In early April I attended accident and emergency with a suspected knee dislocation. Care at a and e was good from staff who initially dealt with me. I was seen fairly quick. However, I'm still unsure of my diagnoses, as I was told I had a small femur fracture, was put in a leg brace, given pain relief and told no weight bearing or going upstairs, I was told someone from orthopaedics would call me after they had reviewed my X-ray at their meeting. I was told there was so much bleeding in the knee they could not see the damage or be sure where the bleeding was from. However, I received no phone call, and was aware weds and Thursday was the doctors strike, so I had to call my GP for more pain relief and a sick note as I could not walk.
My GP was unaware I had attended a and e, so I called minors at a and e and explained the situation. I was told an orthopaedic doctor would call me, which he did within half an hour. I explained to him I had no advise on how to care for my leg. He told me there was a fracture in my knee after reviewing the X Ray and I needed to be seen, he would send an appointment, but I still I have had no appointment.
I don't know if I have one or two fractures. My GP is unaware and I am unsure of what I should be doing to get mobile again. I need to prove to my work why I can't work, and have not been told if I should try and mobilise or keep my leg elevated. Sometimes the pain is uncontrollable. It is an absolute shame, because the initial care at accident and emergency was better than expected. However, aftercare and advice and follow up is shameful, I'm just grateful I'm not an elderly person left to get on with it, and I can access Google for information about what to look out for, (risk of blood clots etc), I'm just very disappointed.
"Poor aftercare, once discharged from a and e"
About: East Surrey Hospital / Accident and emergency East Surrey Hospital Accident and emergency RH1 5RH
Posted by Luckylin (as ),
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