"Let down by people who should know better"

I never expected to feel the need to write a negative feedback for the Spinal Injuries Unit. I have been under their care since I fractured my spine age 19yrs, I am now in my 80s. Early this year my condition deteriorated dramatically from being relatively independent, I was bed bound, needing double handling with carers coming in four times a day. I could no longer weight bear. All power I had gone from my legs. Prior to this I was in hospital battling sepsis.

We are now 6 months on and no attempt has been made to get me out of bed and into my wheelchair. Post discharge I had an appointment at the SIU. I needed this not only for answers but some direction. I was assured that I would be seen by a Consultant (normal practice), but in the event I was seen by a Registrar. This was of little benefit to me, as they were ill equipped to answer my complex questions . It was around 2 hours later that another staff member breezed into the room - we had not met before - the conversation was brief. All the right noises were made - a letter to Doctor, phone call to physios - neither of which materialised. Was I an afterthought? Had I been ‘squeezed in’ at the end of morning clinic? Probably!

It was around noon when the ambulance arrived to take us home, leaving without us, as I was still waiting to see the Consultant. It was 4pm when I eventually arrived home, after a long day.

What an absolute waste of time and resources, including that of ambulance staff who stretchered me from my bed to and from hospital.

6 weeks on, my questions still need answers and I am still bed bound. Devastating. What a debacle!!

Update- the letter in question arrived this morning, 6 weeks after the appointment, with only one sentence to explain my predicament