And so the Saga continues………………..
Yesterday was a day I’ve been waiting for nearly 7
months………..my first Outpatient appointment with my Consultant Neuropsychiatrist
after my 3 month Inpatient treatment at the beginning of this year at the
Maudsley. Well, I say my first, actually
my second date apparently, but the first one, some 2 months ago I didn’t attend
and they wrote to my GP complaining………. However what they forgot was I am not
psychic and as they hadn’t sent an appointment letter I wasn’t aware of it!!!!
So, the GP telephoned, explained and arranged a new
appointment, confirmed it with both them and myself a couple of weeks ago and
booked me Patient Transport to make the journey (about 40 miles, but right
through the centre of London). The big
day arrived, Transport came a little later than I’d expected , leaving just 90
minutes to make the trip for 3:30pm appointment………and of course this being
London and in torrential rain……2 hours later we got to the hospital 30 minutes
late already. However, 30! minutes later
we managed to parked (taking into consideration this is an Ambulance!) and I
was off-loaded in my chair. Now bearing
in mind I STILL had no appointment letter, just the name of the department in
Kings given to me by my GP, not quite the same one as the transport crew had,
but close enough (I had Neuropsychiatry, they Neuropsychology). We shot into the nearest entrance and made a
bee-line for the Helpdesk. Now by this
time, 2½ hours of being bounced and jolted around corners, I was a mess of
seizures, little cognizance and virtually no speech so the crew were in
charge. “Oh yes”, says the helpdesk,
“1st floor and to your left, lifts are just over there”. 10 minutes later we managed to get a lift that
actually worked!!!! Got to the department door and I looked at the label “Cardiology”??????? Ummm, NO, don’t think so! Anyway, the crew and I waited patiently
whilst the receptionist nattered on the phone….and waited………..and waited. Eventually a nurse came by and she was almost
grabbed physically by the crew. She was
kind enough to search their computer system for my name, which she found, but
NO appointment or place! Well, long
story short, we went around and around that darned hospital, led to different
places firstly by a nurse, then a Sister and eventually a porter (“who knows
the whole hospital”), riding in “staff only” lifts, me having seizures every 5
minutes and doctors enquiring as to my fitness to continue and “I’d suggest you
take him to A&E”.
Well, you can guess what happened……….no Department, no
Appointment, NO Consultant and not even a cup of tea! By 5:30pm the crew had enough, bought me a
bottle of water (which I promptly threw all over the floor after the first sip
during another seizure) and stuffed me back in the transport ambulance. Then had a nightmare 2¼ hour journey back
home in torrential rain and the rush hour.
Fortunately I don’t remember too much of it, but remember collapsing
into my bed at 8pm once they dropped me off and awoke 10am this morning!
Guess it’s back to my GP on Monday to ask her to rearrange
yet again (and no doubt another 3 month wait?).
BUT this time I want DETAILS!
Exactly where, which building, which department, telephone contact
number, colour of the walls............... the works!
I’d hesitate a guess that overall cost was in excess of
£500, maybe more taking the consultant’s time into consideration also (assuming
he actually was waiting for me!)! What a
WASTE of time, money and effort.
I wonder what joys the three local hospital appointments
next week shall bring???
And now the bright note...........my new wheelchair
self-propel wheels are MARVELLOUS! So
much easier and more comfortable a ride than those previous little
"attendant" ones I was forced to have over a year ago :-)
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