"My Patient Journey Experience!"

MY PATIENT JOURNEY

I decided to map out my patient journey in NHS Lanarkshire and share it. I am a health professional and have found this a very enlightening experience! Sorry in advance for the long story!

FEBRUARY 2016

I was experiencing pain in my lower back again, this time it was shooting down my left leg and into my ankle. I attended the GP and after an examination I was advised that I had symptoms consistent with Sciatica. I was advised to take Paracetamol as required. The parecetamol weren’t making a difference so after a week or so I attended the GP again. A nurse (who was a pain nurse specialist) advised me to ask for 3 specific pain relief medications. The GP agreed and the pain seemed to be under control.

MARCH 2016

I was taking the medication regularly but still experiencing some pain whilst driving – I attended the GP again as I had a really bad episode for a few days and was advised to continue with the medication and cut down my driving where possible. They also gave me the contact number for self referral to a physiotherapist. I was advised that NHS Lanarkshire operated a system of self referral to physiotherapy. I called the helpline number, answered the questions and was advised that there was roughly a 12 week waiting list!

APRIL 2016

I continued to take my medication as prescribed and attended a private physiotherapist sometimes twice a week for assistance and mobility exercises.

MAY 2016

I continued to take my medication as prescribed and attended a private physiotherapist sometimes twice a week for assistance and mobility exercises.

JUNE 2016

I continued to take my medication as prescribed and attended a private physiotherapist sometimes twice a week for assistance and mobility exercises. I also went back to the GP again as the pain was not controlled very well. My medication was adjusted. I was signed off work as driving on that amount of medications was not recommended. I was still awaiting my physiotherapy referral – so I contacted them and was given an appointment! It worked out to 16 weeks I had been on the waiting list! My private physiotherapist advised that they could not continue to treat me as I now had my NHS appointment. I continued to take my medication as prescribed.

JULY 2016

I attended the physiotherapist on 4 occasions; nothing seemed to relieve the pain, so I was referred onto an Extended Scope Physiotherapist (ESP). I continued to take my medication as prescribed.

AUGUST 2016

I attended an appointment with the ESP, after a thorough examination and detailed history, I was advised that an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan was required to determine the route of the pain and then an appropriate treatment plan could be devised. I was advised that the results should be available within 7 – 10 working days and that they would contact me to direct further. I continued to take my medication as prescribed.

SEPTEMBER 2016

I received an appointment and attended for MRI in Mid September. I was advised that the results would be sent to the ESP and that they would be in touch. After 14 working days I contacted the ESP service to enquire about my results. I was advised by an administrator that I would need an appointment to receive my results. An appointment was duly made for mid October. I continued to take my medication as prescribed.

OCTOBER 2016

I continued to take my medication as prescribed. I attended the appointment made for me in mid October with the Spinal / Orthopeadic Consultant. At the appointment I was seen by an ESP. We discussed my MRI results and I was shown the scan. It was explained to me that I had a bulging disc between Lumber 5 and Spinal 1. Discussion about treatment options followed and I was advised that the best course of treatment would be surgery and was duly referred to the Neurosurgical department at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

NOVEMBER 2016

I continued to take my medication as prescribed. I contacted the appointments team at the QEUH to check my position on the waiting list, I was advised that it was a 13 – 15 week waiting list and I was on the routine list and I still had 7 – 9 weeks still to go, this was in mid November.

DECEMBER 2016

I continued to take my medication as prescribed. I contacted the appointments team at the QEUH in mid December again check my position on the waiting list; I was advised that I still had 3 – 5 weeks still to go. It was discovered also that I had been taking 2 Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) at the same time and was advised to discontinue one of them with immediate effect. I had my Bloods done Urea and Electrolytes to check my renal function as a precautionary measure – all were normal. I contacted the appointments team at the end of December at the QEUH again check my position on the waiting list; I was advised that I still had 6 weeks still to go – I was confused about this and was advised by the administrator from the appointments team to discuss with my GP. I contacted the GP surgery the next day to discuss my concerns and to discuss some new symptoms I had been experiencing. I was seen by a registrar, thoroughly examined and based on her findings I sent to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department at Wishaw General Hospital (WGH) for urgent review! The nursing staff on duty in the See and Treat area were excellent and very attentive to my needs. I was seen in A&E by an Orthopaedic Senior House Officer (SHO) and again given a thorough examination. Based on their finding and their discussions with the Orthopaedic Registrar, I was advised that I would be admitted and have another MRI in the morning. I was admitted to Ward 15 of WGH, the staff were very attentive, caring and compassionate. I was seen the next day by an orthopaedic consultant who I felt was a little curt, not really interested and distracted! ! They advised that I would have an MRI that day and depending on the results would determine whether I would be sent directly to the Neurosurgeons at QEUH (which was a 5% chance or discharged home. I had an MRI and was seen by another Orthopaedic SHO, I was advised that there was minimal changes in my MRI and that I would be discharge home on the same medications. I asked there would be any follow up or information passed to the Neurosurgeons at the QEUH – I was told there wouldn’t be! ! I was very concerned about this and challenged this. I was advised to contact my GP and discuss this.

JANUARY 2017

At the time of typing this, I am awaiting the reopening of my GP surgery following the festive holidays to discuss further.

MY THOUGHTS

I am in my mid forties and having now been unable to work for nearly 6months, experiencing pain off and on – I feel helpless, vulnerable and useless.

I feel that there are many positive elements of this journey, but I also believe that there are areas that could be improved and would welcome some thoughts, comments and discussions with the appropriate personnel within NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.