I am currently awaiting further treatment however I feel that angry at the service being provided by the orthopaedics department I am compelled to write this!
I have broken my collarbone. So far I have seen 3 different doctors and awaiting surgery! This is now two weeks after the injury occurred.
1st doctor I saw was helpful, courteous and explained my options however advised I needed further X-rays within a couple of days. About an hour delay for my appointment but this can be understood as it was a Monday and there were several higher priority patients.
2nd doctor was seen 3 days after the 1st appointment. Again an hour delay. Further waits for an X-ray however the doctor was helpful and advised me that surgery was likely to be require and suggested I was seen as a matter of course to allow the injury to heal better.
I was finally booked into a specialist 5 days after seeing the 2nd doctor. 1 and a half hour delay! This is where my frustration starts. The doctor saw my shoulder for about 10/20 seconds. I then had a 10 min consultation with him where he looked at my X-rays and explained my options. Personally I feel this could have been done over the phone and saved a lot of time on both parties. Regardless I opted for surgery and was advised I would hear back!
Now is where my serious complaint starts!
I heard nothing! For 4 days where I had to ring the hospital for information! I had explained I was starting my new job on the following week during the consultation with all doctors and on the phone: regardless I was unable to be seen that week. Again understandable. What I find frankly disgusting is that on Sunday afternoon I received a call offering me surgery on the Monday morning... having spoken to the same gentlemen on the Friday regarding my personal situation clearly they paid no attention.
I asked if there was any positblity of an appointment later in the week so I had the opportunity to inform my new employer and frankly received a rude “no Monday is the only day” I asked if they could give me a date in advance so again I could book time off through work “we will be in touch” so now I am sat in the dark waiting for a phone call that will likely not come any time soon.
What I find utterly idiotic is the fact that they cannot book a date for the surgery with the understanding the date may chance if a higher priority surgery comes in... at all appointments I was not asked if I had adiqate pain relief!
Frankly I feel like my time had been waisted sitting waiting for the phone to ring... I feel the patient focus by some of the doctors and nurse (potentially) I spoke to is lacking!
Finally after the drama caused of the last two weeks I’m now sat again waiting for the phone to ring for a date I’m unlikely to be able to attend as it will be at the drop of a hat!
"Lacking in basic patient focus!"
About: Darlington Memorial Hospital / Trauma and orthopaedics Darlington Memorial Hospital Trauma and orthopaedics DL3 6HX
Posted via nhs.uk
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