I have been under the care of NHS GGC for pain injections for many months following a head injury that has left me with severe pain in two of my forehead nerves. I have been receiving pain injections both at The New Victoria and at Stobhill hospital with excellent effect. So much so that I was able to reduce the amount of analgesia I was taking on a daily basis, until they wore off and I had to chase the service for a further appointment. And then I moved house and it all fell apart.
I have been referred to a new healthboard and have gone on the bottom of their 52 week waiting list! I was getting these injections every 10-12 weeks (they last 8weeks) and now I have no chance of getting one for another year! I am in daily pain and have been told that as I've moved house, NHSGGC cannot help and NHSLanarkshire cannot help as their waiting list is so long. Where is the continuity of care? Where is the stopgap treatment? What am I supposed to do meantime? I have spent hours on the phone with various secretaries and pain service coordinators, and while they are all very pleasant and understanding of my situation, there is nothing they can do to get me seen and treated, any sooner. I am on a cancellation list but who cancels their pain service appointment?
I was already in the system receiving a very effective treatment for my ongoing pain and I've been dropped like a hot potato, for moving house! I find this very frustrating, unacceptable and not a good example of patient centred care at all. If anyone has any ideas of how I can continue my current treatment plan without having to wait a year to do so, please let me know as I cannot live with this pain for that long. I am in agony and I depend on strong painkillers daily just to be able to function. These injections were life changing and I am being denied further treatment because I moved from one healthboard to another. How is this right?
"Moving house and poor joined up care between health boards"
About: New Stobhill Hospital / Pain management- NSH New Stobhill Hospital Pain management- NSH G21 3UW New Victoria Hospital / Pain Management- NVH New Victoria Hospital Pain Management- NVH Glasgow G42 9LF University Hospital Monklands / Pain management University Hospital Monklands Pain management ML6 0JS University Hospital Wishaw / Chronic Pain Management Clinic University Hospital Wishaw Chronic Pain Management Clinic ML2 0DP
Posted by Frustrated and sore (as ),