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Difficult experience of foot and ankle surgery

Posted By golfgj88

"Difficult experience of foot and ankle surgery"

About: University Hospital Hairmyres / Trauma & Orthopaedics (Wards 1 & 5)

(as the patient),

I found this to be a horrendous experience from start to finish.

After experiencing foot and ankle problems I was referred to their orthotics department. 

I felt it was obvious to me my problems were more serious so I saw a foot and ankle surgeon privately who told me orthotics would do nothing and I needed surgery. 

I presented this evidence to Hairmyres so their solution was to send me for more orthotics. 

I felt that the member of the orthotics team treated me like I was an idiot although I had presented evidence from a foot and ankle surgeon that I needed surgery and gave me more orthotics that were worse than the first pair. I had also lost my job by this stage. 

I got another private consultation and this consultant agreed with the first private consultant I saw. 

My doctor complained to the foot and ankle surgeon but still refused to see me despite the evidence of the two foot and ankle surgeons I saw. 

I then complained to the foot and ankle surgeon and they finally agreed to send me to their colleague who they told me was a foot and ankle surgeon.

I was told that the colleague was actually a specialist in another orthopaedics discipline - I was told this by one of the orthotics staff who seemed puzzled I was being sent to them- and by the time they diagnosed my problem after a year I had extensive ankle ligament damage as well as my original problem although I never had an accident. 

I had my operation elsewhere and was told that my ankle was damaged due to the delay in treatment. I wish I had known this earlier.

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Responses

Response from Service Manager Audiology, Princess Gate, NHS Lanarkshire 4 years ago
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 25/06/2019 at 14:48
Published on Care Opinion at 14:48

Dear Golfgj88

Firstly, I am extremely disappointed to hear that your experience of both the orthopaedic and orthotic services was such a negative one for you.

Neither my team nor myself would ever wish for any patient to feel the way you have described in your post. Please accept my sincere apologies for you feeling the way you have described.

I am also sorry that the orthotic care provided has not been helpful, and that you felt that the care you received was not in line with other opinions you had sought privately.

In terms of the issues you raise around your care and the fact that there appear to have been conflicting opinions between the various professionals you have seen. It is difficult for me to comment on this from the detail within your post, without having some more information to allow me to investigate this further for you.

The anonymous nature of feedback via care opinion makes it difficult to assess how this has arisen as I am unable to review your clinical records.

However, if you wish to contact me directly on 01698 456550, I would be more than happy to explore your case and discuss further with you in person if you think this would be in any way helpful.

Once again, please accept my sincere apologies for any distress or feeling that your experience of the foot and ankle service was a negative one.

Kind Regards

Robbie Rooney

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Update posted by golfgj88 (the patient)

Hello Mr Rooney

I tried calling but there was no answer.

To answer your question, when I complained about my treatment at the foot and ankle department I was told to complain to patient affairs.

In return I got a reply which only seemed to give the foot and ankle departments side of the story.

It failed to answer the important question which was why despite expert opinion from two foot and ankle surgeons my surgeon still tried to justify not seeing me and sent me to a surgeon with a different speciality.

In total it took a year to get a diagnosis, in that time I lost my job and spent a considerable amount of money.

Patient Affairs did not answer these questions.

The surgeon I eventually saw thought it was shocking I had not been seen by my original surgeon or a foot and ankle surgeon and had waited a year to get a diagnosis.

As I got no help from patient affairs I have complained to the Ombudsman and an MSP on the advice of my GP.

Feel free to phone me if you have any answers I've not already had!

Thanks

Response from Robbie Rooney, Service Manager Audiology, Princess Gate, NHS Lanarkshire 4 years ago
Robbie Rooney
Service Manager Audiology, Princess Gate,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 26/06/2019 at 11:57
Published on Care Opinion at 13:30

picture of Robbie Rooney

Dear golfgj88

following on from your further correspondence, I have checked with the receptionist who takes calls on 01698 456550, and they don't appear to have taken any messages for me today. This number is not for the orthotic dept and is instead my office base.

If you are happy to phone again on 01698 456 550 and leave your details with the receptionist I would be happy to follow this up and investigate further for you.

Kind Regards

Robbie Rooney

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Response from Rick Edwards, Service Manager Surgical & Critical Care, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 4 years ago
Rick Edwards
Service Manager Surgical & Critical Care, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 28/06/2019 at 09:22
Published on Care Opinion at 13:09

picture of Rick Edwards

Dear Golfgj88,

There are often different treatment options available for most medical conditions and sometimes surgery is not always the first recommendation. I’m sorry to hear about the conflicting information you received from NHS and private healthcare providers and the subsequent impact this has had on your health.

I manage Care Opinion for NHS Lanarkshire and I'm sorry we'll be unable to comment further through Care Opinion as you’ve been provided with a response of the investigation into your circumstances through the formal complaints process, which you have now escalated to your MP and the SPSO.

I wish you well with your ongoing recuperation and management.

Kind regards

Rick

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