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"Ongoing wrist care"

About: North Tyneside General Hospital / Trauma and orthopaedics North Tyneside General Hospital / Walk-in service

(as the patient),

I went to A&E on the day of the car accident at the start of September and I found out that I had whiplash. The day after, I woke up with my wrist not being able to move, pain, swelling, and stuck in the shape of a claw. I then went back to A&E a few days later, had an x-ray, and ended up being referred to the orthopaedic team. 2 weeks later, I had to have another X-Ray and an appointment with a doctor. At the first appointment, I felt like I was spoken to in a patronising way and left quite upset and still unsure of what was going on with my wrist.

4 weeks later I had another appointment with the same doctor, who informed me that if it was fractured, there was nothing that the hospital would be able to do for it which left me confused. I was also told that the reason my hand was in the shape of a claw was due to me not using it, when I couldn't use it because of the pain I was in, which left me feeling like the consultant was blaming me for this issue. I then was referred for a CT scan. In December, I had another appointment where I was supposed to find out my results and didn't, and was told I could have regional pain syndrome, but that there was nothing they could do about it.

In late January I found out I needed an MRI, which left me having to wait nearly 9 weeks to even find out anything. I have had no check-up appointments during this time and still to this day haven't had an appointment since January. I am left in ongoing pain, swelling, and a wrist that I am unable to use. I still do not know my CT results and MRI results. I was left questioning myself and questioning am I making it up? This has honestly affected my day-to-day life and from a hospital, I expect to be believed. Even though I am having these scans, I am still being made to believe that this is my fault by the consultant. After 8 weeks of waiting, I rang the reception, who said the letter had just been sent out. After 9 weeks of waiting, I was told in a letter from the MRI that one of the findings from the scan was I had a cyst (which isn't the whole MRI findings and CT findings, as I am having to find out my full results from the surgeon) and that I am referred to an upper limb surgeon. I rang up the hospital but they don't know anything about an appointment for me. I have been waiting a further nearly 3 weeks for an appointment when I haven't even had a check-up since January. This whole nearly 9 months of my hospital experience as an outpatient has made me lose faith in the hospital, with feeling like it was my fault, when I was getting sent for further scans. This is still ongoing and after 8 and a half months I'm shocked that I am still having to go through this. 

-MRI results I still don't fully know.

-CT results from November I still don't fully know.

The only good part about it is that the X-Ray, CT, MRI, and Physio teams have all been good and I have felt listened to by them.

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Responses

Response from Heather Gibson, Patient Experience Team Manager, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust nearly 2 years ago
Heather Gibson
Patient Experience Team Manager,
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 10/05/2022 at 21:05
Published on Care Opinion on 11/05/2022 at 08:58


Dear marley82,

Firstly I am very sorry to read your experiences with some of our services, we wouldn't want any of our patients to feel the way you do. We deeply appreciate the time and care you have taken to share your full and detailed story with us.

As you have mentioned a number of separate interactions with our hospital teams in your review, we want to do all we can to look into your care in a way which feels thorough and right for you.

There are a several options available to you and I would like the opportunity to go through these in detail with you, please do contact us at patient.experience@nhct.nhs.uk with your contact information and we will get back to you promptly.

In the meantime I will share your final comments with our X-Ray, CT, MRI, and Physio teams, it great to read that you felt listened to by those members of staff. I have no doubt that they will appreciate your feedback.

I will look out for your email coming through.

Take care,

Heather

Heather Gibson Patient Experience Team Manager

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