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MRI scan appointment

Posted By Quail729

"MRI scan appointment"

About: University Hospital Hairmyres / Cardiology

(as the patient),

For some years I had been diagnosed with asthma but recently when I was suffering from breathlessness further investigation showed that it was not asthma but a faulty valve in my heart that has caused my breathing problems.

Following on from this I was put on a waiting list for an MRI scan, I was told it would be a few months. Due to the nature of my work I could not work until the scans had been performed and the condition was properly treated. To try and speed up the process and return to work I asked the hospital to let me know if there were any cancellations to appointments, I was only an hour away and could be there to fill a potential gap in the appointments if they just let me know.

Fortunately, they did let me know of a cancellation and I had my MRI scan this week, maybe a couple of months before I would have done if I had just waited for my own appointment to come through.

All the staff at Hairmyers have been brilliant, I cannot fault the hospital. However, I wonder if waiting lists could be reduced if other patients further down the line could fill gaps created by cancellations.

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Responses

Response from Peter McCrossan, Director for Allied Health Professions, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire 7 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Peter McCrossan
Director for Allied Health Professions, University Hospital Wishaw,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 17/02/2017 at 18:43
Published on Care Opinion at 22:15

picture of Peter McCrossan

Dear Quail729,

Thank you for taking the time to comment on your recent MRI experience.v I will make sure your kind comments are passed to the staff concerned.

I am sorry if the projected waiting time was a cause for concern, but note that you received a cancellation appointment. NHS Lanarkshire is in the process of replacing its MRI scanners, which is currently causing a slight delay in the appointment process, at the present time.

Once we are fully functioning I would expect he waiting times to improve. Of course, in order to be in a position to offer a cancellation we are dependent on our patients informing the service that they will not be attending, and sometimes this can be an issue.

I hope that your health issues can be resolved quickly and I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a speedy recovery.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Peter McCrossan, Director for Allied Health Professions, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire 7 years ago
We have made a change
Peter McCrossan
Director for Allied Health Professions, University Hospital Wishaw,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 18/04/2017 at 21:32
Published on Care Opinion on 19/04/2017 at 15:42

picture of Peter McCrossan

Dear Quail729,

I am pleased to report that following your recent post we have taken the opportunity to review the management of MRI appointments.

We have tightened up our procedures and have prominently highlighted in the MRI appointment letter, which is sent to patients asking them to give as much advance notice of their inability to attend as is possible.

Unfortunately, we are still in the process of MRI replacement, but hopefully this will draw to a close by the autumn.

I hope your condition is stable and your health improves in forthcoming months.

Kind regards

Peter

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

Update posted by Quail729 (the patient)

since the mri scan, it has really made a difference to my life..at first glance it was a heart valve, and I was worried about all sorts of scenarios and things...but I am glad to say that I have a damaged heart muscle, and on medication to help it to, I am back full time at work and leading a normal life, but get fatigued easily at times..it just a matter of taking my time and let the medication do its work. which will take time.

but in the meantime..the difference between the two dates for the scan has relieved me of all the uncertainties of heart failure. and I can assure you .. it has made a huge difference. I have since seen the heart specialist in hairmyres, and the professionalism and talk with him, when giving me the outcome of the scan was fantastic...simply put..you don't need any operations and there is no reason you can't recover from this fully..those words have a value that you can't fathom.

I am glad that you are trying to tighten up the procedure for people like myself ..worried and stressed.. and sitting doing nothing at home, unable to work, doing the same...worried and stressed... thank you for taking the time to respond..

yours sincerely

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