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Care Opinion

Husband's wait for surgery

Posted By MrsJNo3

"Husband's wait for surgery"

About: Crosshouse Hospital / Accident & Emergency Victoria Hospital / Trauma & orthopaedics

(as a relative),

My husband came off his road bike cycle the Flying Scotsman Sportive in Ayrshire on in August. He was examined at A&E at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock and assessed by the Ortho department there, who advised admission the following day for surgery - his collarbone was badly fractured and the breaks disjointed and unlikely to heal on their own.

Living in Fife, the Ortho surgeon made contact with Victoria Hospital, making them aware to expect his arrival the following day. My husband was advised to visit A&E, his xrays would be available to them and as he had been triaged, to expect admission for surgery. What a nightmare! After waiting for 3hours, he was eventually seen and informed he would not be taken for surgery that day - he would need to wait until Wednesday as this was when the "shoulder" surgeon would be available to operate.

We attended the Day Intervention Unit on 4 days later - I had taken a day off work for this, to wait 1. 5hrs for the "trauma team" to reassess my husband. The surgeon, informed us his list was full that day and it was unlikely he would be taken. He should attend A&E on the following Saturday, having fasted again from 12am, however his surgery would only go ahead if their were no emergencies and the list could accommodate him.

He has just called Ward 33 to double check he is on the list for tomorrow, to receive a call explaining that 2 surgeries remain from today and there are 2 emergency surgeries, so he won't be seen tomorrow. He has to attend on the Sunday now. This is so frustrating - apparently no surgeries take place after 12pm at the weekend unless life threatening - god help anyone who has a cycling accident and breaks their collarbone this weekend - expect surgery within 2 weeks.

This is apparently the window in which they must carry out surgery! Potentially he may not get seen on Sunday either and will have to wait till the Wednesday for this. The ramifications on family life is not taken into account. I've worked in healthcare since 1991 and have never experienced such a shoddy service!

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Responses

Response from Louise Ewing, Clinical Service Manager, Older Adult Services, Health & Social Care Partnership Fife Wide 9 years ago
Louise Ewing
Clinical Service Manager, Older Adult Services,
Health & Social Care Partnership Fife Wide

Submitted on 12/08/2014 at 11:01
Published on Care Opinion at 14:07

picture of Louise Ewing

Dear Mrs JNo3

Thank you for posting, your frustration is tangible and understandably so. I am keen to speak to the team involved quickly to see what we can do in this situation. Please call me directly on 01592 648153. I will of course, in the meantime highlight your concerns to the appropriate people.

Regards

Louise Ewing

Patient Relations Manager

NHS Fife

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Update posted by MrsJNo3 (a relative)

Dear Louise

Thank you for taking the time to respond. My husband did not get taken for surgery on Sunday. He called on Saturday evening to avoid a day of waiting and fasting to be told again he would not be taken. Unbelievably he was called on Sunday evening at 5.30pm to be given this information again! However he has received a call this afternoon to say he is on the list for tomorrow. I'll refrain from calling until I know the outcome from our visit.

Response from Louise Ewing, Clinical Service Manager, Older Adult Services, Health & Social Care Partnership Fife Wide 9 years ago
We have made a change
Louise Ewing
Clinical Service Manager, Older Adult Services,
Health & Social Care Partnership Fife Wide

Submitted on 12/08/2014 at 15:18
Published on Care Opinion at 15:35

picture of Louise Ewing

Dear Mrs JNo3

Thank you for getting back to me. Our Associate Medical Director, Dr G Birnie followed this up with the Orthopaedic Team who were able to identify your husband from your comments and confirmed the plan for surgery tomorrow. Dr Birnie has asked me to make the following comments on his behalf -

We acknowledge the distress caused in this situation and recognise that with an gaining population that some specialties, such as orthopaedics have increasing demands for their services. In recognition of this NHS Fife appointed 2 additional orthopaedic surgeons yesterday.

Dr Birnie explains that it is right that we give preference to limb and life threatening injuries, as they do need to take preference; however he wishes to assure you that

following an injury such as this there is a 2 week window for the surgery to be performed which causes no detriment to the outcome. Dr Birnie goes on to emphasise the benefit of having a specialised shoulder surgeon to peform an operation of this nature.

I do hope that all goes smoothly for your husband tomorrow and that he has a more positive experience. We will eagerly await your feedback.

Regards

Louise

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Response from John Wilson, Chief Executive, NHS Fife 9 years ago
John Wilson
Chief Executive,
NHS Fife

Submitted on 12/08/2014 at 15:22
Published on Care Opinion at 15:36

picture of John Wilson

Dear MrsJNo3

I am sorry to read about your on going frustrating experience regarding your husband's shoulder surgery, this has understandably been very disruptive for you all.

I see that he is now listed for tomorrow and trust that all will go well.

Best wishes,

John Wilson Chief Executive NHS Fife

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Response from Eunice Goodwin, Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team, NHS Ayrshire and Arran 9 years ago
Eunice Goodwin
Patient Feedback Manager for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Quality Improvement and Governance Team,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

I respond initially to most of the posts and ensure they are passed to the appropriate team whether they are compliments, observations or grumbles. It is important to make sure all issues are addressed and I try to encourage that to happen for all the posts as required.

Submitted on 13/08/2014 at 08:52
Published on Care Opinion at 09:14

picture of Eunice Goodwin

Dear MrsJNo3,

I am sorry your husband had an accident and all this distress but it will now soon be all over, I am sure you will be very glad about that. All the best for today.

We wish your husband a very speedy recovery and hopefully it will not have put him off his cycling,

Kind regards

Eunice

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