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

@arpie. Look at this from another angle. You will not be on the road with all the holiday traffic. You won't be waiting amongst sick people. You can go fishing. You can play your ukulele. You don't have to wear a hospital gown. You get to keep your own clothes on. You won't be poked and prodded. The glass is always half full. 😉

@Zoffiel That is SUCH good news! A nice change to get a genuine apology along with the right result.

What @flaneuse said!

@arpie If they knew they couldn't do it before Xmas they should have said so right from the start, and made an appointment for you after Xmas then. Incompetence, lack of empathy, aggression, rudeness - no place in the "caring" professions! Huge hugs. xox Fran

oh arpie I hear your frustration.... 
I hope today brings some action on their behalf to at least book an appointment. 

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.

It is the hospital executive who decide which staff are rostered on at Christmas. They forget that health is a 24/7, 365 days per year service.

These recurrent examples of incompetence, lack of communication skills and defensive "closing ranks" behaviour are disgusting. I've spent so much time, emotional and physical energy self-advocating and trying to clarify incorrect information given to me - time I could have spent nurturing myself and being stronger in all ways.

The amount of time we spend with all the veins in our necks bulging snarling 'It should not come to this' could be much better spent doing other things. Realistically now, @arpie your chances of getting a biopsy performed by anyone who you want sticking needles in you between now and the second week in January have pretty much expired. It will be skelton staff and juniors over the Xmas break, so much as I hate to say it you are probably wasting valuable energy. Even if the news is bad, you will still be in limbo until next year. I fucking hate this shit, damn Christmas and the moth eaten donkey it rode in on. It sucks. Mxx