"Urology Pillar to Post"

I have a problem with my kidney. Right side is now beyond repair. I have stage 3b CKD. Now, , I am having to take pain relief every day and am awaiting on 2 different scans - neither at the request of Urology!

Was referred to Urology by GP in November 2013.

I get an appointment 3 months later.

I was referred for an investigative procedure. Puts me on the wrong waiting list.

I eventually have the procedure. This is reported back but due to holidays lies in an in-tray for 2 weeks.

By good fortune, I chase this up. And someone actually shows some initiative and queries it with another doctor who says they want to see me in clinic. So back to the bottom of another waiting list for an out-patient appointment.

I eventually get it – and it’s not even the doctor I was expecting to see.

The problem being my bladder doesn't empty properly and this is causing repeated infections. This was seen as as "urgent" and I end up having an operation a couple of weeks later. May 2014

I was discharged afterwards and told I would come back to clinic in 6 months time. I get an appointment a few weeks later for NINE months down the line.

The operation proves to be a disaster.

I end up having to be Re-Referred by my GP at the end of July and get an appointment in November – postponed by me to the beginning of December.

In that 6-7 months, I am admitted to hospital as an in-patient three times. All related to the same problem which is in effect back at square one. And in that time, at no point do I or any of the people looking after me speak to anyone in Urology.

So, I go to the appointment with the doctor I met in February who basically suggests repeating old ground………. I refused this. My case is basically too complex and is more appropriate to a colleague.

So I am referred.

Five weeks later and while letters are being exchanged I am still awaiting to be added to a waiting list for an out-patient appointment.

The colleague has written back saying they will see me in clinic. Meanwhile, I am still not even on a waiting list to be seen in clinic!

What's good is that I now have a medical consultant. There is a ridiculous amount of red tap and no co-ordination