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Waiting Times for Neurosurgery, Western General Hospital Edi...

Posted By cbr600

"Waiting Times for Neurosurgery, Western General Hospital Edinburgh"

About: Victoria Hospital / General Medicine Western General Hospital (Edinburgh)

(as the patient),

I am crippled with pain due to one prolapsed disc and two herniated discs and starting to lose control of bladder and bowel function. I have been given an appt (20 weeks) from gp referral despite government waiting times which says 12 weeks. My appt is Dec 2013. I was admitted to my local hospital who have been trying to get me referred to Western general for surgery, but the on-call neurosurgeons dept are refusing to admit me giving the reason that it is not deemed an emergency. I have also have been told the only way I will seen is if I collapse. Is this what the NHS has come to?

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Responses

Response from Stuart Wilson, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, NHS Lothian 10 years ago
Stuart Wilson
Director of Communications and Public Affairs,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 24/10/2013 at 15:21
Published on Care Opinion at 15:25

We are very sorry to hear of your distress around your treatment.

NHS Lothian is working hard to reduce Outpatient waiting times in Neurosurgery, which has included the appointment of a further two Neurosurgeons and additional outpatient clinics.

All patients who are listed for routine appointments are seen in strict date order and we are seeing a reduction in the length of time patients now have to wait for an appointment, though at the moment, the 12 week guarantee you refer to does not apply to outpatient appointments.

There is a robust triage system in place which ensures that patients who do need to be seen urgently are given an appointment at the earliest opportunity and we are sorry if the way this has been put to you seemed insensitive.

If you would like us to look into your specific case can you please contact our Feedback team on craft@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Regards

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