NHS Appt.

Darcydog · 29th July 2020, 11:08

Happy to say SWMBO received her letter re her Appt and possible future operation (relatively minor) this morning.

It said “An appointment has been scheduled for Tue 7th April 2020”

It went on to say that “an enclosed form must be completed and returned in the attached pre paid envelope”

There was no form and no pre-paid envelope.

Now I am the first to stand up and shout and clap for those on the front line - having two close family members - One a Paramedic and one a Surgical Registrar - but this is now the third time the appointment system has fallen flat on its bottom.

We rang the number given and told to leave a voicemail then just as we uttered the first word we get cut off. So we assume that there are quite a few of us in the same predicament.

Last time - January this year, SWMBO recieved no less than three separate letters all giving appointments for the orthopaedic department on differing times an says but in the same month - which was March this year just as everything went COVID19 pear shaped.

I cannot help but feel that other countries systems - France in particular- where the GP simply rings up the specialist has a chat and arranges the Appt is far better than the wasteful “booking system” we have within the NHS.

What a crazy system

wraymond · 29th July 2020, 11:31

Couldn't agree more. The hiving off of administrative departments to Trust hierarchies is a hugely expensive and backward leap as my family can attest.

It's not the patient-facing personnel at any fault whatsoever, it's the back office organisation that are paid far more than a market level. They are also removed from face-to-face challenges and responsibilities. We mourn the transfer of a caring safety net to a commercial enterprise career opportunity.

Borg Warner · 29th July 2020, 11:35

Gaffer's been on an anti-cancer drug for five years now, they will only giver her a months supply at the time, no idea how much it costs to write out a 'script but if an alteration to one's insurance details is anything to go by £25? When she was first diagnosed she was just short of the start of her regular scans, so by-passed the system and was very quickly put on the treatment journey. A few months in she received an appointment for her first scan, this was after her op and when undergoing chemo'. I cannot describe the anguish, anger and pain that caused. Sorry they said but we don't talk to each other???? She gets an exemption certificate for her med's which lasts five years, just before Christmas the chemist advised her that it was about to run out and to apply early as they can take up to 3 months(?) to come through. She did and it took less than a week. Around a month before the five years were up she had a letter that said "according to our records you exemption certificate is due for renewal"????

Any and every large organisation will be and is, inherently inefficient, the NHS is no different.

God bless it though.

mileshawk56 · 30th July 2020, 16:59

The NHS gets far too much wrong, there is no excuse for this. Someone has made an error or failed to do their job, or whatever and people die and suffer and it continues to happen and will continue to happen as long as the"no blame" attitude operates. Those that do their job are rightly disheartened which does not help them in their work. Everyone must accept responsibility for their actions and that is a big nono in our society. Chris.S.

wraymond · 30th July 2020, 18:11

They measure efficiency and success, like everything else, by percentages. Each mistake usually affects only one patient. Therefore, even when totalled, it's a small percentile.

But, when you consider the true cost (including compensation) on an annual basis it is an extraordinary amount of wasted money. As already said, the demoralisation of the staff is shocking. I read a short while ago that numbers of staff being disciplined after being found responsible for failures were obscure.

29th July 2020, 11:08	#1
Darcydog This is my second home Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 5,428 Thanks: 3,123 Thanked 3,170 Times in 2,096 Posts	NHS Appt. Happy to say SWMBO received her letter re her Appt and possible future operation (relatively minor) this morning. It said “An appointment has been scheduled for Tue 7th April 2020” It went on to say that “an enclosed form must be completed and returned in the attached pre paid envelope” There was no form and no pre-paid envelope. Now I am the first to stand up and shout and clap for those on the front line - having two close family members - One a Paramedic and one a Surgical Registrar - but this is now the third time the appointment system has fallen flat on its bottom. We rang the number given and told to leave a voicemail then just as we uttered the first word we get cut off. So we assume that there are quite a few of us in the same predicament. Last time - January this year, SWMBO recieved no less than three separate letters all giving appointments for the orthopaedic department on differing times an says but in the same month - which was March this year just as everything went COVID19 pear shaped. I cannot help but feel that other countries systems - France in particular- where the GP simply rings up the specialist has a chat and arranges the Appt is far better than the wasteful “booking system” we have within the NHS. What a crazy system

29th July 2020, 11:31	#2
wraymond This is my second home 75 Auto 2.5 SE Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Westcliff on Sea Posts: 5,195 Thanks: 423 Thanked 1,680 Times in 1,014 Posts	Couldn't agree more. The hiving off of administrative departments to Trust hierarchies is a hugely expensive and backward leap as my family can attest. It's not the patient-facing personnel at any fault whatsoever, it's the back office organisation that are paid far more than a market level. They are also removed from face-to-face challenges and responsibilities. We mourn the transfer of a caring safety net to a commercial enterprise career opportunity. __________________ member no. 235

30th July 2020, 18:11	#5
wraymond This is my second home 75 Auto 2.5 SE Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Westcliff on Sea Posts: 5,195 Thanks: 423 Thanked 1,680 Times in 1,014 Posts	They measure efficiency and success, like everything else, by percentages. Each mistake usually affects only one patient. Therefore, even when totalled, it's a small percentile. But, when you consider the true cost (including compensation) on an annual basis it is an extraordinary amount of wasted money. As already said, the demoralisation of the staff is shocking. I read a short while ago that numbers of staff being disciplined after being found responsible for failures were obscure. __________________ member no. 235

29th July 2020, 11:35	#3
Borg Warner I really should get out more....... None Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2,579 Thanks: 494 Thanked 657 Times in 402 Posts	Gaffer's been on an anti-cancer drug for five years now, they will only giver her a months supply at the time, no idea how much it costs to write out a 'script but if an alteration to one's insurance details is anything to go by £25? When she was first diagnosed she was just short of the start of her regular scans, so by-passed the system and was very quickly put on the treatment journey. A few months in she received an appointment for her first scan, this was after her op and when undergoing chemo'. I cannot describe the anguish, anger and pain that caused. Sorry they said but we don't talk to each other???? She gets an exemption certificate for her med's which lasts five years, just before Christmas the chemist advised her that it was about to run out and to apply early as they can take up to 3 months(?) to come through. She did and it took less than a week. Around a month before the five years were up she had a letter that said "according to our records you exemption certificate is due for renewal"???? Any and every large organisation will be and is, inherently inefficient, the NHS is no different. God bless it though.

30th July 2020, 16:59	#4
mileshawk56 Posted a thing or two MGZT Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Berkshire Posts: 1,281 Thanks: 1,738 Thanked 299 Times in 216 Posts	The NHS gets far too much wrong, there is no excuse for this. Someone has made an error or failed to do their job, or whatever and people die and suffer and it continues to happen and will continue to happen as long as the"no blame" attitude operates. Those that do their job are rightly disheartened which does not help them in their work. Everyone must accept responsibility for their actions and that is a big nono in our society. Chris.S.