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.
"Complete lack of communication"
About: Royal Alexandra Hospital / Accident & Emergency Royal Alexandra Hospital Accident & Emergency PA2 9PN Royal Alexandra Hospital / Trauma & orthopaedics (wards 21-23) Royal Alexandra Hospital Trauma & orthopaedics (wards 21-23) PA2 9PN
Posted by Donaldina (as ),
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See more responses from Heather Lapsley
Update posted by Donaldina (the patient) 4 years ago