"Referral process"

As a parent attending the Paed Doctor at the Outpatients clinic, I'm extremely saddened as well as emotionally stressed. My child has been a patient of a particular doctor since a newborn due to a few health issues, however, the most recent appointment my child needed genetic testing after our appointment a few months ago and been told something had shown up and that the visiting genetics team would need to meet and discuss it with me.

The doctor said they would send the referral through and pop urgent on it so we would be seen when they did their visit in 2 weeks time. I hadn't received any appointment so I rang the Paeds secretary who said they would get back to me.  

2 days later I rang again and I got the same response, then I emailed the doctor and a few days later they said they spoke to the genetics doctor and that they were aware of my child and would be in contact.

I visited the CHN who I expressed my concerns to, then in November, as this had been going on a while, they said they would try to follow up. I also expressed my concerns to the allied health team who have also followed up by emails.

Numerous phone calls to the secretary and emails I received an email from the doctor saying they would get back to me the next day... well, I still haven't heard anything over 3 months later from the day the referral should have been sent through!

I have rung central referrals and there has been no referral sent. I'm extremely disappointed that nothing has happened and we still don't know what is wrong with my child. I spoke to the Outpatients manager and they have arranged an appointment with another Paed for a simple referral that should have been done 3 months ago... 3 months we have lost out on a diagnosis or early intervention for my child! 

The doctor is a truly amazing doctor, however, I believe the workload they have is completely drowning them, in my opinion, the health department needs to do something to make this doctor's work load lighter.