A Call for Common Sense and Respect in Scheduling Amidst Cancer Battles

A Cancer Patient's Perspective

The headline "To be or not to be... booked in for chemo at 1.45am?" might sound like a Shakespearean play, but it's the reality I face almost every time I receive my hospital appointment details. It's a constant battle to correct mistakes, and it's exhausting when you're already fighting cancer.

While politicians tout the benefits of upgrading the NHS app, the reality on the ground is different. The app I use, MyChart, is separate from the one being upgraded, and it's utterly useless when mistakes are made. I'm on cycle 32 (or maybe 33) of chemotherapy, and I still don't know who to contact at my "world-leading cancer hospital" when there's an issue.

This week's gem was an appointment for chemotherapy at 1.45am on a Wednesday. The day works for me, but there aren't any trains at that time, and most importantly, the chemotherapy day unit will be closed. Because it's a day unit.

I was also booked for an appointment on a Friday, which doesn't work with my treatment schedule. This time, I had to contact someone on my medical team who spoke to the scheduling team. They said Wednesday is the day, but they wouldn't confirm the time until closer to the date.

At no point did anyone apologize for the inconvenience or the wasted time. It's frustrating that the NHS and MyChart app don't allow for simple appointment changes.

While Labour's plans to revamp NHS apps might include appointment changes, it seems we won't be able to do it ourselves. We'll just be given information on how to change appointments. So, I'm stuck negotiating this quagmire while battling cancer.

Instead of focusing on app upgrades, Labour should ensure smoother procedures and competent staff to avoid these mistakes in the first place. Not everyone faces the same challenges, but with 3.5 million people living with cancer in the UK, I wonder how many have to fight for their treatment.

The NHS could save time and money by resolving these administrative issues. Even if it's just a tenner per time, that's a huge overall amount that could be spent on better things like life-saving care.

The problems could be resolved before they happen if the scheduling teams used common sense, like only booking appointments when hospitals are open. Common sense would save the NHS a lot of trouble, and the sooner Labour realizes this, the better.