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"Severe arthritis and sea sick, balance & mobility problems"

About: Derriford Hospital / Trauma and orthopaedics

(as a service user),

What could be more unhelpful to a person with severe & painful arthritis both feet, chronic seasickness and chronic balance issues for only one foot to receive treatment. Leaving patient to hobble home, worse off than ever, with now hobble to inflict new stress and pain to already damaged knee/ years awaiting treatment. 

Referred to podiatry, by rheumatology that took 2 years. Two years to be told the feet needed to be injected regularly (and particularly told by podiatry I could have this 3 times a year, so book in immediately at rheumatology Derriford as podiatry not allowed to do it anymore.

Podiatry said I had much more going on in both feet than just plantar fasciitis, severe Arthritis and severe foot degeneration.

Rheumatology said, not injecting anymore as it all ends up in same place Not sure what Dr meant with this. Sorry to so be in the way.

So Two & a half years after awaiting podiatry now withholding treatment needed. Breaking down in tears of pain, sheer frustration, confusion and lack of any care available. Eventually and with awful manners one foot was injected (Whilst being berated profusely right up to injection moment/ treatment was not available without bad attitude and unpleasant berating at time injecting. Left in tears with no offer of tissue, or glass of water.

They then said (after I was at breakdown ) they would inject two feet if they both showed inflammation (curiously both feet identically bad in every way but Derriford only detail one foot on their system)

Previously I had been getting had getting injections in both, but notes lost and so treatment given previously was disputed. Made to feel I was not giving correct account of historical treatment. I found this to be an awful attitude. 

The staff member (injection giver/withholder) decided instead of following details from the Dr, to reluctantly inject only where inflammation was. They decided to only inject foot with plantar fasciitis, so changed Dr's specific request to a whole new criteria. Made to wait in waiting room for hours, crying, confused until last patients seen then berated to pieces (still in tears) whilst one of two very damaged feet injected with bad attitude. Left to hobble home in tears. 

No concern for all the stress and upset, no plan for the untreated foot. Left in agony with one untreated swollen, badly degenerating foot which is creating a severe hobble and impacting untreated knee degeneration (6 years+ awaiting treatment) creating pain in lower back, severe immobility (on one side) and to add to severe balance issue on both sides. 

Incredible difference between different staff at Derriford as previously I had both feet injected without delay. And they have challenged new criteria pointing out the severe deterioration in the structure of both feet. They now claim records showing this information are lost on the system?

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Responses

Response from Alison Stanton, Complaints and PALS Manager, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust 2 years ago
Alison Stanton
Complaints and PALS Manager,
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Submitted on 04/07/2023 at 11:26
Published on Care Opinion at 11:26


picture of Alison Stanton

Dear patient,

I am very sorry you have had such a distressing time within our department, and it is something I would like to investigate properly for you.

Unfortunately, the website does not give me your details; would you be able to contact our PALS team if you would like to take this further, and they will liaise with me and give you a proper response.

You can contact PALS on 01752 439884 or by email: plh-tr.pals@nhs.net. Please quote reference 72630 so that we can marry up any future contact from you with this case that we have already registered.

I do hope that we can get to the bottom of your concerns.

With best wishes,

Alex Bond | Clinical Admin Manager | Rheumatology

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