHS be sure someone had a reasonable excuse?

While we are on the subject of complaining about the NHS can we talk about the fact that I’m still waiting for letters to turn up for hospital appointments that I had 3 months ago good thing I was told over the phone about them but if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have gone to the appointments. Can we also talk about the fact that I was supposed to be seen by my consultant in September for a 6 week check up but I have only just been given an appointment for 21st October which is 5 weeks later than I should’ve been seen. Hospitals are just as bad as patients.

I’m supposed to be attending a hospital appointment today. We left in plenty of time but I’m stuck in traffic and will be late. I’m trying to contact the department but is anyone answering? Of course not. No doubt if I do get there I’ll be told I should have notified them I’ll be late!

I hate when they tell you that you should’ve got in touch with them like they think you just didn’t try to but it’s hard to tell them when they don’t answer the phone maybe they would like us to learn how to tell them telepathically.

I did get through in the end and was told to get there as soon as I could. I ended up being over an hour late but at least I wasn’t the only one! I’d have been annoyed if they’d been off with me about it though

Agreed. I'm meant to be seen every 12 months. I'm lucky if there's less than 15 months between each appointment

Well that’s exactly what happened to me today - the ultrasound dept rang saying they’d had a late cancellation for tomorrow night and were telephoning through the waiting list to try to give it away asap.

On a similar topic. Two weeks ago I had a GP appt which she booked herself about how I’m getting on with the medication.

The day before, had a phone call from the practice saying the appt was cancelled as GP was sick. Will see a GP this coming week

Checked NHS app and it says did not attend! My DM who also goes to the same GP practice had the same thing when the nurse that was scheduled to do blood tests , rang in sick. An email to the practice manager and reverted to a different reason for why the appt didn’t go ahead.

I will be emailing the practice manager along with a screenshot of the DOA as will have the date. So can see that GP was off sick that day.

I would ask you to check the status of cancellations on NHS app and if they aren’t the right reason, complain.

I had a did not attend. Except it was a phone call which I did take

I have infuriatingly had to cancel three appointments recently. It takes me at least two and a half hours to get to the hospital (can't drive there), no bus until 7am and they have given me appointments at 8 and 8.30

So appointment is sent by text for 8am, can only phone between 9-12 to cancel but can't rebook, explain it's not possible to get there. Eventually a rebooking is sent for 8.30, still too early, do the same until I eventually get a booking I can get to

It is occasionally possible to get a lift but I need to actually talk with someone to book

I think there should be a sanction of some kind if you simply don’t turn up, as that’s just irresponsible. I manage my dad’s appointments for him and he gets plenty of reminders beforehand via text and the NHS app.

We once had to cancel a pre op appointment due to him getting a chest infection. I certainly wouldn’t want someone in the NHS determining whether that was a ‘good reason’ or not or (for example) asking us for proof.

But how do you distinguish the people who are just not turning up? How do you know they didnt cancel (and it hasn't been noted) or were delayed en route but had no way of letting anyone know because the phone wasnt answered....or the letter telling them they had an appointment didnt arrive. All can and do happen

I think part of the problem is that you get about 10 minutes to discuss an operation, sent off with a load of scary paperwork to sign and that's it. You then wait for your op and there is no chance to discuss it all in depth. Once your date comes through, I imagine a lot of people bottle it as there has not been enough pre-op care.

This is true. If it’s a ‘one off’, fair enough but if a person shows a consistent habit of not showing up, there probably should be consequences.

I work for a GP we actually phone EVERY patient who has a appointment the next day to confirm and we still get half a dozen no shows. I think people don't realise the cost in time/money as they don't pay at point of service.

Do you also include the painful hysteroscopies that are performed with no anesthetic There has been a lot of publicity and also a campaign to stop this barbaric practice. So women may well cancel due to nerves. There wouldnt have been publicity in the first place if women had not been expected to endure immense pain. Sometimes you have to own your shit

Well in my area a company that had fifty taxi drivers working for them had only nineteen. drum roll..........................post LOCKDOWNS

Then why the fuck have Royal Mail just been fined AGAIN.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd67qyw7z3vo

I work for Royal Mail. We get alot of NHS letters that get damaged in the machines. The reason for this is because they often have staples in (which they shouldnt if going through the post), they fold the letters over so they dont fit in the small envelopes properly and rip open or theyre not stuck down properly. Most of the damaged/delayed mail is because of bad addressing eg the wrong postcode or unable to read the writing, under paid postage or mail isnt sealed and packaged properly. NHS letters are one of the worst

That is an example of where there should be a penalty for a no-show. I have some sympathy where post is erratic (almost everywhere it seems), or where an appointment is a long way ahead and no reminder sent, but not these examples.

Last appointments of the day could be a first step.