"How are delays in the system taken into account in a patients pathway?"

Saw my GP in August who said I needed a head scan. Hadn't heard anything so in mid September I popped into GP surgery to be told that referral had been made and gave me a TRAQS leaflet and asked to contact them.

Phoned TRAQS to be told they had no referral on their system, they didnt deal with scans and to contact the hospital.

Phoned hospital (SaTH) to be told they had not had a referral and given another number (CCG? ) to phone. Phoned that number and told nothing to do with them try another number. Tried the other number and told nothing to do with them and to go back to GP. Phoned GP to be told I needed to speak to TRAQS again and gave me a CAB number. Phoned TRAQS again - told the CAB number had nothing to do with referral but they had received a referral from my GP in August! TRAQS told me that they had passed this referral to Alliance Medical and to phone them.

Phoned Alliance Medical to be told they had rejected my GPs referral at triage. Person I spoke to didnt know why and when asked if they had informed my GP was told that they would normally.

Went back to GP surgery to explain, receptionist checked my records - no communication from Alliance Medical. Receptionist would get GP to contact me. GP contacted me the next day and said that they would chase.

Several days later had a call from TRAQS saying that GP had referred me to see a Neurologist. Told all hospital had 6 to 12 weeks waiting list (but Ive already been waiting over 4 weeks for a scan! ! ! ! ! ) Put on PRH waiting list and told to contact TRAQS again if I had not heard anything in 6 weeks.

No word from PRH 6 weeks later so phoned TRAQS who offered appointment at RSH for November 2013 (utilising a cancellation otherwise Dec at PRH).

Just been for appointment to be told that a need a scan! It is now 13 weeks since my GP told me I needed a scan and I assume I am now at the bottom of the waiting list again.