"I wish to record this so that it does not happen to anyone else"

Was referred by a locum GP at Montpelier Health Centre for a chronic arthritic hip, had a hip X-ray at UH Bristol the very next day

The locum asked if I was interested in physiotherapy so I said "why not?" , not realising the consequences nor did the locum.

Checked with another GP on 2nd October that the X-ray showed no smooth cartilage (bone on bone) and confirmed that I had been referred for assessment for a hip replacement.

Later I reconfirmed, with the GP, that I was being assessed for a hip replacement, "you're in the pipeline, we'll get you fixed up by next year" to quote.

In January a physiotherapy appointment appeared which I attended at UH Bristol not MATS when I realised it was completely inappropriate for my advanced arthritis which was worsening by the day.

By the end of February in desperation I double checked with my GP practice who thought they had referred me, UH Bristol Ortho team who had never heard of me and finally MATS who confirmed that no referral had been made as I was receiving treatment!! Classic catch 22. Meanwhile over 20 weeks had gone by. The GP practice had never heard of this and were as amazed as me to learn of the reason for the delay in my case.

So I quickly made an emergency appointment my GP to get a second referral for treatment to which I finally got a reply finally in March, eventually receiving an appointment with an Ortho team nearly 30 weeks after first referral.

As you know the current wait time for treatment after assessment is also over 35 weeks so I will be receiving treatment next year but 2020 rather than 2019!!

I wish to record this so that it does not happen to anyone else and to help  GPs not to tick the wrong box - for the sake of their patients.