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Care Opinion

Comparitve slowness of a System.

Posted By Elvis

"Comparitve slowness of a System."

About: Devon PCT

(as the patient),

last week I saw my GP. They recommended blood samples and an X-ray, and the blood samples were taken the next day.

I was told the results will be available the following working week. Can't complain there though I wonder why the weekends are sacrosanct when people get ill 24 hours a day.

My point is that I am not allowed even to ring up to book an appointment for the X-ray till the next working week. What sort of system is this in the 21st century. I would have thought a few clicks on the GP's computer should be sufficient to inform the appointments office so the GP can find out what is amiss and I can get well sooner.

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Responses

Response from Susan Pearce, Project Support Manager, DART (Devon Access & Referral Team), NHS Devon 12 years ago
Susan Pearce
Project Support Manager, DART (Devon Access & Referral Team),
NHS Devon

Information support, communications and patient involvement for DART

Submitted on 15/07/2011 at 16:27
Published on Care Opinion at 17:06

Dear ‘Elvis’,

Thank you for your post and I’m sorry that you are unhappy with the service. Please also accept my apologies for the delay in my response.

I have looked into the matter and it would seem that systems vary slightly depending on which hospital a GP surgery sends their patients to, however, most seem to operate a paper system. This means that your GP will have sent a paper referral to the hospital and so asked you to wait a week to ensure that, by the time you phone to make the appointment, the paperwork had made it to the department and they could view your referral details.

I believe that the intention is to put diagnostic tests, such as x-rays and ultrasounds, on to the Choose & Book system in the future so that the appointments can be made electronically. Unfortunately, it simply isn’t possible for your GP to book these appointments at the moment.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Kind regards,

Susan

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