"NHS - NOT Mission Impossible"

In December 2016 I rang The Villages Medical Centre to make a GP appointment due to severe pain in my right leg. I rang the surgery at 8am, spoke to a receptionist at 8. 10 and was given an appointment at 9. 40 that morning. I saw Dr Beaumont, Locum, who diagnosed osteo-arthritis in my hip as the likely cause, then printed and gave me a form with my details and a phone number at RSCH to call to book an x-ray appointmernt. When I arrived home I rang x-ray and was given an appointment just 2 days later!

Where are the long NHS delays the media keeps bombarding us about, both in respect of GP appointments and hospital patient services?

I had my x-rays taken at RSCH by a radiographer who was totally professional, efficient and polite throughout. She said that the results would be at the surgery in a week.

I rang the surgery a week later to confirm that the results had been received and was given a telephone appointment with my GP the next morning.

My GP, Dr Hull, rang meand, after discussing severity, location and frequency of pain, she asked me if I thought it was the right time to be referred for a hip replacement operation. After some thought I said not yet as I had only had the severe pain for about 6 weeks so that, with the severe pressure on the NHS, it would be better to wait 2 or 3 months to see how it developed. Dr Hull suggested I make a follow up appointment in February.

The pain became much worse so I rang the surgery at 8am one morning and was given an appointment with Dr Hull later on that day. After discussing the pain Dr Hull took me through an online questionnaire and then referred me to RSCH for a hip replacement. She said that I would be contacted by the hospital. Again totally professional, efficient and polite, and within the scheduled 10 minutes so very quick.

Nearly 3 weeks later I was phoned by RSCH before 9am and offered an appointment in the Orthopaedic Department at the end of February at 1. 40pm in the afternoon

I arrived at 1. 20 on the day of my appointment, registered and was taken to see Mr Rosson, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, who asked me to describe the pain in my leg and then checked for resistance in my hip. Within 20 minutes my name had been added to the list for a Hip Replacement operation, again totally professional, efficient and polite. Again also very quick so I was very impressed once more, but even better was still to come.

As I left Mr Rosson's office at 1. 45 I was told that if I could wait until 2. 30 I could have my Pre-op. Assessment carried out whilst I was there. I readily agreed and was sent for a blood test in the meantime.

The Pre-Op. Assessment was very thorough and carried out by Mary Ann in a very professional, efficient and polite manner, and she gave me an information brochure on before and after a hip replacement.

So, having gone to my appoinment with Mr Rosson with a lot of uncertainty as to whether I would be accepted for a hip replacement, following all the adverse comments in the press about how long patients were having to wait, some CCGs delaying acceptance/operations based on how badly sleep was affected by pain, etc. , I came away two and a half hours after I arrived having not only been added to the list for the operation but also having had the Pre-Op assessment and Blood Test carried out, as well as being given useful information in preparation for the operation.

All my contacts with the NHS in this process, both GP appointments, and appointments at RSCH for x-rays, with Mr Rosson, Pre-Op. Assessment and blood test, have ALL been characterised by:

Professionalism

Efficiency

Politeness, and

Total lack of delay

I therefore could not be happier with the service I have received from both The Villages Medical Centre and Royal Surrey County Hospital, and look forward to more of the same when it comes to my operation in due course.