Should I cancel outpatients appointment or am I just being ridiculous?

[PutneyHill]

Feel like I'm losing my sense of perspective. I'm medically vunerable and have an outpatients referral tomorrow at a hospital where 100 patients and 40 members of staff have tested positive this past month alone - it also has the highest death rate in the London capital.
Would I be ridiculous to make up an excuse and cancel, in the hope cases will eventually reduce next year? I'm currently on oral steroids due to out of control asthma but feel guilty at the prospect of doing a last minute cancellation because appointments are I imagine precious.

It depends on whether your current dose is working for you. If not, then you have to go.

If yes, and it's just a quick review, you could request a virtual clinic instead (a phone call). But you would have to ring as soon as the clinic opens.

I wouldn't waste the slot entirely as at this very late stage they will not be able to rebook it.

My outpatient referral is not pulmonary related, it's rhematology and I can live with pain for a few more months.

I’d postpone it. I am CEV and when for an outpatient appointment today. The nurse had a constant dry cough...

Which hospital? Your user name suggests you live quite close to me. My husband had to go to A&E and then back for MRI last week and there were lots of precautions. I would go but I don't know how essential your check up is.

Is it St George's? I was there a couple of months ago and the rheumatology department didn't feel covid secure at all. They hadn't even bought a new thermometer - they wanted me to take my mask off to take it orally. Ask them to do a phone appointment, it's clearly not ideal but it's better than just cancelling.

Cases are going to get so much worse next year. Waiting lists will be out of control.
I would go as I would expect a hospital to have decent covid measures in place. Also, like you say, wasting a precious appointment. And being in pain for longer.

If you cancel it might not be months, it could be years. They won't be able to fill the slot either. I think you need to suck it up and wash your hands well.

I guess it depends what you find the most debilitating, a fear of Covid or having to live with pain

Either way, discuss with them before cancelling. As previously mentioned, maybe a telephone appointment might be possible.

I'm not classed as vulnerable at all. The only time I have felt unsafe during the pandemic was in the hospital. My leg would have to be hanging off to make me go again. Its not worth it.

It depends on the
important of your appointment. I know nothing of your condition.

However if it isn't urgent to be seen in the next few months I probably would. Then call my gp and ask to be referred to a different hospital.

I am London too

Its so hard to decide. My mum had an appointment. She is elderly and vunerable. We decided that it was best to cancel as it was just for retinol screening. I had an appointment in November for gynacology due to unexplained bleeding. I went. It felt really very safe with not many waiting outside and social distancing measures. Tbh, you need to look at how things will change. If you delay, you may be stuck. Could you phone the hospital and voice your concerns?

For my mum, we phoned the doctor for advice.

Thank you for your responses, I will call the department tomorrow first thing to ask if a telephone appointment is possible (it didn't occur to me to ask).

I just went along in the end and felt relatively safe up until the consultant stated I was welcome to take off my mask because he's already had the virus.
Of course I didn't but I wasn't happy sitting in a room where potentially his other patients had.

Fucking hell, that's bad. Please complain to the hospital about that. It has been proven that you can catch it twice in a short space of time.

I cancelled an appointment at the respiratory dept. The insult at phoned me up and I blurted out the truth - that I had been afraid to go. He was very nice and said he understood, but it was more important to attend he appointment. So I went later, and I felt it was all quite secure - no other patients there and everyone in full PPE. Probably because it was the respiratory dept they take extra precautions.

The “insult” ?!? The consultant, I meant!

*QueenStromba I was dithering whether to complain. The rest of the staff/nurses were superb and diligent while this consultant basically pissed all over their hard work.
What's not to say a couple of asymptomatic patients prior took up his offer to not wear a mask in his small unventilated office?
He also asked to see inside my mouth (it's been very dry) but I simply told him "this mask isn't coming off".
*Irma, I too am glad I've got it over and done with.