When should I expect for a cancelled hospital appointment to be rebooked?

[nicewarmmess]

I had a voicemail yesterday morning to tell me that the specialist appointment I’d been waiting four months for (on an urgent pathway), had been cancelled and it would be “rebooked through the post” - I’m signed up to the app for my hospital so all appointments come through instantly.

How long do I leave it before I call to chase? I was told that the clinics book up four months in advance so I’m guessing it’s another four months to go before it’s booked? I just don’t want to slip through the cracks

I would call tomorrow

I would just call them straight away.

Really? I thought that was being really cheeky! I did think that surely what you do is cancel it, leave the voicemail and just rebook but I wasn’t sure

They may have rebooked it straight away but there might be a delay before it comes through on the app / letter. Or it might be on someone’s to do list.

Either way, it’s best to phone and either put your mind at rest or it will give a gentle prompt.

I phoned recently in a similar situation and the person booked the appointment for me while I was on the phone. It’s not cheeky if you’re polite. Just say, hello, I got the cancellation, just wanted to check when I’m going to be booked in.

It will be about another week or two I expect. Give them (the bookings line) to about 11am tomorrow morning and give them a ring. Chances on they'll have the new time and date by then.

Good luck!

Nooooo, not cheeky at all. But do give them a few hours tomorrow to get the new time and date in. (They may already have it, but just to make sure...) The new appointment won't be too far away though.

No. What's cheeky is that they've left you in the dark and you're the one who's going to have to provide free secretarial support to ensure you get your appointment.

I take it you're new to this? You always have to chase or you'll get "forgotten". Never feel bad about following up.

I’ll call them tomorrow! The app is definitely instant as I’ve watched my dad be on the phone and appointments pop up

I phoned yesterday. I was told that I would be rebooked “in order of priority” but there’s a lot of people ahead of me. I asked how that worked given that I’d been cancelled and they said that appointment being booked “reset my pathway” and I just have to wait. What a farce.

That’s ridiculous OP - can you phone PALS? There shouldn’t be anyone ahead of you except other people cancelled on the same day (or earlier).
You could also mention that your referral information will now be so out of date that it’s not taking into account any deterioration (or whatever is relevant), so can’t be accurately prioritised alongside newer referrals.

It’s such a pain in the arse. I’m not massively surprised but still

Its all about who answers the phone really. Some are competent many aren't. Try again.

Oh FFS!

If it's any comfort to you, something very similar happened to my friend last year, and she got another appointment for 4 weeks later. (She got a letter 2 weeks before the appointment.)

Hope you get it soon!!!

I called again today and I’ve been put to the back of the queue. Despite the cancellation not being my fault

Complain

The last time they cancelled my appointment they rebooked it then. I waited 4 weeks to be seen again