We have now seen two out of the three consultants and to say it has been draining would be an understatement. Do I feel like we have made any progress? Maybe a baby step or two. As is with these things one little step seems to lend to more work, more red tape and another brick wall to smack your head against.
Stupidly I thought technology would make things easier but no. Three different hospitals and the GP; surely the flow of information should be smooth right? Just slap me now! Even though the letters come under the same hospital trusts they are not all linked. Can someone explain that to me please because I just don’t get it. The GP can’t see an xray. We get told its easier to go and get another. What? Come on people that is a waste of funds. Not to mention a inconvenience to the patient. I am now an unpaid member of staff trying to get documentation from one place to the other and it is frustrating.
Lets not even talk blood tests: can’t have them done at the surgery or local health centre but have to do a two hour round trip to the hospital. If the consultant had been running on time we could have had them done that day but lets not go there.
I’m glad its not me as I would be telling them to stuff it. Can’t get everything done on one day. Is there any one out there that understands the concept of having a fulltime job? Initial consultation, scan, xrays and bloods then follow up equates to five trips to the hospital. That’s a weeks worth of holiday if you don’t have an understanding boss.
During one of these appointments we got talking to a young lady who was waiting, we couldn’t decided which one of us was stalking the other, as we moved round the department. We were comparing notes and in some ways it was comforting to realise its not just us that are frustrated. In fact if we were keeping score, her wait of five years to see a consultant takes the winners medal. Obscene! All because she is waiting for a scan that they don’t have funds for. We both wondered if the system is too far gone to be fixed. Maybe it needs a complete new upper management to come in with a clean broom and start systems from scratch.
I don’t think you understand until you are in the thick of these situations how much of a toll it takes on you. Not only are you trying to take on a load of information, be it results, diagnosis, treatment options but then you are trying to make arrangements and jump hoops to get it all done while juggling everyday commitments not to mention researching which route to take going forward . I can honestly say that a day or two after these appointments I feel exhausted. Heaven forbid you are one person dealing with it all on your own. It is a lot. If you are in that position hats off to you. I am in awe. You are amazing.
So where are we at now? Still one more consultant to see. From these two appointments we are waiting for new tablets to be issued, scans and test dates to come through and a referral for a procedure. Those we have been told could be up to twelve weeks. My goodness at this rate it will soon be Christmas….oops sorry. Didn’t meant to swear. On the plus side I have been assured hubby is safe to fly. Yay when we have these dates I can book a holiday. Well that is the plan. I am not going to pin my hopes on anything as I know how these things can go wrong.
Am I feeling a little bit more positive? I suppose so. We do finally have some answers. These two consultants seems to want to do something rather than brush us off. I guess it will come down to actions being louder than words. I will refrain from getting too positive until tests are done and results have been relayed to us. If that happens cakes are on me. E x