"Hope restored after a staff huddle"

I was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease 18 years ago but I was lucky enough to be able to cope with the associated problems that affected me without too much difficulty.

It was a different story, however, when I started having hip and knee pain which gradually developed into an agonising "I can't put my foot on the floor" situation.

During the next few months I visited overworked doctors, crowded A & E centres, busy X-ray departments and even phoned NHS 24 when I was reduced to crawling around the house on my hands and knees.

Along the way I collected a walking stick, a toilet seat aid and a mobility assister plus ever-increasing dosages of different painkillers which, to be honest, made little impact on my pain.

My luck changed on my regular check-up with Gillian, my Parkinson nurse, who suggested a visit to Whitefield Hospital in Dunfermline could be beneficial as they had a special day when a whole group of experts would all be there to assess a patients situation.

It sounded too good to be true but I duly got an appointment for a whole day session and I had high hopes that at long last someone would come up with an answer to my problem.

Right from the cheery, warm welcome from the nurses on duty followed by the professional and friendly manner in which they filled in my introductory fact sheet, I knew I had come to the right place.

Everything on my personal agenda for the day was patiently explained to me in detail and the whole schedule went like clockwork. An interesting and informative session with the physiotherapist was followed by an equally searching and helpful stint with the occupational therapist.

Highlight of my day was the exhaustive interview with the doctor who, after a full physical examination, gave me the benefit of her knowledge and advice before outlining a plan of action which seemed ideal to me. It was the first time I had ever had a doctor's attention for over an hour.

After lunch, the whole group then had a "huddle" in private to discuss my case and I was more than delighted when I was offered a place in their schedule for the next three months.

They certainly lifted my spirits and I had a spring in my step for the first time in ages as I said my thanks and goodbyes. And I am confident that this story will have a happy ending in three months time. Watch this space!