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Diagnosis appointment dilemas - Cumbria

Kaspersky

Hi everybody. I am a 62 year old male who until recently just wondered why everything in life was so very difficult for me. About a year ago I started to wonder if I might be on the autism spectrum and about six months ago took the online aspergers test which came out at 34. Learning that there was now a legal duty to accomodate adults seeking diagnosis I went to my GP and asked for a referral. That was at the turn of the year. Then a few weeks ago I was given an appointment date which I confirmed with them by telephone. The upshot is that when I turned up for the appointment yesterday I was then told it had been cancelled.

   The previous evening at about 6.30 I noticed my phone had a message on it timed at about 11 that day asking me to phone a certain number about my appointment but not saying what it was about. As the appointment the following day was for 9.15 in the morning I was unable to discover (though I tried) by telephone before I went out for the appointment what it was about. However when I got there they told me that I had been told that the appointment was cancelled. I was absolutely furious - but managed to avoid being less than polite with the woman who talked to me who I believe was only a receptionist.

   This is the day after and I am still furious, as try as I might to rationalise the events it looks to me as though I may be being given the 'run-around' to put me off. I have been told that I should receive a telephone call on Thursday about this but so far have received no formal apology or explanation.

    Has anybody else out there (particularly from Cumbria) received similar treatment? I do appreciate that the nhs is in particularly difficult times and that it is not uncommon for people requiring serious surgery to have appointments cancelled. However I would rather have to wait longer for a real appointment than to be treated like this and would have hoped that mental health services would have appreciated that such behaviour on their part would cause a lot of anger and upset.

 

  • I too find it more difficult to tolerate being messed around as I get older. I wonder why a culture has been allowed to develop where inefficiency and discourtesy are regarded as alright. If you complain, you get indifference in response. However, Autismtwo makes a good point - if you get stressed, it is you who suffer. I stomp away angry because I cannot help it, then try to give myself something worthwhile to think about, rather than waste my time, which has value.

  • Thanks for the reply which makes a lot of sense - as I know when feeling more rational. I just have a short fuse, and it takes me a long time to cool off. And yes I did imerse myself in work which does operate some therapy for me. Unfortunately growing older doesn't seem to improve me. My frustration with people knows almost no bounds. But thanks for the reply and the help. I do try to release the energy as positively as possible.

  • Kaspersky,

    Forgive the past, because your identity was tied to the appointment so much, that the cancellation was like a personal attack on your psyche.

    There is no risk to the third party NHS as it is a structure without identity because it is not a human entity, so it would be like kicking a wall, it will only hurt YOU ! more.

    The best you can do, is hit them with your complaint when you see them next. TAKE A SCALP ! But I find this does no use.., they are used too it, it will be probability a normal practice, the best you can do is lower your expectations and hope for the best, not easy with Aspergers, but an emotional acceptance strategy which will relax you more.

    The psychological pressure of the "new waiting"  just try to keep busy and hopeful. Smile and if you can, forgive the past.