Our local hospital is failing to meet all its cancer targets to the point where it has stopped publishing the results on its website.
My husband was referred on the 28 day pathway on 12 May, although the GP did say it might take, and I quote, "a little while longer." Today is Day 101 and we still do not have a definitive diagnosis. Yesterday, he finally had the PET scan he has obviously needed since June. That decision was made by MDT on 1 August. Now we wait for the results and for his case to go back to MDT again before we have another appointment and then we might finally get a definitive diagnosis. I am not realistically expecting this before mid September, so four months after the original referral.
I have spoken to PALS about this, but it is clear the hospital does not wish to engage with patients or relatives on this topic. In other words we have been ignored. There is been no management of expectations, no acknowledgement that they are failing to meet their targets and nothing that even vaguely resembles an apology.
There is a neat little graphic online which shows how this pathway is supposed to work. It clearly doesn't work at our local hospital. Does it work anywhere? Has anyone actually received a diagnosis within 28 days of referral, or indeed treatment within 62 days from referral? They missed that target as well.
Hello ansteynomad
This is a Nationwide issue. The Government come up with these guidelines BUT don't have the resources on the ground to meet the deadlines.
I have had delays in my own treatment but I am lucky that I live in Greater Manchester and once I left urology my oncology hospital is The Christie in Manchester, probably the 2nd best cancer hospital in the UK - they have been amazing.
A couple of years ago my wife had some medical issues, I used PALS, they did what they could but not enough, I then used the hospital complaints procedure - useless. I e-mailed the chief executive, just the usual "we are doing our best". Out of desperation I e-mailed my MP with details of the delays. The following day the earth moved, she had her scans, a plan was made, the operation she needed happened and she was discharged two days later after 12 weeks of "being messed about."
My personal journey started in hospital and I had everything whilst an in-patient and was already on HT when my MDT team met so I am a little different to most people's diagnosis.
All I can suggest is contacting the hospital, tell them of your anxiety and tell them you need a diagnosis and a treatment plan as his mental and physical conditions are going downhill.
I do hope the above helps and you can make some progress.
Best wishes - Brian.
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Firstly, its absolutely not ok for someone to wait this long for a cancer diagnosis and I really hope things progress!
We are in Scotland, NHS tayside and my partner was diagnosed within 3 weeks of referral from GP, also started on HT within this timescale too. I am not sure if this was due to his high PSA reading. We passed our 62 day timescale this week but have had all scans, started treatment, didnt need biopsies and meeting with oncology next week for first time, all appointments have been with Urology so far. We are very happy with our timescales as we were very anxious with hearing about long waits.
This doesnt take away from how frustrated you both must be feeling, all the very best
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