Care Opinion

Flipping a coin for a scan

Posted By Novge58

"Flipping a coin for a scan"

About: Gartnavel General Hospital / Xrays and Scans

(as the patient),

 I had been given a Pet scan appointment at the Tom Wheldon Building, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow. I had received a phone call the day before to say that one of the scanners had broken down, and could I come for my scan later in the day. I said yes.

I arrived at the re-arranged time and after waiting about an hour, a clinical technologist appeared and called out my name and another man's name. They told us both that they had hoped to have the scanner fixed that morning but unfortunately it was still not working. This meant that only one of us would be able to have a scan that day and that between the two of us we would have to decide which one of us got the scan.

 My first reaction (which I did not voice) was you must be joking. I then said surely there must be a medical reason why one of us should get the scan first ? They said no , and was insistent that we would have to decide between the two of us who would go for the scan that day.

 After a bit of discussion between the two of us and a few more questions , I suggested that a fair way to decide was to flip a coin. This is what we did.

 I had to wait about another ten/fifteen minutes  before I was taken for the scan and must say that I felt very uncomfortable (and still do) with the situation and couldn't understand why we the patients had had to decide. I couldn't work out how there was not some way the hospital could  have decided, who had the first appointment ? who was referred  first ? or even alphabetically !

  Anyway the scan went well and I must say the staff were clear in their instructions and very helpful when answering all my questions. 

  I don't think asking patients to decide, is best practice and would not like to think it would happen to other patients.

  

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Responses

Response from Lisa Martin, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Manager, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Team, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2 months ago
Lisa Martin
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Manager, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Team,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Plan, design and deliver patient and user engagement opportunities

Submitted on 30/12/2024 at 10:30
Published on Care Opinion at 10:30

Dear Novge58,

Thank you for taking time to share your feedback with us. We are sorry to learn you had this experience and would very much like to investigate this incident further. Can I ask you to please get in touch with us at ggc.patientexperience@nhs.scot so that we can get a few more details? Thank you very much and we look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Lisa, Patient Experience Public Involvement Team.

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Update posted by Novge58 (the patient)

Tried to get in touch through the ggc. etc address but seemed to be put back on the care opinion site. Could you please ask your questions through another response on this Care Opinion Site?

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2 months ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 03/01/2025 at 10:07
Published on Care Opinion at 10:07

picture of Nicole McInally

Dar Novge58

Thank you for your response. We would ask that you contact us via email with your personal information (e.g. name and date of birth or CHI number) so that we can look into this incident and provide you with a more detailed response.

Kind Regards

Nicole

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Update posted by Novge58 (the patient)

Hi Nicole,

If I give you my details are they passed on to the department at this stage?

I am a little concerned as I still have to under go further treatment.

Regards Novge58

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2 months ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 06/01/2025 at 10:30
Published on Care Opinion at 10:30

picture of Nicole McInally

Hi Novge58

Let me speak to the service and I will see if we can get a response without you providing any additional information.

Take Care

Nicole

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Update posted by Novge58 (the patient)

Thank you Nicole.

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2 months ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 07/01/2025 at 12:20
Published on Care Opinion at 12:20

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Novge58

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and discomfort you encountered during your PET scan appointment. We regret the scanner malfunction that led to the rescheduling of your appointment and appreciate your understanding and flexibility in accommodating the later appointment time.

We are particularly concerned about the situation where you and another patient were asked to decide who would receive the scan. The clinical technologists should not have asked you or the other patient to make this decision. This has been discussed with the Senior Management Team and they have advised that the staff will be reminded of the importance of using established guidelines to prioritise patients to ensure this does not happen again.

We are pleased to hear that despite the initial inconvenience, the scan itself went well and that our staff provided clear instructions and helpful responses to your questions.

Once again, we apologise for any distress caused. We are committed to ensuring that this situation does not occur again and that all patients receive the highest standard of care.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Take Care

Nicole

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Update posted by Novge58 (the patient)

Hi Nicole,

Thanks for your reply.

My main concern was the matter of patients having to take this sort decision was not standard practice and that nobody else would have to experience this.

You seem to have addressed this so hopefully it will not happen again.

Many thanks

Novge58

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