The Eastern Regional Health Authority is looking into a recent incident in which a woman was given a clinic appointment five years from now.
A post highlighting the matter has been widely shared on social media, with others since highlighting similar experiences.
103.1FM News spoke with Acting CEO of the ERHA, Dr Darren Dookeeram, who said the individual would have spoken with someone clerical when they called to verify the date.
He adds that they are looking to see if there was any potential error with scheduling.
Dr Dookeeram also acknowledged the long waiting periods for clinic, saying staff have been working to clear up what has been a significant backlog.
He says the Gastro Clinic in particular is relatively new and while many cases are still to be addressed, efforts are being made to provide services in a timely manner, given the resources available.
βWe are committed to improving access and we are committed to ensuring that patients get good quality care, but feedback through our mechanisms actually makes it more efficient,β he said.
Dr Dookeeram is encouraging persons to direct all feedback and issues to its hotline at 877-3742, saying it will allow them to become aware of concerns in a timely manner.
The ERHA meanwhile has also acknowledged the recent appointment issue with a statement online, stating “Our staff at the Gastroenterology Clinic, continue to work diligently to address historical backlogs in specialist services, expand access and prioritise patients according to clinical urgency so that those requiring the most immediate attention are seen as quickly as possible.”
