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Care Opinion

length of waiting times

Posted By mez

"length of waiting times"

About: Ayrshire Central Hospital / Trauma & orthopaedics

(as the patient),

I have been having problems with my foot, I had been referred to an orthopedic consultant, who sent me for an mri. After waiting about two months I was contacted about a catch up clinic which was on a Saturday at 6pm in a portable scanner. What I find bizarre is that I now have to wait two months to get my results! I have tried to get an appointment sooner with no luck though, I have been told to call basically everyday to see if there are any cancellation, my life is on hold until I get the results. What was the point of putting me on a catch up clinic if I have to wait so long for my results. It could be improved if there are others ways of getting results.

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Responses

Response from Eunice Goodwin, Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team, NHS Ayrshire and Arran 8 years ago
Eunice Goodwin
Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

I respond initially to most of the posts and ensure they are passed to the appropriate team whether they are compliments, observations or grumbles. It is important to make sure all issues are addressed and I try to encourage that to happen for all the posts as required.

Submitted on 21/07/2015 at 15:08
Published on Care Opinion at 15:12

picture of Eunice Goodwin

Dear mez,

There is no hiding from that question, it does seem a bit crazy to me too. I have asked the why this may be so and the answer is that the service has been inundated and demand is consistently higher than supply. It is trying to get people seen as fast as possible but I wonder if there is an opportunity for some results to be fed back by a telephone consultation to ease the pressures. While this would not be appropriate for everyone, it may be an option for some. I will ask the question.

On the other hand, I would also implore everyone ‘out there’ who has an appointment to either attend or cancel it as soon as possible to allow folk such as yourself to benefit from the appointment that will otherwise be wasted. I believe that people not attending is a huge problem and unfair for those who are struggling and need to see someone sooner. (Sorry, I didn’t mean to get on my high horse, but it certainly would help so much).

I am sorry this is going to be such a wait and I do hope you get a cancellation but of course this is not really the answer to the situation. Thank you for highlighting this to us, I will pass it on to the appropriate teams for their consideration.

Best wishes

Eunice

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by mez (the patient)

Thank you for getting back to me.

Iv only get the result from the consultant who sent me to get the mri, have called my gp to see if they will give me the results but they won't.

As to getting an appointment I have asked to be contacted if there are cancellations but been told that only for 1st time patients not patients who are seeing the consultant again.

Response from Eunice Goodwin, Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team, NHS Ayrshire and Arran 8 years ago
Eunice Goodwin
Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

I respond initially to most of the posts and ensure they are passed to the appropriate team whether they are compliments, observations or grumbles. It is important to make sure all issues are addressed and I try to encourage that to happen for all the posts as required.

Submitted on 22/07/2015 at 13:21
Published on Care Opinion on 23/07/2015 at 07:42

picture of Eunice Goodwin

You are welcome mez. I am sorry you are still unable to get your results. It is confusing when we can get some results from GPs and indeed some from their receptionists. I appreciate that some must come from the consultant but it does not make it easier to understand.

As to being told that it is 'only for 1st time patients not patients who are seeing the consultant again’. I am sorry but I think you have been given wrong information. I have asked the referral management team (RM) and an Orthopaedic secretary and they are not aware of this at all. It may be helpful to us both if you contact me with your details (your name and date of birth) and I will look into this further for you (we don't want anyone getting the wrong information).

Can you also let me know if it was the RM service you spoke to please? If you do want to contact me, you can email me on eunice.goodwin@aapct.scot.nhs.uk or phone me on 01563 826222.

Best wishes,

Eunice

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
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