"I liked virtually all the staff, ..."

What I liked

I liked virtually all the staff, except for the Consultants and Registrars who never let me get a word in edgeways and seemed very remote. I was well treated in A&E. I was kept comfortable on the ward, and I actually enjoyed some of the food! I was severely criticised for being a smoker, and was told my recovery would be much much slower if I didn't stop.

What could be improved

I was admitted with a broken leg on a Friday, and on Saturday afternoon my leg was put in plaster (it was scheduled for the morning, but delayed). On the Monday following the plaster was removed and an external fixator fitted. This fixator consists of 3 pins (screws) in my ankle and 3 in my shin. The pins are extremely long, which makes getting around and sleeping more difficult than I feel it need be. The pins should be shorter.

Some weeks later the bones had moved despite the fixator and I had to have a third general anaesthetic for the procedure to reset them. The design of the fixator was altered. The original date for this operation was cancelled and I had to wait another week without hope of any continued healing. Three and a half months later I was told in clinic that the fixator could be removed, and was given the date of Monday 20th January for this procedure. I arrived at the hospital, had bloods taken and swabs for MSRA were also taken, then waited for the surgeon to come and see me. He didn't come to see me and a more junior doctor eventually told me the surgeon had refused to carry out the procedure because I'm not his patient. I was given the new date of Monday 27th January, but received a telephone call today to say that the procedure has been cancelled again because the surgeon/consultant will be too busy. I am deeply distressed by all these delays. I have not yet been given a new date for the operation, I don't know how long I'll have to wait. One of the pin sites has developed a minor infection for which I've been taking antibiotics for weeks. The two other ankle pin sites have become very sore, and my body is clearly protesting at their presence.

Anything else?

I am very distressed and angry about these delays and cancellations. I feel I am not receiving the care I should, and that there is little understanding of the problems I am inevitably having with the fixator. My leg feels strong and ready for it to be removed, it was decided in clinic two weeks ago that it's ready and the fixator should be removed, yet I'm still waiting in ever greater discomfort.