Any experience with an apparently 'missed' appointment even though we never received an appointment letter?

[GlitteryFluff]

Have posted in chat as well but thought this might be a better section.

Just walked in from a lovely day out to see a letter arrived today for DS - we've apparently missed an asd assessment appointment. We never received a letter! It says we'll get another appointment sent out but this 'may not be in the next few months'. I want to cry.

I really wanted him assessed before nursery breaks up for summer so they can get things into place for his start at the school in September - school have told me this would be the ideal scenario, and they'd then get extra funding for him, care plans in place etc

I will phone first thing Monday, but has anyone had any experience with 'missing' appointments that you didn't know about and being able to get another appointment sooner?

I'm absolutely gutted and would never ever have missed an appointment for him. We've been seeing paediatricians, speech therapists, specialist health visitors, etc since he was 15months old, we must have had about 25 appointments and never missed any either knowingly or not(!) but this one is the one, this is what we've been waiting for.

Copied this from the other thread Incase anyone in this topic has any specific advice?

I called them this morning... and got nowhere.

I spoke to the paediatricians pa. I explained we've been waiting for this appointment since he was 15 months. That this was the most important appointment we've ever had and will ever have. That there was no way on earth I'd have missed it. Only I open the post for the kids. I would put it straight on calendar. She said basically there's nothing they can do, they have on file that a letter was sent in march.

She apparently spoke to the team who send letters - sorry but we sent it - and the paediatrician - sorry but you didn't turn up and there's a long list you'll have to wait.

I cried, not fake, when she told me he's next appointment won't be for 6 months. Crying didn't help, she just said she will make a note that there's a problem with letters going out/being received.

I've been put on a cancellations list.

I have left messages with a specialist HV that did home visits and preschool visits but she's on annual leave til Monday. So I also left a message with the main office she works from.

So basically my poor boy has been let down by them or the post office. And nobody but me cares.

I'm going to talk to the teacher at preschool (which is where he's starting reception) when I pick him up Incase the senco can do anything?

Any paediatricians in the south east (or further, I'll travel! ) want to do the ADOS for my son for me in exchange for a cuddle and wine? only half joking Wish we had the money to go private.

Any advice on what I can do next?
My plan is to talk to teacher/senco.
Then wait for call back from specialist health visiting team. Wait for our specific one to call me back when she's off annual leave too.
Obviously chase these if I don't hear anything - though doubt that have any power to push things along anyway.

GP? Can they push things along in anyway?
MP?
Pals? Will they actually be able to help him get an appointment or will they just investigate?

I guess if there's no more appointments then there's fuck all anyone can do.

Sad is an understatement.

Get in touch with PALS and light a fire under the PA. You can have the next cancellation appointment, they can squeeze you in. It's just a matter of will. (I speak from experience, having had 2 children with multiple appointments and also a chrinic health condition myself).

It's not good saying a letter was sent if they can't produce proof of posting. Sending letters is archaic and a waste of money. They should email and text too. Missed appointments are a huge drain on the NHS and relying on a single letter (which may never have been posted) is just not good enough.

Oh my word!

As a parent who really needed an answer (for her own sanity purposes,) I send you a huge hug!

We received a letter back in December 16 saying my DS was to have his ASD assessment in Jan 17. I was over the moon! Whatever outcome; I would know what 'the PROFESSIONALS' thought and the to-ing and fro-ing would be over.

As worried/concerned/frustrated parents you wait for every letter and specifically 'THAT letter!'

I would write a letter of complaint, explaining that you did not receive any correspondence (to the hospital) and I have to admit as I would be do livid, I would likely threaten to contact the local paper.

(Honestly, I am a lovely person, I can just imagine how I would've felt in the circumstances. Knowing our son has ASD aids our family's understanding of lots his behaviours!)

PALS is definitely the route I would go down for this-we were in a similar position where an error that wasn’t mine meant being stuck on a waitlist we thought we’d already got to the top of.

One letter to PALS and the months of waitlist became 2 weeks...

Thank you all.
I got a call back from a specialist health visitor who did a observation at nursery and home (I left a frantic message with her last week but she was on holiday). It's happened to someone else aswell, letters sent when it was heavy snow so either they didn't bother sending or Royal Mail didn't bother delivering in the snow.
She's seeing what she can do.
If I don't get anywhere then I'll get onto pals.
Thanks.