"Problems after hip replacement surgery"

In April I had a right total hip replacement due to osteo arthritis. From 10 days after discharge it dislocated and slipped back in 3 times. 2 weeks post op it dislocated for a 4th time and would not go back in.

I was in an awful lot of pain and at 8pm my husband rang 111 who rang back 40 minutes later saying to ring 999. This was done at 8.45 pm but sadly the ambulance did not arrive until 2.15 am some 6 hours later.

We had numerous calls saying that there were life threatening calls that took priority which we understood but it did not help my pain and the distress my husband was in.

When the ambulance men arrived they were absolutely wonderful and gave me plenty of pain relief and reassured me. I was taken to casualty and admitted.

The next day I went to theatre and the dislocation was put back under GA. I was discharged on the Tuesday but sadly it dislocated again the next day, Wednesday.

Sadly I was standing when it came out and could not sit down. Our neighbours came to help but I fainted in their arms twice due to the pain.

An ambulance was called and it arrived with much relief after only 2 hours. Liz and Karen were the paramedics who were as wonderful as the previous gentlemen, gave me plenty of pain relief, reassurance and transported me to casualty.

The dislocation had to be put back in under heavy sedation in casualty and I was admitted. Then I went back to theatre for a revision of hip replacement, where the surgeon discovered an error in the earlier operation that had to be corrected.

I was discharged from hospital 5 days later back to the start of the 6-12 week protocol. I have no complaints against the surgeon who is wonderful but was glad to know it was not anything I had done wrong to cause so much trauma.

The paramedics, Dr's ward staff and Consultants were all wonderful and I wanted you to know this at a time when so many people in the NHS re being criticised so much. It was an awful time for me but all the people who attended me were brilliant.