What are my options?

[BuFfY]

A lot of you would have read my girly issue thread. Well it is now 3 months on and I was schedualed to have another procedure on Wednesday.

I got a text from my mum on Friday saying she had had a few missed calls from my specialist and wondered what was going on. I hadn't had any calls or anything so I had no idea what was going on. Mum went on to tell me that she had had a call from them a wee while ago saying that my appointment was changed from the 5th of December to the 30th of November. I was like, uh mum, that is today. Mum had text me (she lives in Australia) to say that it had changed but never checked to see if the message went through or not. I never received it.

So I rang them on saturday and left a message with my cell phone number and they called me this morning. The lady seemed to think it was more than fine for them to be ringing my mum, and stated "I have been dealing with your mum a bit".

I am now unable to have the surgery untill the 17th as my specialist is away. The main problem is that I go away on the 21st until the 6th of January so I wont be able to get my results untill I am back. Some holiday that will be!

I am so angry about it. When I had my first one and found out it was really bad they rang mum and told her about it and all this stuff and then realised they shouldn't be ringing her and said sorry and that it would never happen again.

What I don't understand is why didn't they ring mum and ask for my number. I have 2 cell phones and a land line, is hardly hard to get hold of me!!

But what do I do? It is paid by insurance so it isn't like I can say I want it done for free or what ever. So what good will having a big cry to them do? Is there anything I can do about it?

[Str8 Jacket]

Chick, I feel for you. While the situation REALLY sux and it sounds like you have been done wrong, I suggest that you just try your hardest not to stress anymore than you already are. Whatever will happen, will. Stay strong, dont change your plans but give the doctor all your contacts details and strongly ask them to contact you or leave a message with someone on xxx day so that you will be able to get the results. Most of all stay positive!! Good luck.

[007XX]

I'm with StraightJacket on this one...I'm not sure there is any way at all that saying anything to them will do you any good.

We can only imagine how frustrating it can be for you. Big hugs and positive thoughts out to you Buffy.

[Paul in NZ]

Well - unfortunately it's a strange old world and very often things go horribly wrong, wires get crossed and bad things happen.

The trick is to understand what is important and in this case what is important is to have this procedure done (whatever it is) and for you to get on with the rest of your life - nothing else comes close. If you have to cancel a holiday, if you have to change specialists, if you need to talk to your Mum or the Insurance people (who are paying for this presumably and thus need to be informed) - just do it. Do what ever you have to to make this happen in a timely fashion and don't get upset about it - just make sure it happens asap!

Everything else, like getting angry or telling people off - that can wait... Focus on the procedure and getting it done!

[Nasty]

I agree with the others and what they are saying, but I also would add that you need to contact those 'contacting your mother' and suggest that as you are the patient that perhaps in future they try you. There is a patient confidentiality thing, even if she is your mum, they need to communicate with you. Our fingers and toes and all bits that can are crossed for you, and our postive thoughts are defiantely sent your way.

[Keystone19]

http://www.hdc.org.nz/

These guys will give you good advice and point you in the right direction. Never take patient confidentiality issues lightly or anything to do with your health for that matter. The only way to get things achieved in the New Zealand health system is to know the system and work it hard.