"My father’s experience"

About: Belfast City Hospital / Vascular Surgery

(as a relative),

My father had several diagnostic tests including a CT scan performed in 2024.  He has struggled to receive the results of these and discuss surgery options, but finally received a response to the phone calls and messages placed to his consultant’s secretary at the end of 2024, with an appointment made to discuss surgery options scheduled for January 2025.

He recently attended that appointment, travelling 30 miles in icy/snowy conditions, only for tests to be repeated that he’d already had.  When a CT scan was mentioned he informed staff he’d already had this done, at which point his patient record was checked more thoroughly and the staff member disappeared to speak to their manager.  

After several further delays my father was told he’d now been placed on a surgery waiting list, which he assumed had been done months ago, and no further explanation was given regarding the duplication appointment he attended unnecessarily, how this happened and what will happen next.

He left feeling very confused and frustrated, and feels he is back to square one.  He would like an explanation of what happened and why, and why he is having to chase constantly for answers/results of scans and now doubt the information being given. It has exacerbated the stress of an already-stressful situation,

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Responses

Response from Patricia Mcateer, Service manager, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust 3 days ago
Patricia Mcateer
Service manager,
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Submitted on 09/01/2025 at 18:19
Published on Care Opinion on 10/01/2025 at 08:37


Firstly, please pass on my apologises to your Father for any upset and inconvenience caused by his recent visit to our hospital. If you wish to speak to Karen Flanagan our Patient Access Manager who will be able to investigate your query further, please contact Tel: 028 95048033 or Mobile No: 07823774324.

Thank you for raising the matter with us as it is always good to get feedback from patients and visitors to our Hospitals, to help us review and improve services we provide.

Kind regards

Patricia McAteer

General Manager Health & Social Care Records

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

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