Eight weeks ago I discovered a lump on the side of my neck, I wasn't suffereing with a sore throat or anything so decided to keep an eye on it. Four weeks later I mentioned the lump to the nurse at my annual check up at the doctors, and was advised to make an appointment with my doctor.
The following morning, I phoned the doctors to make the appointment, I was told that the appointments for the day were gone and offered an appointment for 26th June, which at the time was 7 weeks away. This concerned me and I asked if I could be seen sooner or even that day, to be told by the receptionist that I was not a priority and if I wanted to accept the June appointment.
Four weeks later, the lump had doubled in size, I was experiencing terrible ichy skin that I could not relieve through stratching, night sweats and headaches, so I asked once again if I could see the doctor sooner, and was told that as I was prviously informed it was not a priority there was nothing they could do.
I have had several members of my family pass away due to cancer and I didn't want to be one of them, so I wanted anything nasty ruled out. The only way for me to get passed the receptionist was to write to the Practice Manager with a complaint. I could see that wasn't going down well, so tried one last time to get to see the doctor.
After stating I had made a formal complaint (which they have 30 days to investigate) and that I needed to be seen as this lump had doubled in size in the past four weeks I was finally able to get an appointment this Monday.
The doctor agreed the receptionist was not qualified to decide if a case was a priority or not, and she should have triaged me, so that the doctor could have decided if I should be seen or not, and that this sort of thing was a priority.
After a round of questions and a thorough examination, he urgently referred me to the hospital, and sent me for blood tests on Tuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon the hospital phoned me with an appointment for me to be seen at ENT Yesterday (Thursday).
I had the camera down, and the consultant has arranged for a CT scan to see if this has spread, an ultrasound scan and a biopsy. I was told this is all going to move quickly and to make sure I have my phone with me at all times as they can phone at anytime.
This could have been done four weeks ago if it hadn't been for the receptionist, and we would have had the results by now. After the scans and biopsy have been completed I believe it takes another two to three weeks for the results.
I should have the results by the time the practice manager has done his investigation and prepared his report. But no investigation or appology is going to alter the fact that I was refused medical intervention which has resulted in delays in getting those tests done, due to the receptionists view on what she felt was a prioroty.