The Furry Monkey

09 may 06
mri scan, rnoh, stanmore

Guess what...transport didn't arrive. They had me down as a discharge patient - how come no one noticed that it was a home address pickup and not a hospital?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Mad??? YES FUMING!!!! You wait a long time for these appointments and then no one arrives.

I was told to ring the next day and rearrange it. You'd think they would do it as it was their 'mix up' (I'm being polite!!!) but no I have to do it. More phone calls to different departments as one can't transfer to another!!! I don't know why, they do calls internally in the hospital.

10 may 06
at home ringing stanmore.....again!!

I phoned in and got through to the MRI department and the only appointment was weeks away....I was not happy...it's not my fault but hey it's the patient who suffers once again.

I asked for a cancellation or anything nearer and was told I could go next week, 6.30pm appointment and don't be late or they won't scan me. Oh yes, they also couldn't send transport at that time!!!! Arrghhhhh!!!

John said he'd take the afternoon off work and take me rather than me miss another scan. He has to take holiday because the NHS 'mixed up' the appointment and can't rearrange another one. No wonder they are in such a mess.

13 may 06
x-ray results at last......4 weeks after the x-ray!

Yes they finally arrived. I have 'marked soft tissue swelling but no abnormality' which is good news but doesn't help with the pains I get. It's one thing after another.

15 may 06
crest office opening by the mayor of spelthorne

We've done it! the CREST office is being opened by the Mayor of Spelthorne and the press will be there to cover it. It's really good that we have finally got our office, we know it's a temporary one but we're looking for a permanent one at the same time. At least there is a base address we can give out now.

15 may 06
bandaging again

Yes, more bandaging. This time Cheryl is doing it for me. It's a lot easier having it done this time. Having problems with my right foot though so will see how it goes. The legs swell so much when it is the weekend and there is no bandaging. Also with no stockings still I'm having to use the old ones which are not right and cause more problems.

16 may 06
mri scan, rnoh, stanmore

Well rather than miss this, John took the afternoon off. He gets an annoyed at me at the lack of organisation within the NHS to even pick the patients up. It has happened to me so many times lately and it gets more annoying each time. Maybe that is the reason they don't pick us up, then they can have an easy day and watch the football....I've seen this happen in hospital so don't have a go at me for only being honest and saying what I've seen.

Anyway, we got there really early, 4pm. We went to have a drink in the restaurant and there were some people there and all they did was stare at my legs. How rude is that?? Not just kids which you expect but adults. I know they're big because of the bandaging but when you're trying your hardest to forget them it makes it worse. Just GO AWAY and STOP STARING!!!

We went to the Scan Department and booked in, only to be told that at 6.30pm the 2.00pm appointment had just gone in and there was a two hour wait!!!! John could've not wasted a days holiday and we could've got there later and it wouldn't matter. So we had to go outside the hospital, find somewhere to have something to eat and then come back at 8.30pm.

I was asked the usual questions before a scan. She realised I knew what Iwas talking about as I'm now into double figures for both MRI scans, CT scans and I dread to think how many x-rays I've had. I won't even think about the blood tests either!!!

So at 8.30pm I went in for my scan....eventually came out at 9.45pm and we got home at 10.30pm. Disgusting service. They apologised for the delay but it doesn't help really does it. You sit around and wait and wait and wait.

So now I've got to wait for my results. I tried to make a follow up appointment for two weeks as Mr B said and the guy at the end of the phone just laughed. It's not on. He said I'd be lucky with three or four weeks. So I made an appointment for early June, the earliest one I could get.

This 'lack of' service offered by the NHS is getting worse. Mind you I have seen people come in from the Airport go in front of waiting patients in the hospital, some of us have waited months for a scan and they go straight in. I can understand perfectly the way people feel about getting shoved out of the queue and others taking your place.

I know in the 'pc' world we live in now some people take offence at this, but everyone I have spoken to who has raised the problem all think the same way. No wonder so many people are leaving this once great country. It is so sad that it is going this way and no one is doing anything to stop it.

22 may 06
bandaging again

I'm still having problems with my right foot and can barely walk. I think I had this problem before and I asked Mr B what it might be and if there was anything I could buy to help ease the pain. He said not to waste my money and see him first, although he never actually told me what the problem could be. I'll have to ask physio when I see her instead and see if she can advise me.

24 may 06
rnoh, london

Back to London for more physio. It's the shoulder/back/neck problems. It's neuro something or other. Problems with the walking stance that I have now due to the walking stick.

I also spoke about my foot and she said she had a few ideas of what it might be but couldn't do anything as I hadn't been referred about my foot. I would have to go back to Mr B and be referred back to her. As I was seeing Mr B soon I would wait and ask him to refer me.

Meanwhile she has given me crutches to use and it's strange being back on them but makes life so much easier to walk, although carrying is difficult!