"othotics department"

My son has recently been referred to the orthotics dept at QMC. He had an appointment for a casting on 4th November and I have waited 3 weeks to call them about his fitting of his splints and orthotic shoes.

At the appointment my husband who has Aspergers needed to recall my sons whole history as nothing had been forwarded from Mary Potter Centre which was his previous orthotics. he was then given a letter of an appointment of 6th Jan, of which my husband assured me this was a review. My son needed to attend the meeting due to his shoes being virtually unwearale and his right splint having a split in it, so this visit wasn't just for fun he had a genuine need. after calling today I found out that the 6th Jan was a fitting appointment, my son is 14 and is 6ft 1inch and is still growing, I do not feel it is acceptable to be told he has to wait until January as this would mean he has at least a month with no splints at all.

I have now been told this is due to staffing issues and that the usual waiting time is 4 weeks why is this different from the Mary Potter service of 2 weeks and are you ok with a child in need going without his splints for such a long period.

The system is failing my child and I am sure many others as this cannot be an isolated case. I have now an appointment for the 11th Dec this is classed as an emergency appointment, how appalling for a vulnerable young person to be treated this way.