I had fun recently... had an appointment in September where I was told they'd be starting me on a biologic (had a letter in the summer to say this too but I guess you need to wait for the appointment with the consultant where they explain everything and you agree - frankly I'd have agreed in the summer)
I'd also had a flare up at the start of September and one of the nurses requested my GP put me on a short course of steroids saying that I should have started on the biologic by the time I start tapering off the steroids.
Of course that didn't happen - while the clinical staff in the NHS are amazing the admin side of it is a sack of **** as is that of the external company they use.
I had my 10:30 appointment and wait for a blood test... finally go into the blood test room at around 12:55... nurse looks at the test and explains that they're not going to get it done in time as this test needs to be sent by 1pm. So I have to come back the next week.
Now seemingly my blood test results came back and then someone sat on them for a week or two. They were then sent to the pharmacy towards the end of September and someone sat on them for a week or so there(god knows why as they didn't need to dispense anything). On the 5th of October they were sent off, in the post (FFS!) to an external company called 'healthcare at home'.
Apparently the post takes nearly a week as that company said they only received the results on the 11th (and only thought to phone me on the 13th). Apparently their delivery service is quicker - I'm able to get my medication on the 14th... however the call centre person can only book deliveries she can't book the nurse who needs to come and train me in how to use the medication.
Delivery arrives and I try phoning healthcare at home again, they can't book the nurse visit as it is a different department, they can't give me the number for that department and can only send them an e-mail. I try again the following week and get the same story. Eventually, last Wednesday, I get an answer phone message telling me to call another number and speak to X. I'm pretty desperate to get this medication started at this point as I've been tapering off the steroids and am in a lot of pain... Of course I phone the healthcare at home person and they don't pick up, I try again later and it is engaged, I try again and it goes to an answerphone - I leave a message.
Next day - no call back - I try their main number again and it is the same story they can't schedule nor can they contact people in their own company other than by e-mail. I try the direct number for the scheduling person again and leave another message. Next day have had the medication sitting in my fridge for a week now and still can't even get the muppets at healthcare at home to simply book an appointment - finally get through to the scheduling person who comments that his phone has been a bit busy... oh and yup he can book in a nurse to visit me this coming Monday and she'll phone me later to schedule... of course she doesn't phone me. I phone the main switchboard to check this guy has actually booked an appointment as he doesn't seem to organised and fortunately it is showing in their system.
So hopefully, tomorrow, after nearly two months since I was prescribed the drugs, I'll finally be able to start the new treatment.
