Hospital Appointment Worry

[Mobius1]

A fortnight ago, my partner experienced chest pain and visited the local A&E. We were advised that it was not a heart attack, but more likely a chest infection. My partner is a type 2 diabetic of cardiac age. The hospital performed x-rays, ECGs and took blood for testing. They said that a follow-up appointment for a cardiogram would be made.

Last night, my partner opened a letter from the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital stating that an appointment has been made for 31st (this coming Tues) at Oncology there. It simply states when the appointment is and where.

My partner is worried about this, seeing as oncology deals with cancer, and has become very stressed. Is this normal practice? Just to send a letter to somebody who's had a chest pain scare, with no information other than that an appointment has been autocratically for them to attend a cancer dept of a hospital with less than 1 working day's notice? It seems really callous, as we've been left wondering what it's actually for?

[Sqad]

I feel that this is totally insensitive and depersonalising and exhibits a poor standard of patient empathy.

Now to the bottom line.......clearly the chest X-Ray might suggest some underlying problem............just a guess.

[boxtops]

Obviously you may not have time before the appt on Tuesday (it being Bank holiday on Monday) but a call to your GP might be in order, they will have had a report of the first visit and the planned referrals.

[looobylooo]

ohh mobius, gosh what a worry for you! ..
i really hope everything will be alright for your partner on tuesday .... take care

[woofgang]

That is scary and very insensitive but you can't fault them for getting their finger out and getting your partner seen PDQ. Not to excuse them but they may have assumed that your GP would contact you, or that A and E would have talked to you about possibilities.

[Mobius1]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I first considered advising a GP call, but seeing as it's now the bank holiday weekend, a call to the surgery will divert to out of hours services and to someone who isn't my partner's GP.

woofgang - I do appreciate the fact that something is being done, but "about what?" is what is concerning. The A&E Doctor mentioned nothing about cancer. My partner is overweight, but he does not drink or smoke. The only thing the A&E Doctor said was that a cardiogram would be arranged, and he gave antibiotics for the chest infection.

What seems unusual is the lack of information. I work for the local Ambulance Service, and so am an NHS employee. There is a mandate to provide excellent service to patients, and part of that is being open and empathetic. Two things that this letter surely isn't. All it's done is scare the pair of us and left us in a position where the only thing we know to do next is attend it.

[boxtops]

something's slipped in the system mobius, I suspect as woofgang says a letter should/will have gone to your GP and perhaps someone should have contacted you. You can deal with that later - at least you have the early appointment which is very good news re any potential problems

[Sqad]

Mobius....why another appt for a cardiogram? He has already had one at the hospital.

It would seem that you need to wait until Tuesday.

This is poor patient management in my opinion.

[China Doll]

Sounds like something's gone wrong.... Urgent appts should naturally involve calling the patient to let them know that the doctor would like to see them. I have experienced it when for love or money I have not been able to contact a patient via phone so have sent a letter with appt but added a compliments slip stating that I've been trying to call them and asking them to get in touch with me for more information.

Have you called the out-pt centre? I would query if the follow up is in the right department too, I've seen that happen before to someone after an A&E visit... Looks like you have to wait til Tuesday unfortunatley but certainly, someone has slipped up somewhere. It's bad practice and I'm sorry you've experienced that.

[anneasquith]

contact the A E dept where your partner visited, explain your situation ask them to check your records of that visit, it is possible an error has been made between your partner and another patient,recheck his details eg. hospital number on on the letter. would it be normal for patients in your area to be referred to an orthopaedic hospital for non orthopaedic examinations and oncology, good luck

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

There is a possibility that the equipment needed (say an MRI or a PET scan) is only available in that department.

[cazzz1975]

I had a follow up on an echocardiogram/holter moniter and they asked me to come to critical coronary care, it was just where the doctor was at that time. they also moved the appointment forward because he would not be there the week after. everything was fine, so try not to worry too much.

[tigwig]

How did the appointment go Mobius? Hope everything is ok.