"Lack of appropriate care"

My wife attended outpatients at Western Isles Hospital after referral from her GP; for increasing pain and immobility in her right knee. She saw a doctor, who ordered an MRI.

This was done and we attended the outpatient clinic again and saw a different doctor who was dismissive of her level of pain and decreasing mobility. My wife was told that she only had mild arthritis and there was nothing that could be done, or would be done, until she needed a knee replacement.

We did not accept this diagnoses and saw a private surgeon who was surprised that a tracking CT scan was not done. This was done at our expense and showed that my wife needed a patello-femoral knee reconstruction, tubercle transfer and medial meniscectomy.

This she had done in a private hospital, with immediate improvement in pain and ongoing increase in mobility. The surgeon recommended that she be treated by a highly qualified physiotherapist who specialised in post-op rehabilitation. This she did and received excellent care and the ability to contact him at any time by phone or internet (at no cost).

I went into the physiotherapy dept at the hospital and was told in a very officious way that due to part time staff and a lack of staff, after referral from our GP there was a wait of at least six to eight weeks.

This is totally inappropriate for someone who was recovering from major surgery.

Thank goodness for the ongoing care and advice of the private physiotherapist.

The total lack of appropriate care, and dismissiveness from the staff we came into contact with, is a disgrace and against the NHS manifesto.