Oh indeed. I'm a public patient...sorry sausage on the conveyor belt...and thinking laterally is not something the "system" seems to be able to do. I had an appointment for my chemo on the Tuesday and was trying to arrange my regular check up with my oncologist on the same day. I don't drive, and getting to and from the hospital was a real mission. I was told that sorry, Dr Whatsit only saw her bowel cancer patients on the Tuesday, and her breast cancer patients on the Wednesday. I couldn't change my chemo day, and asked why I couldn't see her on the Tuesday anyway. It was explained again, that she only saw the bowel cancer folks on the Tuesday and it was then further explained to me that bowel cancer and breast cancer were in different parts of the body!!!! Oh my...I was SO relieved that that anatomical fact was explained to me!! I then asked why, if it was the same doctor, in the same clinic, in the same cubicle, and the patient would sit in the same chair, why would it make a difference where the cancer was. The female on the other side of the phone repeated her rubbish. I'm afraid my sarcastic side came to the fore and I asked her what the situation would be if I had both bowel and breast cancer? Would I have to come in on the Tuesday and see Dr Whatsit and talk about my bum, and then return the following day to discuss by boobs? She said she wasn't sure, she'd have to ask. God help us all....
