To leave another voicemail for my doctor?

[raspberrymuffins]

Need a bit of perspective 😅

im under a consultant for a long term condition which really needs to be medicated to keep at bay. I had an issue with my medication so called up 2 weeks ago about it, I was told to email in and that they’d forward my email to my consultant and I assume they’d get back to me. That was 14 days ago, I called up last Friday (so roughly 10 days after my first call+email) and asked if there was any update or even just to confirm they’ve got my email ok but nobody has called back yet and that was 5 days ago now. Unfortunately nobody answers when you call, you just leave a voicemail so I literally just have to wait for them to call back.

am I being a bit unreasonable or pushy to call back again today and leave another voicemail? That’s 14 days since I initially called+emailed, and only 5 days since I chased it up last week.

they’re hit or miss to be honest- when they’re on it they get back really quickly and keep you updated but when they’re not they just don’t call back at all/dont do what they’ve said so that’s why I just want to definitely confirm they’ve actually contacted my consultant and it’s actually been done😬

i understand these things sometimes take a while especially as people can be off sick or on annual leave but just wondering would I be a bit pushy or demanding if I left another voicemail today? Or do I need to be more reasonable and give them more time? I wasn’t planning on leaving a rude or annoyed voicemail obv, just mainly asking if there’s any update on what’s happening

Definitely ring again, messages get lost or forgotten about easily in a hospital!

If the problem is with your prescription or dosage I would be calling daily at this point. However, if it is a query that can wait perhaps ask PALS to investigate if there is a problem within the department as the response times are dire.

I think it’s reasonable to call again with a polite message. They are busy and sometimes things are missed. I think they’d want you to call.

I would call again and leave a message asking for an update.
If you have no response see if you can find the Consultant email address or their secretary number on an old letter if it is a long term condition.

If you have no luck contact PALS.

Have you checked your NHS app to see if a message has been left there?

Hope you get it all sorted quickly. Good luck

I was going to suggest PALS too.

I had a minor procedure at an outpatient clinic a couple of weeks ago and they gave me the wrong leaflet re aftercare (it was for a completely different procedure, on a different part of the body). I couldn't get through to anyone in the relevant unit, so contacted PALS nline asking for their help.

Within a couple of hours, PALS phoned me back, and after another hour or two, a nurse from that clinic rang me and explained everything.

@raspberrymuffins If your initial contact was not with your consultant's secretary, my advice would be to ring the hospital and ask to speak to Dr/Mr Consultant's secretary. I have always found them to be a great deal more helpful than junior doctors - who I appreciate are usually rushed off their feet.

Try and find your consultants secretary number. That are usually quite good.
If not I'd contact pals.

It might be worth contacting 111 - they can usually get medication for you if its urgent. They may also have alternate methods of contacting your consultant.