Has anyone on this forum experienced delays getting radiotherapy at Brighton.
My understanding is that patients are being sent to the Marsden, any experience of this?
Hi Lenmongrove I had rads in Brighton last yr had to wait 6 wks but was after my op and waiting times interesting wat u sd about the Marsden my onc didn’t want me going any where else but now with sec I’m beeing treated at the marsden tc laura
Just bumping
Just bumping
I had to wait eight weeks but that was three years ago. recently i had a mamo done at the park center and have had to wait four weeks for the results. Please God the results seem Ok but I think it’s inhuman keeping someone waiting so long.
cheers
Caroline
Hi
I finished my RT in March but had to chase up as referral from surgeon “missed” & I didn’t get to see the registrar to discuss RT for 6 weeks.
Then wait for planning as simulator being replaced; breakdown in communication forced me to formerly complain quoting NICE guidlines.
2 days later Oncologist called me & explained delay, but also reassured that RT doesn’t cease to be effective for 6 months from surgery. I was diagnosed with DCIS & no invasive, but still worrying over delay.
Finallly RT started on 1 March for 3 weeks. This was Oxford. Surprisingly once I complained in writing they couldn’t just ignore my phone calls when I got nowhere.
Perhaps a suitably worded letter addressed to your Oncologist may move things on or at least make you feel better.
I would say the staff were brilliant just the demand on resources.
Take care
Lynne
I think there are quite long term problems at Brighton. I had rads there about 18 months ago now and waited i think about 7 weeks in the end. I could have gone to Portsmouth in 4 weeks but the journey was just too difficult.
When I was experiencing delays at another hospital I contacted PALs. They managed to push things along for me. I have pushed for my treatment at various times with good effect. I think the Oncs do really care but their workload is huge and it’s sometimes a case of making yourself heard. Elinda x
Hi again,
I have no complaints about the Bc team at Brighton. Only time will tell but i think (hope) I’ve had very good treatment there. However i have been through the Rads dept at about 4.30/5 and the place has been deserted. I am sure the rads team are overstretched but surely the hospital could introduce some sort of shift system so the valuable machines are used into the eairly evening and this would help clear the backlog.
Caroline
The reason I asked this question is because I am a member of the Sussex Cancer Network, and know there have been delays, and that patients have been sent to the Marsden and Havant. I just wanted to know if anyone on here has encountered this problem.
hi,
I think the point made by caroline is very valid, if the radiotherapy dept was open longer the backlog could be reduced, I know other hospitals do have later opening for rads.
Julie
Yes I agree, but the reason for the delay is that they are so short staffed (lack of resources again I’m afraid).
Seems to me that the Sussex NHS Cluster need to direct a bigger percentage of their budget to cancer services. It’s appalling that people have to travel forty miles to get radiotherapy, or that a five year old with a brain tumour cannot get funding for his treatment, or that sometimes they don’t have any tissue paper for the examination couch, because they have spent their allowance.
Sorry to moan, but it just makes me so cross.
Hi Guys!
Noticed your blog about delays. I live in Bognor and was suppose to have my rads 4 weeks post surgery, but I have had to wait 11 weeks for them to start at the Queen Alexandria Hospital in Cosham, Portsmouth. This was not due to me, but delays with the hospital.
I must say that I also had to wait for chemo (an extra 2 weeks) and my surgery that was supposed to be 4 weeks post chemo ended up being 7and a half weeks. So it is no good in this area either.
Take care
Lone xx