Children’s hospital cancelled referred appointment

[Emh80]

My son went for his 8 week check with our GP the other day. All went well but the our doctor noticed a cyst on one of his testicles. He said he wasn’t worried about it but would refer us to the children’s hospital just in case. We received the appointment last week and it is for the middle of September which is fine. Today we got a letter from them saying they have cancelled it saying it was inappropriate??? I am unsure how to proceed in this situation. Surely they have to check and make sure he is ok? I have booked another appointment with our GP but the earliest I could get an appoint was middle of August. This is going to delay they whole thing by at least 2 months. Anyone have any advice ? I am really worried that this cyst is something and no one want to check it out :(

Are you able to get your GP to speak to you on the phone regarding this letter, ? Or even phone hospital ask why it has been cancelled? They have got to give your a decent answer why they won’t see him, my son attends paediatricians regularly due to health issues anytime they cancel appointments I just phone to find out why as sometimes they don’t detail in letter

Maybe it was sent to,the wrong department in the hospital, or the referral didn’t have sufficient information. I would either ring the hospital,department and ask for an explanation and/or speak,to,the doctor. As you son has already been seen by the gp, you may find a telephone appointment is all,you need.

When we had this I went and spoke to the receptionist at the practise who was able to re refer and we got another appointment

Often it depends what has been written on the referral and the consultant may see it and think it doesn’t warrant seeing.

Thanks I will give the hospital a ring tomorrow and see what they say. ;)

When this happened to us (for a different issue with my daughter) it was down to poor wording in the GP’s referral letter. I called the hospital, who explained and then put me through to the secretary for the right department. She then booked my daughter an urgent appointment there and then (she had been referred on a two week pathway originally).

Re the cyst. My middle son also had one as a baby, it was a hydrocele, apparently they are relatively common in new borns. Once it had been checked, we were given a review date shortly after his first birthday to see whether or not it needed intervention. As is often the case, resolved on it’s own before the date they set to review it. He’s nearly 15 now and it has never reoccurred.

Referrals get refused because they don't meet criteria set by hospitals.
The poor gp who basically is covering their back is stuck.. They can't overrule or insist and they have often angry or worried patients demanding new referrals.
Your Ccg buy services from the hospital, you should contact them and ask why they are a testicle cyst is not meeting criteria for hospital review.
Though tbh.. It is something a GP should manage.. It just needs watching for next 12months to see if resolves or grows. However I appreciate this is easy for me to say as I am a GP not a worried parent.