UK Disability Resource of Disabled Needs

Speeds · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:06 am Post subject: My rant...........

Thomas has to go in to hospital for an exploratory op to see what, if anything, is making him talk the way he talks. That is the easy part.

The ENT system at the RBH is in the dark ages. It is so antiquated and so out of touch that I really want to go and thump someone to wake them up to 21 century life.

About 3 months ago Thomas was sent an appointment for his surgery and an appointment for his pre op assessment. They fell in the half term hols and we were going away so I called to say - no thank you. Well that is all you can say. They will send you another appointment. I said tot he lady that it was ridiculous not being able to book over the phone which you can do for every other clinic and op inthe hospital (or the ones I have had to do bearing in mind how many peeps Thomas has to see). But she said - no we will send another appointment grrrrrrrrr

So I wait and after a week I get a letter asking if Thomas still need his surgery and also, can they have a list of dates I am unavailable. No specification of timelines and also, TBH, who does know apart froim major events such as hols or a regular committement months in advance if they are free or not.

I thought that as this had been sent they would turn it around quickly. Well no - not really.

On Friday we got a letter with a new admission date and also a pre op date.

The admission is for Friday 14th Dec - which Thomas can do - he can have the day off school and also there is nothign major planned for Dom and I

BUT.....the pre op is on Wed 12 Dec at 4pm. Now that is a real nightmare. Thomas has his infant play at 6pm that night and also, I had already signed up to do the teas and coffees for the OAP Christmas Concert in the afternoon as well as offereing to be a driver as one of the local home's mini bus is kapput. What is even more annoying is all they want is to do a full medical history - derr they have it all and also see the medication well I am not taking it - it needs to be kept in the fridge and also they have all the details as it is prescribed by the hosptial derrrrrrrrr. They will not examine Thomas - no need and we will not see the doctor or if we do they will just talk to me. All thjis could be done over the phone.

So Monday morning - since 9.15am I have been trying to get through to:

1. Confirm yes or no - as required
2. To see if I can rearrange the pre op to either earlier in the day (I can miss the OAP coffee - someone else will be able to step in) but I need it earlier otherwise Thomas will not be back in time for his play and I am not missing that for the world - op or no op.

Now before anyone thinks I am callous - this is not an essential op. He has been waiting for this for over 6 months and also - it is just an explore. He is not getting worse and in fact has not been as bad with his nose. So I want it to be done but it is not the be al and end all.

Bloody hospital ineffiicency.........Just in contrast - I called dietetics - and have been called back straight away and am just waiting for another call back for the final bit of our discussions - so it is ineffiency and nothing else.

Eventually I got through at 14.15 - took them 1 min and 15 secs to answer the phone and we were off the phone within 30 secs - no they cannot change the time on the Wed but should take 30 mins (so why state expect to be there for an hour). They just want to weigh and measure him - that is all. The rest of the stuff - his meds etc they have and I could ocnfirm over the phone. All his history is at the RBH in his notes so why take a memory seesion from me rather than reading the details as written in real time

I have decided to go ahead but on 12-Dec I will weigh and measure him at Childrens Clininc in the hospital and then I will leave at 5pm regardless of if we have been seen or not - he is not missing performing in his play - if he does his Dad misses it too - so that is not going to happen

Rant over

_________________
Karen, Dominic, Thomas, Zola and Belle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_hues/

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1973

I can sympathise with all of that Speeds.

The NHS is a shambles with time and funds being wasted left right and centre.

There are some good parts but not many any more.

I'm just glad it's nothing urgent or drastic for Thomas, although I'm sure it will still be a worrying time.

I hope all goes well now you have dates sorted out.

Let us know how it goes and the results if and when you feel able.

Rabid · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject:

loudmouth · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject:

i deal with a total of 12 different specialists between me and the kids and the worst has to be my local O.T dept.My son's appt. was over two months late and when i FINALLY got a human to answer the phone,i was told that it's not her fault she didn't send me the appointment as she only works 2 days a week.so when i work with the kids 24/7 it's MY job 2 chase her up???!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!i hope things improve for you.

_________________
single mum,epileptic,3 kids,eldest hypermobility,faulty heart valves,epilepsy and youngest has G.D.D,hypermobility,hypotonia.