ABSOLUTELY @Flaneuse - well said. This all started 2 weeks ago on Dec 4th - and STILL no appointment.
No @Zoffiel - I don't agree with that. I worked in a major public hospital in Sydney for 8 years - and the 'close down' only starts from about Dec 22/23 thru to early Jan.
But this is a PRIVATE RADIOLOGY clinic with at least 10+ branches within a 2hr drive from where I live - and they pretty well only close down on the public holidays - whilst the hospital ones always have staff available.
What has happened over the last 2 weeks is bordering on incompetent. I shall be advising both the Rad Onc AND Private Rads of this in a letter.
I was told to ring them the day I was advised of the need of the biopsy and did just that. She said she didn't have the referral. I told her the Rad Onc had sent it an hour ago & to look again. She found it. She then said they weren't taking appointments that week as they had a computer upgrade going on & hadn't seen anyone all week & to ring the next day. I did. They said they couldn't give any appointments for the next week and they would be in touch. They didn't. (The woman was also incredibly rude and aggressive to me, which didn't help.) Days later, I then asked the Cancer Centre to enquire on my behalf & they did. Telling me that they had lost the contract for the Hospital Rads & was basically in disarray trying to resort all their appointments, then saying I was No 6 on the next block of 10 to be booked in and should hear in a day or two. I didn't. Days later again, I rang the CC again & one lady said she would check & get back to me. She didn't. I rang them the next day & she said she would get back to me. She didn't. When I rang late last week at day 10, I just lost it and bawled - and the poor receptionist was wonderful & sent an email to both my Rad Onc and their Breast Care Nurse. She spoke to my Rad Onc & she rang me, telling me it wasn't urgent. She also said they are in the process of changing location, hence all the delays. How many hundreds of patients have been affected by all this bullshitting & lying? I have no idea. But it sucks, BIG TIME.
It is now day 13 - and still no appointment. I realise that the appointment may NOT be before Xmas ..... but the lack of communication is disgraceful.
It is not professional - it is incompetent. If they were unable to perform the job in a timely manner - they should have farmed everyone out to their other branches.
