"MRI / DAT scan results"

I have Parkinson’s Disease, but this story concerns my wife. We live in Shiremoor, Tyne & Wear.

Some time ago she began suffering pain and weakness in her left arm and hand. Now my wife is not one to go to the doctor unless she is “at death’s door”, so when she told me she had a GP appointment (at Shiremoor Resource Centre) I was immediately concerned. That concern was increased when she was referred to the Neurology Clinic at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. This was against a background of deterioration in her general health; symptoms included being very tired most of the time, feeling sore and achey, slowing down when walking, some unsteadiness on her feet. With knowledge of my own condition I could quite easily paint a worrying picture of my wife's situation. She also works full-time and because of her discomfort she does not drive but relies on public transport to get to and from work. This adds considerably to her working day and her exhaustion.

At her neurology consultation in July with Dr Rinki Singh (one of Dr Duddy’s registrars) it was decided to refer her for MRI and/or DAT scans to aid diagnosis.

The scans (both MRI and DAT) were done on at the end of August and my wife was told to expect scan results / follow-up within 1 to 2 weeks. It is now well into October, and despite her making a telephone call approximately 2 weeks ago to check progress there has been no contact whatsoever. When she made the call, she was given to understand that the scans were “ still being checked“.

Mt wife is not someone who ever likes to complain and has not been keen to pester the NHS. However, I know from my own experience of Parkinson’s diagnosis care that there is no excuse for such a delay. Surely the NHS must realise how upsetting her circumstances are – she is excessively tired, she does not know what is causing her to feel so ill and this uncertainty itself is causing her considerable stress. The service she has received since August is not good enough. I am a huge fan of the NHS – my own care (from Professor Richard Walker’s team at North Tyneside General Hospital) has been nothing short of world-class. I cannot praise the Parkinson’ s Disease Service there too highly.

Why then has it taken so long to provide scan results and offer a follow-up appointment for my wife? Is it because she is a RVI patient? I am extremely annoyed at the delay and at the distress being caused to my wife. Please resolve this immediately and get in touch with her to take forward her diagnosis and care, whatever is causing her to feel so ill.