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"Appointment at Fracture Liason clinic"

About: Musgrave Park Hospital / Children's Orthopaedics and biologics

(as the patient),

After fracturing my wrist some weeks earlier, I received what I thought was a follow up appointment to attend a Fracture Liason Clinic. On arrival I was asked to complete a lengthy questionnaire and then directed to a X-ray suite. Having realised this was not a routine follow up I was informed that a bone density assessment was to take place.

After an X-ray of my spine and hips and a conversation with a specialist  nurse discussing my completed questionnaire and X-ray results, I was told I had Osteoporosis. This was abit of a shock considering I thought I was attending just a follow up on the progress of my wrist.

However, the staff at the clinic gave me a lot of information regarding the condition and how I could get treatment. Blood and urine samples were taken to get 'a full picture' of my health at the time. I was advised that a consultant would look at my case and decide on further action that may be required.

This is not a complaint!

I just want to highlight that the method of communicating the purpose (and duration)  of this appointment could have been much better. I was unprepared for the length of time the appointment would take ( 1 Hour 10 minutes) and the procedures to be carried out. Please give more information on appointment letters and not just assume we all understand medical terms, by just adding a couple of extra words I would have been better prepared.
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Responses

Response from Paula Grant, Trauma & Orthopaedics Services Manager RVH, Belfast HSC Trust 3 years ago
We have made a change
Paula Grant
Trauma & Orthopaedics Services Manager RVH,
Belfast HSC Trust
Submitted on 20/11/2020 at 15:58
Published on Care Opinion at 16:06


Dear Jaly

My name is Paula Grant and I am the Service Manager for Trauma & Orthopaedics in the Belfast HSC Trust.

The fracture liaison service recruit patients from a certain criteria who attend fracture clinic following a fracture.

Once the patient is identified the Belfast Trust administration team book an appointment at Musgrave Park Hospital, for a DXA scan and full assessment.

The appointment letter and an information leaflet is sent out to the patient so they are prepared for their appointment. Unfortunately in your case the administration team did not use the template letter or included the information leaflet and for this I apologise.

As a learning outcome for the administration team your story has been shared with the team.

In relation to your suggestion that the duration of your appointment time should be noted on the appointment letter, I wish to inform you that your suggestion has been noted and the template letter has been changed. This means all patients attending this service will be informed that the duration time for their appointment will be 90 minutes to allow for a DXA scan, full assessment and education session regarding their condition.

Thank you for you feedback.

Kind regards

Paula

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