Please excuse me but I need to rant! I’d been having one-sided breast pain for a few months and, after seeing all the advertising about breast cancer, decided I ought to get it checked out. Went to my GP on 22/10, discussed my syptoms and had a physical examination. GP said she could feel some thickening of the tissue which was connected with the pain and that she would refer me to the breast clinic, should be seen within 2 weeks.
Having not received an appointment after 2 weeks I rang my GP surgery. The secretary said that the referral was faxed to the breast clinic on 25/10 and she would chase the appointment. Hospital said they received the fax on 01/11 and that I would be seen within 2 weeks. Not quite sure how a fax takes a week to reach it’s destination but never mind.
Today I had a phone call from the Outpatients department to schedule an appointment on Monday 12/11 at 3pm to see a breast specialist for a physical examination and to discuss symptoms. When I asked whether it was a breast clinic appointment, I was told that I was being triaged so if it is deemed that I need a mammogram, ultrasound or biopsy, I would be refferred.
From what my GP told me, I was expecting a one-stop breast clinic appointment but it now seems that I’ll be no further on after 3 weeks than I was when I went to the doctors. Of course, I may get the all-clear on Monday and that would be great but I just feel it’s the NHS manipulating the 2 week rule.
If they had only told me they can’t meet their targets, I’d accept it but I don’t like being fobbed off and, apart from that, I’m scared! 