Booking an ultrasound

Becles

I've been unwell for a while and saw my GP at the beginning of July who referred me for an ultrasound scan.

The letter came through the post but I was away on holiday at the time of the scan. I rang up and was told that they couldn't make me another appointment so I'd have to go to the back of the queue and wait until another one came in the post.

Another one arrived today for September but it clashes with another appointment in a different hospital. I rang up to see if I can get it changed but they won't change it by phone. I'm now at the back of the queue again and have to wait for another appointment to come by post.

If I can't make that one, then they will cancel the scan and my GP will have to re-refer me back again.

Why do they make it so difficult? They have my home and mobile numbers so it would only take a minute to ring me and book me in when I can attend.

I have contacted PALS but the lady said the booking procedure is done by post only and there is nothing they can do to help.

DomRavioli

They aren't making it difficult. They have limited resources - and you've failed to attend two appointments. They should have sent you back after the first DNA, but they kindly put you to the back of the queue instead of you having to be re-referred.

Why not try and change the other appointment (which you would be able to do by phone) instead of making it about this one? Most clinics are happy to alter the time and date over the phone, but ultrasounds are usually done by a third party, hence why it is postal only. If you have issues with booking a basic appointment, why did you not tell the ultrasound service about your lack of availability?

They aren't mind readers - they don't know when other appointments are, or when you decide to go on holiday. You failed to provide them with information and now you're kicking off for no good reason?

Becles

I haven't failed to attend the appointments on the actual day. I've cancelled in advance on receipt of the letters so the slots can be offered out to other patients.

The other consultant has a manic diary. I'm already in an overbook slot as he wants to see me sooner than planned. His secretary had no space left to move it and advised keeping it and moving the ultrasound.

The GP said she would refer me and someone would contact me to arrange an appointment. The initial consultant appointment was made in the surgery through choose and book. For all the other tests I've had, a person has rang me to make the appointments so I had no reason to assume this would be any different.

I had no idea who would be in touch to book the ultrasound or how they would contact me. I didn't know how rigid their booking system is until I spoke to them when the first appointment letter arrived.

I do think I'm justified in feeling annoyed that it can't easily be sorted in a quick and simple phone call like all the other appointments I've had.

JReacher1

Personally if I was suffering from ill health for a while I would prioritize an ultrasound appointment over my holiday.

The NHS is a free service, complaining that they won't schedule their expensive medical procedures around your other commitments seems a bit churlish!

MuffinTops

I recently had an ultrasound and they called me to get it booked so I understand why you'd think that's what they would do for you. Mine was an emergency booking though so maybe it was different due to that.

I do understand why you're unhappy as it can be a long winded process. I think they get let down so often with people not turning up for appointments etc that they've created this rigid system to ensure their limited resources are utilised as well as possible. You say they won't change it by phone so would popping in help? While I was waiting for my appointment another woman had also been booked into 2 separate hospitals at the same time and the lovely receptionist sorted it out for her there and then but my area may be different to yours.

I guess all you can do now is wait and see and move around all you can to make sure you're available for the next appointment they send. I hope it works out for you and you get better soon.

Becles

JReacher1 wrote: »

Personally if I was suffering from ill health for a while I would prioritize an ultrasound appointment over my holiday.

The NHS is a free service, complaining that they won't schedule their expensive medical procedures around your other commitments seems a bit churlish!

That's your choice and I respect that.

It was an all inclusive family holiday abroad that I'd saved up for a long time for. I would have lost all my money cancelling it at short notice. I couldn't have claimed on my travel insurance as it's not a life or death type medical emergency. My mental health hasn't been great and I'm exhausted from having two different medical conditions going, so it actually did me the world of good just getting away and having a rest.

The other commitment is another NHS appointment which was booked in before this one.

Becles

MuffinTops wrote: »

You say they won't change it by phone so would popping in help? While I was waiting for my appointment another woman had also been booked into 2 separate hospitals at the same time and the lovely receptionist sorted it out for her there and then but my area may be different to yours.

The ultrasound booking office isn't in either of the two nearest hospitals that I usually go to. It's in another hospital about 40 miles away, so not somewhere that I'm passing by.

Thanks for the sympathy. It's much appreciated xx

DomRavioli

Becles wrote: »

I haven't failed to attend the appointments on the actual day. I've cancelled in advance on receipt of the letters so the slots can be offered out to other patients. It is still a DNA - even if you rebooked. You can only rebook so many times, as the NHS has waiting list time limits.

The other consultant has a manic diary. I'm already in an overbook slot as he wants to see me sooner than planned. His secretary had no space left to move it and advised keeping it and moving the ultrasound.

The GP said she would refer me and someone would contact me to arrange an appointment. The initial consultant appointment was made in the surgery through choose and book. For all the other tests I've had, a person has rang me to make the appointments so I had no reason to assume this would be any different.Well it is different - you have been contacted, with an appointment, twice. You've failed to keep both those appointments, which under NHS rules state you can be passed back to referrer.

I had no idea who would be in touch to book the ultrasound or how they would contact me. I didn't know how rigid their booking system is until I spoke to them when the first appointment letter arrived. So how did you rebook the first appointment? And why didn't you tell them about your other appointment at the time you did so?

I do think I'm justified in feeling annoyed that it can't easily be sorted in a quick and simple phone call like all the other appointments I've had.

You're really not justified to be annoyed. You have access to a consultant, and investigative tests, and they're all free.

You also chose not to tell the ultrasound service that you had an appointment elsewhere when you rebooked the first time around. That isn't their fault, it is yours.

The simple answer is that most services do not have the money or staff to spare to make phone calls to every single patient to book them in for a simple investigative ultrasound. Why you would think that is anyone's guess, but investigations are rarely booked over the phone and your inability to mention a simple appointment has made you angry.

Becles

DomRavioli wrote: »

You also chose not to tell the ultrasound service that you had an appointment elsewhere when you rebooked the first time around. That isn't their fault, it is yours.

The simple answer is that most services do not have the money or staff to spare to make phone calls to every single patient to book them in for a simple investigative ultrasound. Why you would think that is anyone's guess, but investigations are rarely booked over the phone and your inability to mention a simple appointment has made you angry.

They said can you attend any time in August and I said yes. They didn't ask me about my prior appointments in September before making the appointment for me.

So far under the other consultant I've had a ultrasound that he booked by phone while I was in his clinic. I've also had a barium xray, a flexible sigmoidoscopy a MRI scan and a colonoscopy. All of those were booked by a person ringing me up and making an appointment with me. That's why I assumed booking an ultrasound through the GP would be a similar procedure.

George_Michael

JReacher1 wrote: »

The NHS is a free service

I do wish people would stop referring to the NHS as free.

What about the £116 billion taken directly from taxation in England last year to cover the cost of the NHS?

For eligible people there is no charge at the point of delivery but the NHS is far from being free for any taxpayer who uses it.

Valli

Could you not change your other September appointment?

However, I think it's ridiculous that you cannot telephone to arrange for your scan. Sending out letters is a bit of an outdated process.