"Visit to Whyteman's Brae Hospital - Outpatients - Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic."

Earlier today I visited the Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic and met with Dr. Halford. He thoroughly examined my left leg and knee area and advised me that I would need to have an MRI scan to ascertain the internal damage to my left knee. Once the scan results are known then we can move on as to whether or not I might need an operation to solve my problems. I now have to join a waiting list of between 4 to 6 weeks in order to have a scan. I was very satisfied with the service provided to me by Dr. Halford. My main concern is that I injured my left knee / leg in February 2019 and I have then had a number of visits to my GP and to the Victoria Hospital / Whyteman's Brae Hospital to be then told today that I needed to have an MRI scan. I needed this scan in early March 2019 and I have painfully suffered debilitating pain in my left leg and knee since February. I bought myself a knee support and a walking stick in order to help me get about and I also paid for three private physiotherapy sessions so that I could actually walk. At the time of my injury occurring the NHS physiotherapy sessions were not available for 6 weeks hence the reason I paid for my own private sessions.

I arrived at the Whyteman's Brae Hospital at 0905 hours today but could not park as the parking barrier was not due to be lifted until 0915 hours. Nobody came and opened up the barrier and I had to ring the telephone number on my letter - 01383 -674105 in order to get someone from Dunfermline to ring the reception area at Whyteman's Brae in order to get an NHS employee to open up the barrier. I am pleased to say that the barrier was eventually opened about 0925 hours and I did make my appointment timeously. I felt that this was very poor service and the telephone number on my letter should have been a Kirkcaldy number and not the Dunfermline number I was provided with on my initial appointment letter. I should add that I had to join a line of motor vehicles on Willow Drive who were all waiting to park their vehicles once the barrier got lifted. I believe some of your own NHS staff were late for their own work as the barrier seemed to be locked in place and could not be lifted manually. This barrier lifting needs to be looked at in order that staff members can get to their place of work and members of the general public can get to their outpatient appointments timeously. I specifically left my home early in order to get parked outside the Whyteman's Brae Hospital and I did get there eventually.