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42 week waiting list for ortho appointment

Posted By FWA1978

"42 week waiting list for ortho appointment"

About: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Bones, joint and fractures

(as the patient),

I had an initial referral sent by my GP which was received in Jan 2018 by QEUH Glasgow for ortho consultation for hip replacement. I was unfortunately made redundant just as I was diagnosed privately and requested to remain with same surgeon on NHS. I did not receive letter as per Patient Rights act 2011 to confirm my referral had been received. When I called 13 weeks later I was told my referral had been received and there is currently a 42 week waiting list! I have had to subsequently call to recheck my place on list as no actual NHS communication has been received. All very disappointing as the knowledge that I have been diagnosed, know what is required and now have to wait 42 weeks to see same consultant to then be put on another list for actual surgery effectively means a potential 18 month plus wait.  

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 19/07/2018 at 12:00
Published on Care Opinion at 13:12

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear FWA1978

Thank you for your post on Care Opinion.

Please accept my apologies for the lack of communication regarding your orthopaedic appointment. GP referrals for an outpatient consultation are not routinely acknowledged. We are looking at ways to ensure that GP’s are aware of current waiting times for our services to be able to communicate these to patients at the time of referral. Unfortunately, due to ongoing capacity issues and the high volume of patients being referred, we aren't meeting the waiting time targets. We are maximising all available capacity and working hard to try to reduce the waiting time.

Kind Regards

Susan Groom

General Manager, South Sector

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Update posted by FWA1978 (the patient)

Thanks for the response. You don’t really explain what you are doing to improve services. I appreciate the constraints that the NHS have to sometimes work within and how you do an amazing job for patients. I just feel in my own personal instance that the lack of communication or alternatives aren’t available. As you aren’t meeting government targets and are excessively over on targeted guidelines can you not offer the patient the option of attending another health board within Scotland who are able to meet patient needs withIn there own capacity? If I have an other 16 weeks to wait for an appointment and then potentially another 40 weeks to actual treatment I would like the option of the health board working to help by looking at all options? Is it possible for you to transfer my referral to another hospital whilst still keeping the status that I have been on the list already for 24 weeks?

Happy to discuss further in person if you would like to take this off forum.

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 26/07/2018 at 13:47
Published on Care Opinion at 15:50

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear FWA1978

So that we can discuss this further, can you please email my colleague Nicole McInally (Nicole.McInally@ggc.scot.nhs.uk) with your details including your date of birth? I would be grateful if you could include your username in the email.

Thank you

Susan Groom

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