I see that DART’s claim is: "… to offer patients a choice of time and place for their treatment, wherever possible, and to provide information that patients may require before they make their choice. The service has been designed, and is overseen by, local GPs who feel that this service is the best way for patients to make their appointments." Well -
1 - I rang DART on receipt of their letter (unsigned and undated) – and was puzzled that it didn't come directly from the hospital department concerned. Why does a third/fourth[?] party have to be involved?
2 - This was a slow response by DART - some twelve days since my seeing the GP.
3 - DART couldn't offer me an appointment until 24th July... Eight weeks' time. What is the point of such a delay? Who does it help? And how do I cope in the meantime? If DART is to function effectively it must offer early appointments with a minimum of delay.
4 - The DART member of staff - no name given - suggested there might be an earlier cancellation which I might wish to use. But I must ring the DART office (hourly? daily? weekly? how often?) to find out. There was no offer to ring me back. Would it not be more sensible and efficient for all concerned if DART rang me on the availability arising of an earlier appointment?
5 - Why doesn’t the rheumatologist’s secretary or similar write to or ring me directly? It would avoid all this cumbersome process of correspondence and codes and going through other bodies who are distant. My earlier appointments at RD&E have not been handled in this complex way before.
6 - I was offered, in the course of the conversation, a choice of three hospitals – but then told that two of them had no appointments available! What was the point of that? It’s not choice – which I wasn’t bothered about anyway - is it?.
7 - And why must I tell my ‘story’ to someone other than the DART member of staff who spoke to me?
8 - And why must it be published online? It doesn’t concern anyone else.
9 - One prompt response has been from the RD&E. I gratefully received their letter (unsigned) this morning. Although addressing it to me as Mr, the letter begins ‘Dear Sir or Madam’! And my time is shown as 14.30pm! No – it’s either 14.30hrs or 2.30pm, svp!
10 - Doesn’t all this feedback generate more complaints than would otherwise arise?
11 - What are the improvements, for the patients, that have been brought about ?
12 - My caller from DART was pleasantly spoken and capable, but I felt I was merely another UBRN in her day’s work.
13 - Not too much indication in my ‘story’ of DART being the best way for a patient to make his/her appointment, eh?
14 - So, I’ve told you my story. How will it ‘make a difference.?
• And regarding this questionnaire –
- It is so frustrating to use, partly because it is not possible to return to an earlier page to amend the text.
- The questions should all be on one continuous page, thus enabling the contributor to scroll up and down until the text is ready to be submitted.
- There is an absurd limit of a mere fifty characters on later questions! What is the point of that? That’s probably about ten words only! And I didn’t discover the limit imposed until after I had more fully responded to the questions.
- It does not allow the use of bold or italic text (for emphasis, say), or highlighting.
- I made two earlier attempts to complete the questionnaire, being baffled and frustrated by turns, which took over half an hour, only to find it telling me my email address or password was incorrect when I clicked to send it on its way!
- What does the question ‘What tests, conditions or treatments are in your story?’ seek to find out? If they’re relevant and in the story, you’ll know on reading it!
- I don’t see any sign of an Edit key…
- How much does all this procedure cost? And who finances it?
"I was seeking an appointment to see a specialist in PMR"
About: Devon Access and Referral Team (DART) Devon Access and Referral Team (DART) Exeter EX1 1PQ Patient Opinion Patient Opinion
Posted by Fraxinus excelsior (as ),
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