"Hip Replacement"

In February 2019 my Consultant and I decided it was time for my Right Hip replacement - the Left hip had been done in 2009.  I quickly got a letter saying that the required 12 weeks waiting would not be met and that my local hospital was trying to do its best - which I have no doubt they were.

My condition got worse quite quickly and I started to do what little walking I could with sticks, I tried to keep active but the pain increased.  Finally at about 12 weeks I received an appointment to go for my pre-assessment.  The nurses at the clinic could see how bad I was and tried to get me a Saturday appointment in May.  This was not allowed as the system had other folk down to be seen first.  My wait continued, my physical and mental state deteriorated and my life went on hold. After several tearful phone calls I was given a date in June - 18 weeks after referral but managed to get in a week earlier due to a cancellation.  I was by now in quite a state and as I already had experience of this procedure, I was aware that this time was very different.

I strongly feel that there should have been some form of re-assessment in this 18 weeks - perhaps done by the Orthopedic nurses who could then consult with the surgeon.  I would not have believed how quickly my hip deteriorated or the amount of pain and disability it brought. Some of the patients were far more mobile than I was coming in - similar to how I had been on my first hip replacement.

There is no one to blame here just a system which needs to be more flexible to allow for individual patient needs.

My hospital experience this time was not good either.  I found the Staff attitude very different to my previous visit.

One member of staff working with my Consultant had no bedside manner what so ever.  I have recognised over the years that I can take Panic attacks on hospital visits mainly due to a needle phobia and had told my consultant this.  Nothing was done to help me with this.  On my first hip replacement I had been given gas and air before my injection for anesthesia - this time despite the fact it had been discussed and I thought agreed, my request was scoffed at and I was basically told "don't be stupid, no way".  One of the nurses suggested I just held her hand which was kind but totally misunderstood the severity of my situation as I saw it....thats the panic!!!

On the ward unfortunately all 3 of the patients operated on on the same day were sick, some more than others.  The nurses gave us anti emetics.  They then came round shortly after with long-acting pain relief tablets, insisting we took them there and then.  I was not in pain, traumatised and bruised but not in pain and I had nothing in my stomach, so it did not make sense to take strong pain killers.  I said I would like to delay taking them until I had eaten something - perhaps some toast.. Last time the nurses were great and made lots of toast which was so good.  This time I was told they didn't do toast.  An Auxiliary nurse did very kindly make me some  which was perfect.

The first night we were disturbed by "banter" at the nurses station outside the door at about 4am so it was short night.  I decided I was not getting better in the hospital and asked to go home, which luckily I managed to do despite having to come home with tablets I would never take.

At home things seemed to improve except for my wound which had a huge amount of clips in......double that which I had had the first time round and the wound had not been matched and was very slow to heal.  This required 3 visits to my local surgery to put right which was not easy with limited standing and mobility.  My Orthopedic Consultant who has done a brilliant job on my actual replacement has noted the problems.  This of course has delayed my recovery. 

This time around there was just a phonecall from the Occupational therapist, luckily we both remembered what had happened on my first hip.  They had no booster seat for my chair, I had to buy one and I rented a wheelchair from the Red Cross.  There was no Physiotherapy after the operation,  I have worked with one for the last 10 years but I have needed to see her fortnightly at a cost.  The muscle in my left hip area has been wasted and I need to build it up again so as not to get discomfort when I walk - this must have been while they opened up the hip - definitely not as good as the first time.  I started this rehab from a very low place so I am aware that things take time, but errors in the procedure have not helped.

Finally I got an appointment to be re-checked with the Orthopedic Nurse for X-ray and re-assessment at a year.  With cut backs this has now been cancelled.

I am in the fortunate position of being able to pay for help and having been through the procedure once at least so have some idea of what I should be doing and experiencing.  I have a basic medical knowledge from my profession so I know when things are not right and where to seek help, but not everyone is that lucky.

I am so disappointed by my experience in the hospital this time, about the lack of compassion with the staff and the horrible generalised system under which they seem to have to work. I am now 8 months from my procedure and I now feel in a place where I can voice my concerns...it has taken that long to start to recover.  This is not a good system for a healthy nation and I do feel that the NHS is now in a position where these operations are so successful they have become a victim of their own success.