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Care Opinion

Waiting time manipulation

Posted By Family Upheaval

"Waiting time manipulation"

About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Orthopaedics

(as a relative),

My husband presented mid december after a significant sporting injury, he was seen in clinic twice, MRI scanned (which was great thanks! The staff have been FANTASTIC, CARING and SUPPORTIVE) however he didnt see a consultant until the end of January and it was at this appointment when he was added to the waiting list for surgery...surely if he presented in December, these dates should have been taken into account. Is this not manipulation of the waiting time initiative? ? ?

As a result, I have a husband who is in Full Time Employment, who cannot work. Who cannot walk unaided. Who tires easily. Who cannot be an active father to his children. Has remained in pain and on pain killers since December, who cannot function at the level he is used to. And the bottom line here is....We still dont know when his surgery will be. After that, there is recovery time. And he is still not working. This is now having a significant financial impact on my family. We were prepared to pay privately for an MRI Scan to speed up the process...but the process is now at bottleneck because it is the sheer manipulation of the waiting times initiative that is causing my husband and my family significant additional pressures thanks to NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Governement i feel.

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Responses

Response from Arlian Mallis, Person Centred Health and Care Co-ordinator, Department of Nursing, NHS Forth Valley 10 years ago
Arlian Mallis
Person Centred Health and Care Co-ordinator, Department of Nursing,
NHS Forth Valley

Submitted on 04/04/2014 at 12:34
Published on Care Opinion at 14:19

Apologies for the delay in responding to your posting, this sounds like a very distressing time for you and your family. many thanks for the positive feedback about our staff.

I thought it might be useful to give you some information about the waiting times policy_ The Patients Right Act 2011 establishes a 12 weeks maximum waiting time for eligible patients.

Eligible patients should start to recieve their treatment within 12 weeks of their treatment being agreed between the pateint and NHS Forth Valley. This means once a patient has been diagnosed as requiring inpatient or day case treatment, and has agreed to that treatment.

The patient waiting clock will start on the date the patient agreed the treatment.

Diagnostic tests and outpatient procedures will not fall under the definition of a treatment.

This doesnt help with your situation but I hope it lets you know how the system works.

Thanks Arlian

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Update posted by Family Upheaval (a relative)

Many thanks for your response. I am very aware of the legislation however when it negatively impacts on a multitude of people (not only our children and direct family members and the impact it has on my husbands physical and mental well being), it is also the knock on effect it has at work, I'm sure you can understand the frustration and anxieties this caused.

In saying that, this has been resolved and he was offered a cancellation 2 weeks ago. The operation was performed successfully and he has now begun a process of rehabilitation. Our thanks to Mr Howieson and Mr Hendrix, the Physio department particularly Eamonn and the wonderful theatre staff and day surgery staff for looking after him. Forth Valley Hospital have some fantastic, caring and supportive staff but it is the bureaucracy of waiting time initiatives that causes additional pressures in an already pressurised service.

We have had NO issues with the staff at Forth Valley hospital but sadly, it is the staff that bear the brunt of government bureaucracy.

Response from Arlian Mallis, Person Centred Health and Care Co-ordinator, Department of Nursing, NHS Forth Valley 10 years ago
Arlian Mallis
Person Centred Health and Care Co-ordinator, Department of Nursing,
NHS Forth Valley

Submitted on 07/04/2014 at 13:15
Published on Care Opinion at 17:44

Thats brilliant news, Im gald things went well and hope your husband has a speedy recovery and you all get back to normal.

Thanks for sharing your experience of care I will feedback to the departments you mentioned.

Arlian

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