How long should these appointments take to come through? Should I be chasing them up?

[Pinkchampagne]

My DS was seen by a pead in May, and has been referred to a OT, speach therapist & child psychologist.
I have filled out a form I was sent regarding the OT, but that was a couple of months back & I have heard absolutely nothing since.
I go back to see the pead in December, and she was telling me that all should be complete by then, but I have heard nothing at all since May.

How long do these things normally take? Is it worth me chasing the appointments up, or is it normal to have quite a wait before you see anyone?

I am just getting so worried about him going up to the juniors in two weeks time.

How long is a piece of string!!! I think you have been patient considering what the Paed said so definitely chase up. Otherwise, they don't understand that you are serious, will take cancellations etc... spell it out nicely for them. Most people have to wait a LOT longer, but you have been told all complete before Dec so mention this if anyone questions why you are chasing. Try to make a friend of any receptionists/secs etc if poss.

agree with Davros - chase. always worth double checkin that the referral letters have actually arrived where they are meant to!

Good point about checking ref letters have been sent/recd. How many times I have assumed that someone has done their job or what they said they'd do......

Thanks for your replies, I will get onto the hospital on Monday & see if that gets me anywhere.

I didn't want to come across as inpatient if these things normally take a lot longer than a few months, but I have heard absolutely nothing at all.

I was trying to do DS's diary writing homework with him the other day, and it was so painful as his writing is just so so poor. He is going to struggle so much in the juniors if he doesn't get the right support.

I now always chase, I waited 4 mths for an appt for a walking frame from physio - when I popped in to see physio to see if it was ready she had never received the referral.

Really, alycat? That is bad!

Thanks pc, although we then didn't get it as he was walking a little by then.

His posture was (and is) still so bad that he was falling all the time so we were given a helmet instead, why fix the problem (falling) when a helmet will stop him injuring himself when he does (must be cheaper than a frame too)? Although he still managed to bite right through his tongue wearing it.

Sorry for the rant, don't sound at all bitter do I??? Don't trust the feckers!

That is appalling, it really is! I can imagine how furious you must have been!

I will definitely chase them up now. I hadn't even considered the fact the referrals may not have even been sent!!

I presume I just phone the local hospital where DS saw the pead, and they will be able to give me more information

I agree it's always worth chasing. Good luck, pc.

Thanks, Scummy. I didn't want to pester if it normally takes quite a while, but I haven't heard a thing, and the struggle I had with him doing a tiny bit of writing the other day, has really brought all this to the front of my mind again. He is going to really struggle in the juniors & will need quite a bit of support.

I also got refered to s&L via paed and waited three months at which point I got a rude letter from S&L saying that as I had not contacted them I was removed from list and would need another paed referral .

I had phoned three times.

Chase them and make sure it is being processed.

Really?? That's awful!!

Yes - although in fairness i do hold a grudge. it was 7 years ago !

Definitely chase. The least they could have done is sent you a letter keeping you up to date.
My son's psychologist said in Feb she was referring him to an OT for dyspraxia assessment. Two weeks ago, I was copied in on a letter from the OT to the psych, thanking her for her referral of 11 July. I am furious. Had chased her several times to try to move forward and she always said she'd chase it up and get back to me but she was always so impossible to get hold of and never called back.
Oh, and we've been told it's 10 months waiting. So instead of being seen after Xmas it's going to be at the end of his first year at school.

Goodness, I had no idea they could be so bad!
I will definitely phone the hospital on Monday.

I must be the system's worst nightmare!

I chase things up constantly, having given them what I consider to be a reasonable waiting time. I know the wheels turn slowly in the NHS (I work in it) but in my experience he (or she) who shouts loudest gets heard. Not fair, but that's the way it goes.

For example I hadn't heard back regarding the Maclaren Major DD had been referred for. I gave them just over 3 weeks, (not expecting the pushchair that quickly, but thought they may have an idea of how long it would be) and hey, guess what, OT had "forgotten" to do the form. These people don't seem to realise that their To Do pile of paperwork is someone's life - for every day she didn't do the form, that was another day I couldn't safely take DD out - and it's the summer holidays!

Anyway I recommend politely chasing things up - find out which department you need, or who the secretary is for the consultant. It's always worth 'making friends' with the secretary as they often control the doctor's diary!

So glad I started this thread, I had no idea how bad they could be!
I will definitely chase things up on Mon now!

Keep trying to phone the hospital, but the line is constantly engaged!

God its a nightmare isn@t it I have supposedly been sent confirmations of refferals which don't arrive . I have now a number of a admin person who chases things up for me she is very good and always comes back to me. Also I phoned Pals my local hospital complaints people they were very good in getting things moving. Isn't it bad enough you're worried sick about your kids.

Our OT appointment took 18 months to come through. Bit of anti climax tbh, 4 sessions plsu a home exercise pack.

It is a nightmare. My DS is nearly 8, and there have been concerns since nursery age, but because of our home situation, a lot was put down to that.

He is now about to start in KS2, where so much more is expected of them, and I'm worried sick.
His own teacher last year said that there were times she just didn't know how she was going to get through the day with him, and it is going to be so much harder for him in the juniors.

I tried phoning the hospital several times yesterday, but the line was constantly engaged, and when I eventually got through, I was cut off while the woman tried to connect me to outpatients.
I am having similar problems again today.

Have finally got through & been given a direct number for the pead's secretary, but now can't get through to her!

V frustrating...keep trying!

PC - does the hospital have a website, and if you get deep into it department by department, can you find an e mail address for the secretary? Or for the paediatrician (whose e mails will be answered by the secreatary)? Or find someone else's e mail, from which you canapply the protocol for the way they do e mails and apply it to the secretary or paed's name?

I always contact DS's consultant by e mail - best way to get to her, via her secretary.

Hadn't thought to look & see if they have a website, Blu, but I will look to see if I can find one now!