Hospital Administration

[Eve]

Is there somewhere central in hospitals that you could ring to find out if you have any appointments pending (with doctors or for scans)?

Bit of a long story. Was referred to physio by rheumatology on 25 April for them to look at my knee before an MRI scan (done mid-late May) in case my knee needed bracing etc... After a month of they hadn't got it and Rhumatology saying they sent it, it was put through again so end of May. Nurse said ring the next day as they'd have it, rang and was told they had it but hadn't processed it, wait for the letter...

I've been ringing every couple of weeks or so to be told things like they had a backlog then letters have been sent out, ring when you get it etc...

After they said letters were sent out a couple of weeks ago I waited but nothing. Rang again today to ask what the wait was, told 10 days!!! They said they had sent me a letter (received nothing) and had "discharged" me a few weeks ago and I'd have to be re-referred...arghhhhhhhhh!!!!! I'll have been waiting for 3 months tomorrow.

Am worried about anything else which might have bee sent I haven't received. Don't know if I can ring "Orthopedics" about a referral as not sure if rheumatology have referred me as they said they would or ordered the scans the MRI report suggested (no idea who to ring about them). They couldn't find the report (I hand delivered) when I saw registrar then no notes in my file when I saw my nurse so feeling a bit unsure what's happening.

Am hoping rheumatology get back to me but just in case not, is there somewhere general I can ring to find out if there are appointments pending as I don't want to miss anything.

Sorry for the longwinded post, bit of a rant too!

[Eve]

Thanks Methyl, all the same hospital. I'm hoping I can some info out of rheumatology but they seem so so busy at the moment.

[bednobs]

At our hospitl you ring patient services (appointments) and they tell you what you have pending. However as you have been mucked about, i'd ring PALS at the hospital and ask them to sort it for you

[Eve]

Thanks bednobs, a very nice lady in the physio dept is going to chase rheumatology for the re-referral on Monday and phone me to make an appointment when through which is great, especially as rhumo haven't got back to me. Will tackle the other appointments Monday.

How are you finding this weather? My ankles keep swelling up horribly through the day, bring on the less heatwave conditions! :)