"Oncology outpatient referral for chemotherapy"

I had chemotherapy and had adverse reaction to it, with two hospital admissions. It is unclear if chemotherapy dose was reviewed after first hospital admission. After two admissions and extreme weight and muscle loss, a decision made to change the chemotherapy. I attended outpatient with consultant to discuss my recovery and change of chemotherapy. Advised that referral would be made for new chemotherapy. Contacted chemotherapy unit a week later as I had heard nothing, and was advised that a consent form had been received but no referral, so no date for chemotherapy to start, but a request for referral details had been made by the chemotherapy unit.

I contacted chemotherapy unit again a few days later, and was advised that the referral had not been received - so no date for new treatment to commence. This is a concern as type of disease is aggressive and fast spreading and since the hospital admission it is was 6 weeks since last treatment. I contacted the nurse for oncology and was advised that due to leave there was no one to make the referral the week of the consultation, but it had been made that day, and I would get an appointment in next 3 weeks. When I enquired about the processes and why was this a new referral and expressed my concern about waiting another 3 weeks, I was advised that this was standard procedure for new referrals. This is a worrying feature of many of the oncology processes - delay built in due to the systems. Factually I am not a new referral as I have already had some chemotherapy. I am a patient who required a change of treatment due to extreme reaction to first type of chemo, surely this is a change of prescription and not a new referral with built in delays? I expressed my concern at further delay in my treatment, (another concern outside of this experience), and that I found the delays unacceptable. I was again advised that this is usual processes, but the referral was marked urgent.

The following day I was contacted by the nurse I had expressed my concern to, and was advised that an appointment for that week had become available and details of my treatment starting were given to me. I was very appreciative of an earlier appointment and expressed my thanks. This experience is just one of many where oncology processes and systems seem to create delays for the patient. Generally, I feel exhausted by the processes and continuous need to chase, leading to a loss of trust of confidence.