The NHS Fails Again

I am due to have an MRI scan as part of investigations into a long term problem with my hip. I received a letter last week saying that a scan had been arranged for Thursday 19th March. Yesterday I received a letter stating that due to unforeseen circumstances, the scan had been cancelled and rescheduled for 6th April which I cannot do as I’m away.

The letter provides a phone number which I duly rang this morning only to recieve the prerecorded message, “due to staff shortages we are unable to answer your call.. Please call back later.”

This is a total nonsense, not only have they cancelled my scan and not provided a proper reason, they then don’t even have the bookings line manned at the times advertised on the letter.

The whole episode underlines that after over a decade of “record investment” in the NHS, it is still no better in many aspects. As I heard a local councillor say yesterday evening,”despite there being double the money in the health service I doubt the service is double as better.”

UPDATE 17/3/09: Having spoken to the hospital about not making the 6th April they were unable to advise me of a new time. I have had to cancel the follow up appointment with the orphapedics and now I can’t book another until the scan has a date. This looks like more months of waiting despite being repaetedly told by the government that waiting times are down.