Stuck In Limbo between two hospitals

Just got a call from MRI unit at my local hospital bringing scan forward to Monday 28th October!

I had my surgery at my local hospital and then brachytherapy at a cancer hospital and my care was transferred between the two. I'm now back under my local hospital for 5 years but had a CNS at both hospitals that I could contact with any queries and questions. It can seem overwhelming at the start of your journey but it sounds like yours is running fairly smoothly between them presently. Good luck x

I was the same as Julie, hysterectomy at my local hospital and the brachytherapy at the Christie. The transfer of records etc seemed to go quite smoothly and I also had a CNS at each hospital. I was discharged after brachytherapy back to my own hospital and they manage all my check ups etc. It sounds complicated but I just wanted to let you know it CAN work and to wish you all the luck for that to be the case for you.

Teddysmum my brachytherapy was at the Christie too , discharged back to Stepping Hill Jan 4 this year x

HI @nightingale19,

I think many of us find ourselves treated by more than one centre.  I started at my local hospital where I was diagnosed.  to the frustration of the consultant there was quite  long wait for a MRI.  In fact she told me she had reserved a future slot on her list so that once I had the scan there would be no further delay.  .The MDT saw the results of my scan the same day as it was done and by the time I got home I was told that my surgery would have to be at another hospital.  I had to go to a clinic there the very next day and was given another date for a pre op and an op within 4 days

I may have missed out a bit on some of the pre and post  hysterectomy advice I should have had but really it made no difference to my treatment or recovery.  All the essential information seemed  to be transmitted between the teams at each hospital.  

I did require some extra treatment and I had that at yet another centre - again no problem.  For the first year or so my check-up's alternated between the two hospitals

I had my treatment at three hospitals ,the ultrasound scan and mri scan at one with the hysteroscopy, another ultrasound,the ct scan and follow on appointments at another and the operation and another mri scan at a third. That's the way it runs in my healthcare area, everything is centralised on computer and everybody knows who has done what so it was never a problem for me. The only time I sometimes gnash my teeth is when I have been called by one hospital and due to complications which I have suffered they have referred me the same day back to the hospital where I had my surgery but that has only happened twice and it was raining ! Otherwise everything has been tickety boo which I hope it is for you. Take care. It won't be as bad as you think it will be! Love lamb.xx

Hi Nightingale,  As the other ladies have said, it's not unusual to have your care shared between two different hospitals.  In fact I had three hospitals altogether - my biopsy and investigations were done at the local hospital, my surgery was done at a neighbouring hospital (but by the same surgeon) and my follow up treatment - radio therapy and brachytherapy were at a treatment centre some 30 odd miles away.  This is often the case as the different hospitals have different specialities and equipment and they are all well used to dealing with each other and sharing patients.  Indeed I think they attend each others MDTs. So there should be no hiccups for you.  When you're anxiously awaiting surgery all this must seem very daunting but you'll feel better once you get your surgery date and things will fall into place then.  I hesitate to say this but records can get lost even within one hospital, though I don't think it happens as often as the press might have us believe.  Keeping touch with your CNS nurses will help you to feel more in control and relaxed about it all.

I also was treated under 3 hospitals, plus one other for scans and MRI so 4 really!  Now, 2 years after treatment (surgery and radiotherapy) finished I am still under 2 of them, alternating between them for check ups.  One just does internal checks where I had surgery and the other does internals plus CA125 bloods and a chest x-ray where I had radiotherapy.  I have now added another hospital to my visiting list as I had an eye stroke a couple of months ago and so am under Moorfields in London for that too!  

Hugs, Lesley xx

Feeling rather isolated at present. My son, sister and partner have all been supportive but are currently for various reason away for several days on business trips. Ha e not confided in detail in girlfriends as we have major issues with our house at present (currently living in temporary accommodation) and I am not feeling up to updating them on that and then explaining cancer news as well.

Reason I am posting here is I am still feeling rather frustrated at still being stuck in limbo between two hospitals. I got my ct scan done almost immediately after my initial diagnosis at my home hospital but then it turned out there was a nearly 2 week wait for the Mri scan . The Cns did not tell me this until I phoned her to ask about it. . She insisted that as the MD team at the second hospital had by ct scan they would add my case to their MD meeting on Friday afternoon just and  I would hear from them later that day. Last Thursday I got a call from Mri unit and we rescheduled my scan for Monday just gone. 

All that happened on Friday last was, I got a phone call from second hospital early Friday afternoon asking if I had Mri scan yet. I said it was scheduled for following Monday and caller said thanks all they needed to know at present.  I have not heard any more from them since. I assume I will be on the MD team agenda this week.

When I had the mri scan I told them I was being transferred to a second hospital and asked if they would be forwarding the result there. Not automatically they said. They will have to request it. 

I have tried several times to phone the Cns at current hospital without success, on her direct number, to see if this is happening  but she has never been there. Her answerphone (in the Gynae department) seems to be out of  order so cannot leave a message. She has  never phoned me,  I always have to chase her. I think this is because she assumes I am imminently transferring. So I have just finished typing out an email to send her on my current status. Clearly they know about me at the new hospital hence the phone call on Friday, I just have to trust the system is working. 

I am also surprised not to have heard  anything from my (female) GP whose patient I have been for 20+ years and with whom I have good relationship. I know she has been notified as I have a copy of the letter sent to her. 

I am feeling gloomy at present as I have type 3 and keep wondering how far it has spread. Best positive thoughts are the original consultant who told me it was slow growing and I was otherwise very healthy and he was confident I would be back home and well on the mend by late November. (He said I would need a laparotomy hysterectomy.) I am well past menopause and I have two beautiful small grandchildren, and not ready to give up just yet. 

Hi nightingale,

Between diagnosis and my operation I didn't hear from the hospital really, just for them to give me my appointments, and I never heard from my gp. I was able to get good updates from my gynaecologists secretary who was lovely, it might be worth giving them a ring.

It feels better when you have a hysterectomy date to work to, you can pass the time whilst you wait getting your bag ready for the op and getting your house ready for coming home. Do all the things that you enjoy too, I was on holiday for a week whilst I waited, it helped distract me.

lots of love

xxx