"My appointment was cancelled on the spot"

I arrived to King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) for my first psychology appointment at the required time today and was told the doctor had rung in sick and no one else was available. Sorry.

For KEMH it may just be a missed appointment, but for me it’s so much more!

I got myself to the appointment time, pat on the back, despite poor sleep which comes from having a mental health illness and insomnia and being on strong sleep medication.

I got myself to the appointment time despite having difficulty getting to places due to severe hernia repair pain, following post operative complications and being on strong pain medication.  I’m pleased that finally after over two months of being hardly able to walk, I’m able to.

I’ve felt very distressed lately.  It’s been happening a lot to me, the pain, the meds, the lack of diagnosis for a long time, the people in care who I feel don’t pay attention to the detail for diagnosis and therefore surgery; the delays and complications.  The severe level of pain is one of the reasons I feel like jumping off my balcony and was willing to see a psychologist about this level of distress, plus my fear of going into a hospital and also my anger which has to be suppressed of course. Just note the ‘violence will not be tolerated' signs everywhere.

I don’t even want to see anyone now :(

What’s the point?  My pain, both physical and mental will just have to wait until when? I’ll get better by myself I’m sure.

Beside the very late cancellation, KEMH might want to do some stats analysing times between referrals first seen, referrals next seen. From my experiences your services are very disjointed.