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Rheumatology Department

Posted By whispergk98

"Rheumatology Department"

About: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary / Rheumatology (Joint conditions)

(as a relative),

My father was previously in hospital earlier this year in intensive care on a ventilator for 9 days due to his arthritis medication Methotrexate.

Having survived this ordeal he now needs treatment for his Rheumatoid Arthritis and has waited over a month for a telephone consultation that was supposed to happen today. Having contacted the Rheumatology department after my father has waited all morning for a phone call I am told that it was cancelled and apparently a message was left on my fathers answering service. He can't find a message on his voicemail, it has apparently been rescheduled for the end of November, that will bring him to waiting 2 months for help.

We met with a Doctor at Rhuematology after my fathers original ordeal and he was told that when his arthritis flares up to just call and get an appointment to see them. This is clearly not the case as he was told he has to have a telephone consultation first and has waited over a month for it to be cancelled at the last minute.

His hands are so swollen and look like tennis balls and he is in excruciating pain along with his feet and ankles. By the time he gets any treatment it will have taken at least 2 months, nobody should be left suffer in this much pain without treatment.

I have tried calling the Rheumatology Nurse Advice Line for a recorded message to tell me that it could take up to 7 days to get a call back, I can't even find a human to talk to, only answering machines. I am at a total loss as to how I am supposed to help my father when I can't find an actual person to ask for help.

So disappointed with the quality of care from the Rheumatology department.

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Responses

Response from Shannon Bruce, Unit Support Manager, Surgery 3, NHS Grampian 2 years ago
Shannon Bruce
Unit Support Manager, Surgery 3,
NHS Grampian

Submitted on 15/11/2022 at 14:55
Published on Care Opinion at 16:43

Good afternoon,

Thank you for taking the time to share this feedback with us and I will ensure that this is shared with the team.

I'd like to apologize for the experience your father has had and for the pain he is in having to wait for an appointment.

In order for me to investigate this further, I will need your fathers' details. If you're happy to for me to do this, please contact me directly on shannon.bruce@nhs.scot.

Again, I'd like to apologize for this very disappointing experience but hopefully with some more details we can resolve this for your father.

Many thanks,

Shannon

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Update posted by whispergk98 (a relative)

For the past 2 months, my father has been waiting for a telephone appointment with Rheumatology.

He waited by the phone for a previously arranged phone appointment which never happened, having telephoned to ask why he had not received the expected telephone call he was advised it had been cancelled by the Rheumatology Dept and had been rescheduled to the end of November.

Having received no further communication from Rheumatology I contacted them 2 weeks ago with my fathers' details and to ask when he could expect to receive a call as he was (& still is) in a great deal of pain, I received an email response saying that the situation would be looked into and that they would get back to me at some point the following day. 2 weeks passed with no further communication from anyone in the Rheumatology Department.

Finally, my father received a phone call from a Consultant a few days ago, they stated they wanted him to go to Aberdeen Hospital for blood tests before they can prescribe any medication for his extreme pain. He was informed this would be in early December and a letter would be sent to him confirming the date & time.

During the conversation it became apparent to me that his notes had not been read before this call, & they had no idea he had been in ICU on a ventilator for 9 days, they even asked him if he was still taking a specifically prescribed tablet, which was the medication that caused him to end up in ICU, very ill for 9 days.

No letter has been forthcoming so I telephoned the appointment line @ Rheumatology to ask when his appointment was only to find that once again no appointment has been booked, (it is an 80-mile round trip to Aberdeen for us so journeys & times have to be planned in advance).

My father is still in extreme pain and now extremely depressed after finding out that no appointment had been made

The quality of care evident throughout this unnecessary fiasco has been appalling, their ineptitude is disgraceful.

Response from Karin MacLeod, Unit Operational Manager, Division of Surgery - Surgery 2, NHS Grampian 2 years ago
Karin MacLeod
Unit Operational Manager, Division of Surgery - Surgery 2,
NHS Grampian

Submitted on 07/12/2022 at 08:50
Published on Care Opinion at 10:13

picture of Karin MacLeod

Good Morning,

Please accept my sincere apologies for the ongoing frustration and angst that these further issues are causing you and your father.

I am keen to look into this, and although I note my colleague Shannon had previously been in touch with you, Shannon has sadly now moved on from her role. I would therefore be grateful if you could contact me directly with your father's details and I can take this forward. I can be reached on karin.hunter1@nhs.scot

Once again, I am so very sorry that you continue to experience delays in communication and appointments and will ensure I am able to resolve these issues going forward.

Kind Regards

Karin Hunter

Unit Operational Manager

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