"My wife's osteoporosis journey"

In May this year my wife was parking the car, as was her regular custom at this point, when she felt what she thought was a muscle wrench across her back. It was extremely painful.

We had no choice but to seek help from our medical practice who prescribed painkillers, none of which seemed to help much with the pain. Several different sympathetic doctors in the practice saw my wife over 2 months, eventually arranging an x-ray which showed up multiple thoracic spinal fractures, (and, later, a sternum fracture) obviously explaining the severe pain.

But still the range of normal painkillers were failing to cope with the excruciating pain and, eventually, after a home visit by one of the practice doctors, it was decided that my wife needed further investigations. The choice of going into hospital or turning to DECS-A (hospital at home) for the next step was presented to us.

Of course we chose DECS-A and it was a great decision. The whole team, including Consultant Geriatrician, Registrar Physician and highly skilled specialist nurse practitioners gave us phenomenal attention. For the first time we had a coordinated approach and organised investigations (which is no reflection on the care we got from the GP practice) and we began to see progress on both the pain control and general care. The professionalism was very welcome and impressive, especially as it was combined with great warmth and understanding.

This is a service that must be supported, not least because it keeps patients at home where they may prefer to be, rather in hospitals.

We are massively grateful.