A Tale of Two Appointments: Lack of Communication and Frustration

I wanted to share a quick update on Jacob's journey.

This week has involved two hospital appointments, one with Plastics on Monday and another with Maxillofacial today.

At Monday's appointment, the Plastics team weren't aware of the trauma psychology referral that should have been made, so they submitted a new referral. Then, at today's Maxillofacial appointment, we were told they didn't understand why Plastics had been involved in the referral process. They cancelled that referral and have now submitted a new one themselves.

The most frustrating part? Nobody can tell us why the original referral was rejected or why, since April, there still hasn't been a completed referral. Months have passed, yet we're effectively back where we started.

This is exactly why I'm fighting for change. Families shouldn't have to spend months chasing referrals, being passed between departments, or receiving different answers depending on who they speak to. There should be a clear, consistent pathway for people who experience traumatic injuries - especially the gap in regards to Dog Attack victims.

Despite all of this, Jacob continues to amaze me. He has now, through his own determination, stroked 11  dogs. Seeing him rebuild his confidence one step at a time makes me incredibly proud.

I'll keep fighting, not just for Jacob, but for every family that comes after us. At this rate, it feels like we'll be lucky if the referral is accepted before 2027, but I truly hope the changes we're campaigning for mean that no other family has to endure months of confusion, delays, and constant chasing just to access the support their family needs.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support us and share this petition. Every signature brings us one step closer to making sure no family has to face this broken process alone.