"Not afraid to disagree"

Last year I attended A&E at QEUH on a Saturday morning. I had a very sore leg for a few days and had gotten to the point where I couldn't put any weight on it.

The Doctor done the usual basic assessment however, despite my age I suffer from osteoarthritis & osteoporosis and have a history of fractures. After a basic examination and an extensive history which I gave, the Doctor told me to go home take painkillers and put my leg up for a week.

I had to request that an x-ray be carried out, the Doctor said it was unnecessary but I pushed for it against their advice and reluctance. Surprise, surprise I had broken my femur and three days later I had a total hip replacement carried out by a very skilled Dr.

So much for putting my leg up for a week's rest. If it wasn't for the fact I have a fairly good knowledge of my medical conditions I would have followed the A&E Doctors advice and went home. I shudder at the thought of what might have happened, I could have developed a clot which could have travelled anywhere in my body. Worth noting I am a service user as well as a member of staff in the NHS so I work with patients on wards on a daily basis. I am not slagging the hospital, we all do our best, I hope.

I'm sharing a poor experience of care in order that others will not be afraid to disagree or question their Doctors advice or treatment.