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Care Opinion

Outpatients Appointment

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"Outpatients Appointment"

About: Russells Hall Hospital

I visited the orthopedic dept 24th September and was told I would need a caudal epidural which I have had previously many years ago and it had no impact. I stressed that it was not the treatment I had hoped for nor was it what the physio I had seen prior to this appointment recommended but was told that was the plan end of discussion. I have just spoke to someone in the team on the phone to be told the waiting list is 18wks for this procedure, a procedure I don't particularly want as it didn't work in the past. If I had opted for this initially at the first appointment with the physio it would have been on a fast track 6 wk max wait but I opted to see the consultant knowing that it hadn't worked previously only to be left in constant pain and waiting longer than I would of if I had just agreed when it was offered by the physio. Why is it that if you see a consultant who specialises in this field you end up at the back of the queue but if you go along with the senior physio (who didn't think the epidural offered would help either!) you get this treatment within 6 weeks? Had I been made aware of all this I may have just gone along and had the caudal epidural because now if it fails to work as it previously has how long do I have to suffer until they try something else?!

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Responses

Response from The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust 9 years ago
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 04/12/2014 at 16:49
Published on Care Opinion at 17:02

Thank you for taking the time to post your feedback about your experience of our services. Patient feedback is very important to us and we would like to assure you that all comments are taken seriously and acted upon as part of our ongoing commitment to improving patient experience.

We appreciate how disappointing it is to have to wait any length of time for a procedure, especially when you are in such pain.

Although physiotherapists can make fast-track referral recommendations for treatment, these are only recommendations and do not guarantee a fast-track appointment. Referrals received by specialties are assessed by the consultant who will consider the referral and make the decision about most appropriate course of treatment.

Making sure patients feel fully involved in their treatment decisions is very important to us and all treatment options are usually discussed and agreed with patients at their consultation.

It is difficult to comment on your specific case further without reviewing your case notes and knowing which services you have accessed and the specific consultant you have seen. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the concerns you have raised here with you and would urge you to get in touch with our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on freephone 0800 073 0510.

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