Well, it's been a while. There's not been much to blog about - no epic days on the hill, no gear-testing, no firm plans for much in the way of outdoorsy-stuff.
Our bonfire party went well on Saturday. I would have taken pics but due to the lower-than-usual turnout of responsible adults I was stuck on firework-ignition and bonfire-stoking all night so the camera stayed unused. Our over-the-road neighbours donated a huge pile of privet from their garden-clearance, it lasted a good five hours and the fire-pit is still aglow two days later.
The cardiac rehab folk at Glenfield Hospital are on the ball - we've already been to an introductory lecture about CHD and I have a couple of appointments coming up: one to arrange a suitable physio regime (although they seem to think that my current levels of exercise and exertion are above and beyond what their usual patients are expected to achieve) and there's a follow-up with the cardiac consultant booked for the start of 2014. Indeed, they've been chasing me on the phone to make sure that I'm going to attend. It's a slick system, they're real pros and they treat me as a human being.
Sadly, the same can't be said of the staff of the Booking Centre staff Leicester Royal Infirmary where they're desperately avoiding having to fix my arse after they wrecked it back in January 2012, and where I'm just a number to be juggled to make their stats look acceptable, not a person who they've made virtually unfit for employment.
I saw a brilliant Functional Bowel Service Specialist Practitioner (SP) back on 20th June, she taught me how to exercise specific muscles and insisted on a follow-up appointment no more than two weeks later because if I wasn't doing the exercises correctly I'd be doing more harm than good. Before I left the consultation we'd arranged for the follow-up to be on the 4th of July, and she'd made the appropriate entry in her diary.
Just two days before I was due to go in, the Booking Centre staff phoned me to bump my appointment to 5th August, and lied to me about the reason why. My protestations and explanations of the medical need went unheeded, and when I explained the situation to the SP in August she was livid when she found that I'd been told that she'd not be on site on 4th July - she showed me her diary which clearly indicated that she'd been on duty on 4th July and that some lying sod at the Booking Centre had told her that I'd rearranged my appointment!
I left that consultation with the promise of an appointment with a colorectal consultant within the next month, and true to her word the SP managed to get me booked in - I received a letter, dated 15th August, detailing an appointment on 25th September...
but on 19th August the Booking Centre bumped that to 30th October...
and then on 15th October they bumped it again, to 26th November...
and today I received a letter, dated 7th November, telling me that they had cancelled that. Not bumped, cancelled. There was no explanation other than "due to unforseen [sic] circumstances..."
And they wonder why my blood-pressure is so high!
They can expect me to be in touch soon, and they'd better have a damned good explanation of what's going on. One more bump or fcuk-up and I'll be naming-and-shaming, first in front of the Trustees, and second, if necessary, here on my lowly blog. Oh, and probably on a few choice online forums too.
I tell you; come the revolution, the liars among the Booking Centre staff will be first against the wall.
Second against the wall will be the Macmillan Nurse who, despite having numerous options for sensible parking, insists on obstructing my driveway whenever she visits our neighbour:
Really sorry to hear about your trials and tribulations. Unbelievable how you've been treated. Wish you well and hope things improve.
Hi Stef. What a load of twits! Why (she) the specialist didn't go and blast the booking people is a worry and I think I would have tried to call her direct and let her make the appointment.
I had something similar yesterday. My op went well but I picked up a virus (quinsy) and I was struggling to breath and swallowing was excruciating. I went to the docs and she said to me " if this gets worse today I want you to come back, what ever time and if we are closed then go straight to A and E. It got much worse and my neighbour took me back. The receptionist told me there were no doctors in or they are on lunch and I couldn't see anybody for at least 2 hours. I said the doctor told me to come back at any time. The receptionist said she had no right to do that. So, who actually runs these places, who has the overriding decision. Why does a receptionist think a doctor has overstepped the mark. Does a receptionist change appointments to suit what she /he thinks should happen. Its all very unprofessional.
I hope somehow you can get some action taken on your situation because I think you have been well screwed up.
She did - she gave them hell at high volume while I sat and listened. And she made a copy of the letter detailing the appointment change, to use as evidence that the Booking Centre staff were interfering in matters beyond their remit. She's a shining star there, a proper carer.
I've just read the NHS Choices page about quinsy, it says:
"If quinsy is suspected, you will be referred immediately to an ear, nose and throat specialist who will carry out further investigations. You may be admitted to hospital immediately if you have severe quinsy.
It is important that quinsy is diagnosed and treated quickly to prevent the infection from spreading.
If the abscess grows large enough, it can block your airways and cause breathing difficulties. Therefore, it is important treatment is started as soon as possible."
(My underlining)
Looks like neither your quack nor your receptionist has read the hymn-sheet properly. I hope you're sorted soon, Alan.
Update:
There's a second letter, an appointment for 21st November. I don't know what to make of it. Should I rearrange that day around that appointment, which would mean me having to rearrange at least four appointments at the dentist (who never lets us down), with no promise that the hospital appointment won't be bumped again? Or should I ask the Booking Centre staff for a time/date convenient for me? After all, I've been at their mercy (or lack thereof) for long enough. The trouble is, if I piss them off, there's no telling how they might exact their revenge. I no longer trust them to tell me the truth about anything.
Hi Stef, I saw 2 docs and they were aware of the urgancy. That was the reason she asked to to get back there if it deteriorated. The trouble is the receptionist and her advisor cannot second guess what the GP thinks. I have no probs with what the GP's did, just the poor judgement from clericals.
As for your rearranged appointment. I think you have to pick which is the most important and go with it. Fingers crossed for you.
Oh, this is shaping up to be an epic fail...
I just got off the phone after talking to the Booking Centre staff. I told them that I couldn't attend the afternoon slot assigned to me on 21st November due to pre-existing health appointments. They offered me a slot on 26th November... the only slot they have free on that day... and yes, it's the exact same slot left vacant by their cancellation of my appointment. I said that I'd accept it, because I've had my week planned around it since mid-October, but for some reason that they can't fathom, the "system" won't let them book me in for that slot.
They're going to call me back. They can't say when, they can't even say if it'll be this week, but they'll call.
I'll not be holding my breath.
Contrary to expectations, they did call me back. I reckon they've been reading this blog - I've had a load of hits from Leicester during the last few hours.
Anyway, now I'm all set for the morning of 21st November. That doesn't clash with any pre-existing arrangements.
Fingers crossed that they don't bump it again.
I avoid the booking system altogether and make the appointment direct with the consultant.
Because of repeated cock-ups with that system the consultants I visit just ignore it and make their own diaries and photo-copy it at the end of the day to give to the clerical staff.
Low-tech, but it works.
Good luck, Stef.
That's a great idea but the LRI won't have any of it, they're happy with the smokescreen that their current system can create if required. Consequently when a patient complains about being bumped the consultant blames the Booking Centre, the Booking Centre blames the consultant, and when they are "found out" they join forces and blame the upper echelons of the management/trust. No one person or body can be held responsible, it's just like how "X" explains the coup d'état in JFK.