It's been one of those days had to go to local hospital for pre-op assessment before having a small lump removed from under my tongue which was going to take place on Wednesday.

In the mean time while waiting for the op developed an abscess under a front tooth confirmed by my dentist he can’t do anything due to previous RT.

Last week I tried to tie up both problems over the telephone not very successful so no alternative but to turn up today only to be told that no-op on Wednesday and after due consideration I would need to see a doc from the maxi facial department with the intention of carrying out both operations at the same time,

I thought great only one op better than two then the fun and games started you would think they pick up a telephone arrangement an appointment, nope that’s not the way it’s done I had to go back to my GP beg an appointment explain to him what was happening ask him to write to the hospital.

The reason behind this is GP’s referrals are faster acted on than ENT consultants does this make sense?

My GP practice is quite big you don’t get to see the same doctor twice, in fact they are cr*p you really need to be on the ball with them let hope the 5 minutes I had was enough time for him to remember to write the letter.

Change practice wish I could but there is no one else in our neck of the woods.

I think the NHS in general is brilliant but top heavy bureaucratic it certain can be.


Sorry about the moaning

Tony

Dear Tony,

So sorry to hear that you are having to battle with the NHS bureaucracy. It sounds totally ridiculous.

I do hope that they get your op sorted out as soon as possible.

Best wishes,

Cathy

Hi Tony

I would have to agree there certainly is a lot of red tape and nonsense that gets in the way of pateient care. To get a cat scan I had to drive miles and miles even though there was one in the hospital only a few miles away - because that hospital was in a different 'region' or some such nonsense, and because it was all run by a private company the consulatants couldn't have any say in the matter. It was an urgent request but we still had to wait and wait. We rang the company directly several times in panic and eventually got it brought forward - by a day. The consultants thought this was a major achievement!

Too much paperwork, too many pen pushers (keyboard wallahs these days) - not enough doctors and nurses!

Take Care

Tony

Cathy and Tony thank you for your kind replies.

Well I have to give the GP his due he did contact maxi facial and for a a "quick urgent refer" the best they can do is first week in September in the mean time I have been given antibiotics co-amoxiclav which you can only take for a period of 2 weeks.

Just wondering what you are supposed to do in the mean time apart from taking pain killers, do I keep on taking antibiotics hoping that the infection does not get any worse beginning to wish that I had not mentioned the tooth problem at least they would have removed the small lump under my tongue.

Any suggestion anyone??

Regards

Tony

Was your appointment today cancelled then?

Oh Tony,

I am so sorry to hear that you have to wait so long. How absolutely awful for you and Kath. Are you very worried about the lump under your tongue? Presumbably the powers that be would not have postponed the op if they were really worried about it?

I am hoping Vinod might pop in and answer your question about the antibiotics. I think he is probably the best person to advise you. Perhaps you should contact him directly?

I was really surprised to hear that the rt meant your dentist couldn't touch a tooth at the front of your mouth. I had no idea that the rt field affected such a large area of patient's mouths. Its something we certainly need to ask about at the next appointment as Chaz has an recurring problem with one of his back teeth and is on antibiotics at the moment for it.

In the meantime I hope the antibiotics kick in and give you some relief. I had a nasty abscess earlier this year and the pain was totally excruciating.

Will be thinking of you.

BEst wishes,

Cath

Hi Angie & Cathy

At the pre-op assessment as soon as I mentioned the tooth problem they went into a huddle spoke to the consultant and postponed the op which was scheduled for today.

I can’t quite understand why the hospital said I would get a faster referral by using my GP (two weeks being the norm supposedly) which has turned to 5 weeks I now wondering what the GP actually wrote or perhaps they are all just to busy.

It looks like this will be ongoing for some time if I went private I believe it would be possible within a week to see the same chap that I would get to see in 5 weeks I don’t know if I will be left with any alternative if becomes too painful

My dentist basically said that area could be in the line of the RT beam as it on the left hand side better safe than sorry and the hospital would be where the treatment should be carried out.

Cathy if Chaz has a continuous problem I would start the process now otherwise well you could end up with a long wait.

Would be interested to find out if others have had a similar problem, perhaps if Vinod comes across this postings he could alighted us on the procedure on going from one NHS department to another.


Regards

Tony

Well, all I can say Tony, is they mustn't think it's that bad or they would have you in - surely(?)

Hi Tony
You had better just get yourself well. I don't care how you do it! 51 days and counting ~ can't have you poorly when I'm visiting.
Thinking of you (between the tears ~ struggling a bit at the moment!)
Love
Deborah

Hi Tony,

How are you doing? Have the antibiotics helped at all?

Cath

Tony
Hope all is good
if i recall your doctors have always been a little slow

im lucky i see ythe same gp each time and he will always make an appointment for me that day

Regards to you both

Dave and Sue