I saw my GP at the beginning of September with a hip problem which I had had for about four months and which was getting much worse (I had already had an X-ray which was seen by two Consultant Orthopaedic surgeons and a Trauma surgeon and all agreed that I needed a hip replacement. However, my GP felt I had pulled a muscle and referred me to Physiotherapy which made it worse). They then agreed to refer me for an Orthopaedic opinion at my local hospital in North Devon.
On the Monday I received a letter from something called DART (Devon Access and Referral Team) with a UBRN (Unique Booking Reference Number) and a Password (clip jelly!) so I telephoned the number and a very kind lady asked me some questions and then told me, somewhat bewilderingly, that she would be sending the referral letter the next day to my local hospital to be assessed, when they had returned it she would then telephone me to arrange an appointment.
On the Thursday a lady phoned from Dart (not the same lady) to tell me they would be sending my referral letter to my local hospital in the next few days.
As yet I have heard nothing from the hospital or Dart.
I understand that the country has many old timers like me and in my opinion not enough facilities for us all but I would have thought that this seems a quite unnecessary layer, so to speak, to have to go through. Meanwhile, I am still here, in some little pain, not knowing what is happening. No-one, it seems can give me any information. Oh well!
"Orthopaedic Referal"
About: Devon Access and Referral Team (DART) Devon Access and Referral Team (DART) Exeter EX1 1PQ
Posted by sukinata (as ),
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