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"Complete lack of communication"

About: Royal Alexandra Hospital / Accident & Emergency Royal Alexandra Hospital / Trauma & orthopaedics (wards 21-23)

(as the patient),

I had been told 5 weeks previously by GP that I had a sprained ankle when I attended with a badly bruised, swollen and painfuI ankle after a fall. I went back to surgery 4 wks later as I had developed a sore and tender knee and I thought my ankle looked a slightly funny shape. This GP sent me for an X ray in  March at RAH. On the Fri late in the afternoon I got a call from GP to say x ray result showed a fracture and to go to RAH fracture clinic. I did this on the  next morning. I was sent for an x ray of my ankle and knee the staff member who did x-ray asked me what happened and suggested that part of the story I said was wrong in the notes they had about me had been made up by someone ,which made me feel uncomfortable.

I was sent back to the fracture clinic and given a small walking boot after a lot of searching by the nurse who initially was going to give me a medium, which looked huge as they could not find a small, it turns out short supply meant they were being hidden. 
I left with an information leaflet on a Fixed Walker Boot. I was told by the nurse that they could not fill in the section on how many weeks I was to wear it for as doctors were having a meeting but I would get a call in the next few days but to call the fracture clinic if I did not. I did not so I called on 18 March in the afternoon and was told someone would call me on 19th pm, they did not. I called the fracture clinic again and to be honest felt like I was being a nuisance and asked what is it you want to know? Anything would have been appreciated!
For the 2nd day in a row I just wanted to know what happened next, could I go to work, how much walking in a boot was acceptable, could I take it off to drive a short distance to train station for work as it is a 20 min walk from my home. I was told that I would be sent out an appointment for the following week, fine but did not answer my questions. Was told yet again someone would call be back. So far no one has .
It was also mentioned a few times by various staff that it was a 6 wk old injury as though I should be able to deduce something from that or that I was I felt being a nuisance.
I completely appreciate how busy staff are and the challenges of the NHS but the complete lack of communication I have experienced over what I appreciate is a minor injury, has been very stressful and disappointing.
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Responses

Response from Heather Lapsley, Clinical Services Manager - Surgery and Older People's Services, Inverclyde Royal Hospital - Clyde Sector, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 4 years ago
Heather Lapsley
Clinical Services Manager - Surgery and Older People's Services, Inverclyde Royal Hospital - Clyde Sector,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Submitted on 15/05/2019 at 10:31
Published on Care Opinion at 12:07


picture of Heather Lapsley

Dear Donaldina,

Firstly I'd like to offer my sincere apologies for the delay in responding to you.

It is clear from all that you have shared that this has been a frustrating and stressful time for you.

I have spoken with the senior charge nurse in fracture clinic, who is very keen to speak to you and resolve the difficulties you have encountered. She was saddened that your experience has been a negative one and will work with her staff to assist you.

Her contact details are:-

Tel. 0141 314 6789 or by email to Linda.Blair2@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Kind Regards

Heather

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Donaldina (the patient)

Thank you for your response. I don't really see the point in contacting the charge nurse 2 months after my visit to the fracture clinic and 3 months after I sustained the fracture.

I have a physio appointment on 24th of May at the RAH which will hopefully be a more positive experience.

Regards

Donaldina

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