So much for good vibes. Scan day sucked . They've called me back.

Awesome that the practise manager was genuinely appalled by the situation @kezmusc   If it prevents it being done to any other patient  -  that is a win.  Well done you for going ahead with writing in!  So often we think about it, say we will - but don't!

@sister, after speaking with the Radiology Dept 3 times in the first week & only getting angry responses, as well as outright lies, I've had the cancer centre at Port ringing on my behalf re the appt ever since. TBH, I am not up to it - so I hope to hear Mon or Tues .... and just praying I get it done before Xmas.  WHY THE FUCK DID THEY TELL ME IN EARLY DEC if I didn't need it til Jan?   I was going by my Rad Onc's advice.  Early in our conversation, I was happy to wait til Jan - then before hanging up, I asked her - what would SHE do - and she said She'd HAVE THE BIOPSY now!  So I've been trying to do that ever since!  After really dropping my bundle the other day, the BC nurse spoke with her & she told the BC nurse that it isn't urgent!   WTF?

When Keith & I went to Sydney for his appointments for final major scans 2 days before his surgery at RNSH for stomach cancer .... we were at the Rads dept at 8am for an 8.30am appointment - only to be told he wasn't on the list! I lost it.  We'd been told by his surgeon's nurse that it was all booked.  In a real Tizz, I rang the guy who diagnosed him in Taree & he got onto the hospital & he then told me not to leave the Rads Room until he had the scans done.  The surgery couldn't go ahead with out them!   4pm that afternoon - he got called in.

@Flaneuse - wasn't my suggestion but good idea.

@arpie - Christmas is overrated anyway - bah humbug!  It's the summer that I don't want to miss out on - Christmas just gets in the way.  I hope that your appointment gets sorted soon.

:(   Still waiting to hear about an appointment, @LITHGOW1950   :(    Have not spoken with the Radiology Department since early Dec   :(   No communication whatsoever!

I don't know if it will be this side of Xmas or even this side of New Year .... just like last year when it was Dec 28th - so yet another Xmas/New Year, totally STUFFED   :(  

Thinking about you @kezmusc. Waiting is just damn awful.  
And @arpie sorry to hear the appointment is taking so long. 
🌹🌹

Gobsmacked at the lack of respect of patients Kezmusc... shaking my head here.  

@Sister - what a great idea to wordlessly just get out the phone/camera and start videoing when anything unprofessional is happening. Shall tuck that suggestion up my sleeve (between my lymphedema arm and my Uluru-expander).

@"Annie C" @arpie @Zoffiel @kezmusc @Sister Oh, just reading about that cake made me furious.
Yesterday I sat for three hours in a long graduation ceremony at which my niece (in her fifties) was receiving her Masters (she's a monographer). All health field graduates - nurses, imaging techs, radiographers, etc. The person giving the charge reminded graduates that "you will be dealing with patients at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. In addition to your technical skills, always remember and be sensitive to their vulnerabilities." I almost laughed out loud, thinking of many of my experiences and of course now, reading this thread ...
These days, whenever I go to the hospital, I take the little leaflet of the Australian Charter of Health Rights in my bag, with the bits about right to be respected, to ask questions, to know all options, etc. - highlighted in pink. Just in case I need to haul it out and give it to them to read.

Thanks @j9k This is all new territory for me and no one was very helpful. The last thing I want is the ritual humiliation of applying for a disability pension at the moment--I couldn't bear the stress of being dragged through the process then rejected. I'm tracking along OK with minimum support and it's such a waste of resources. Sigh. I live a pretty meagre life, but it's not all bad, from an economic perspective fiddling around with me makes no sense.
 The machine grinds on, my ideal plan is to be able to tell them to jam it, but the reality is I've not got much chance of that in the foreseeable future.

Got a call from the area manager and the practice (is that what they call it?) manager almost immediately after.  I received the  obligatory apology from the area manager but to be honest the practice manager seemed genuinely appalled. He was calling a staff meeting at lunch today and had my letter with him for all to view.  He thanked me several times for bringing it to his attention, was receptive and empathetic to my explanation of how people feel in these situations and agreed it was a very poor performance. H e was most apologetic and advised that he will have more frequent staff meetings with "patient care"  as a reminder each time.  That's all I can ask I guess.  

Absolutely appalling @kezmusc. Utterly disgraceful.