"Administration is an unacceptable weak link in an otherwise exemplary service"

I was taken into hospital (Victoria Infirmary) by ambulance last August and discharged two days later.

I fully appreciate my good fortune in the incidental findings of atrial fibrillation and atrophy/right central lacunar infarction allowing ongoing preventive treatment to be started. Indeed follow up appointments in cardiology (Dr Andrew Davie) and neurology (Dr Ian Reeves) at the Southern General Hospital have proceeded swiftly and helpfully to take this forward in a most efficient and helpful way. I have been fully and completely involved in decision making and feel that my concerns and questions have been/are fully considered.

However my discharge letter clearly stated that I should be seen by ENT outpatient as there was a concern that some of my symptoms indicated that I could be suffering from vertigo. Despite numerous requests by my GP to follow this up I have still not heard anything from the ENT department. I have received a letter which states he is ‘unsure why my ENT review was delayed. ’

In the meantime I have gone on to experience debilitating vertigo-like symptoms or ‘attacks’ on four occasions, at which time I have contacted my GP or attended the Victoria Infirmary as a self-referred outpatient when the GP surgery was shut. As far as I’m aware my GP has contacted ENT to seek an urgent assessment or review on my behalf on several occasions.

As of this day of writing I have still heard nothing from the ENT department.

My observation as a patient or client to assist with your aim of “making a real difference to health services” is therefore to juxtapose the excellence of the ambulance service, A&E and inpatient service, the cardiologist and the neurologist with the unexplained delay in arranging my ENT appointment.

As a patient, I see the NHS needing to function like a chain and despite the excellence of the above-quoted links, I am bound to conclude the administrative failure in following up my ENT issues is an unacceptable weak link in an otherwise exemplary service.