"I can’t get an answer"

A year and a half ago I had a horrible experience with this department and posted my experience on the Care Opinion Website. I was contacted by a Grampian NHS manager who was extremely understanding and sympathetic. They corrected the matter and I received a more satisfactory consultation and course of treatment.

However, my condition requires monitoring since it is an autoimmune one and the medications I use can cause unpleasant side effects. The dermatologist instructed they would see me every 3 months. This was ignored by whomever sets the appointments. I have had to telephone each time to ask for my appointment. I have been given various excuses such as they need the doctor’s permission due to Covid back ups, the doctor does not give many appointments as well as being told by one admin person that it’s only a follow up.

I think this is unacceptable. I raised these comments with the doctor and they said the Covid back up had been caught up and there should not be any further problems. I should have had an appointment first week of April 2023 and again nothing!

I contacted the manager who had dealt with my previous concerns. They responded promptly and advised they had moved to a different post and that my email had been forwarded to their replacement to investigate. Since then, I have not received any acknowledgement or response to my concerns from this new replacement. Therefore I have no way of knowing if I am to continue using the medications which are causing me unpleasantness side effects affecting my skin. Nor do I know how my condition is reacting.

I can’t get an answer as to why their appointments co-ordinators seem to feel they have the right to override the doctor’s instructions.