NHS Referrals

LadyDee

What crazy system is this?

Saw Dr early July, eventually decided to refer me to specialist clinic, had several tests, and they referred me to the hospital on 15th October. I get a letter from them today 5th November, telling me to contact NHS Referrals for a hospital appointment. I have just phoned them to be told they didn't have any appointments available, they would pass on my details to the hospital. If I don't hear from the hospital in a fortnight then I'm to get my GP to chase them up.

So in effect, the hospital knows I'm waiting for an appointment (I confirmed this with the clinic) but won't process it. They wait until they are instructed by this Referrals outfit which "should" be within a fortnight, but if not by then, by the GP.

So another administrative bit of nonsense has been introduced which simply slows things down a bit more, wastes goodness knows how much money and irritates and frustrates people even more!

Just needed to let off steam.:mad:

sofiar

what a pain!!! That just does not make sense and what a waste of admin time and paper!! Hope you get your appointment soon x

LadyDee

sofiar wrote: »

what a pain!!! That just does not make sense and what a waste of admin time and paper!! Hope you get your appointment soon x

Yes - in more ways than one:)

Thank you.

Double_V

I am sorry but the whole NHS system is a joke.
Lack of staff, long processing system.
I don't understand.
Too much waiting time.

I feel your pain.
Hope it gets sorted for you.

peachyprice

Works just fine here: see the doctor, referral done online by doc there and then, go home to use the log-in details to book appointment in your choice of hospital on line or by phone, all done and dusted in under an hour.

Does everyone not have this system?

Faith177

peachyprice wrote: »

Works just fine here: see the doctor, referral done online by doc there and then, go home to use the log-in details to book appointment in your choice of hospital on line or by phone, all done and dusted in under an hour.

Does everyone not have this system?

We have that system but when the hospital doesn't have any appointments within a set time then you have to go back to the doctors and start all over again

I just went through this with trying to get genetic testing was messed around for a month only to be told it wasn't "financially viable" to do a 2K test to see if I was at risk of getting breast cancer which would cost a fortune to treat! :wall:

peachyprice

Faith177 wrote: »

We have that system but when the hospital doesn't have any appointments within a set time then you have to go back to the doctors and start all over again

I just went through this with trying to get genetic testing was messed around for a month only to be told it wasn't "financially viable" to do a 2K test to see if I was at risk of getting breast cancer which would cost a fortune to treat! :wall:

We get a choice of 5 hospitals, NHS and private so always get an appointment somewhere, if not our first choice.

Gigervamp

peachyprice wrote: »

Works just fine here: see the doctor, referral done online by doc there and then, go home to use the log-in details to book appointment in your choice of hospital on line or by phone, all done and dusted in under an hour.

Does everyone not have this system?

No. Here, you go to doc, they refer to hospital and you wait for the appointment letter in the post.

missbiggles1

Gigervamp wrote: »

No. Here, you go to doc, they refer to hospital and you wait for the appointment letter in the post.

The choice based system is nationwide - if your GP isn't working with the system, you should complain.

http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Yourchoices/hospitalchoice/Pages/Choosingahospital.aspx

Gigervamp

I'm in Wales, maybe it's different here.

missbiggles1

Gigervamp wrote: »

I'm in Wales, maybe it's different here.

Browsing around, that does seem to be the case.