NHS Thread!

[Hop skip n jump]

Need to have a moan! Grrrrrrr

My left knees original injury was Oct -04 followed by an LR and clean up March 05 which didn't work, am now booked in for TTT fulkersons, that was from an OS apt Jan 20th this year. My meds have been upped to Tramadol as the OA is horrendous.

I spoke to my doctor a few weeks ago who wrote a letter to my OS to try to expediate things but I've discovered today from the admissions office that nothing has come of it and I am still on the routine surgery list which is a 6 month wait. So just over 4 months to go. Grrrrrrrr! I hate the NHS with a passion today! I just want to get things moving as this is all I can think about at the moment.

Has anyone had any  luck in speeding things up?
Thanks for letting me vent!
Hop

[sarah81]

Hi Hop

Just wanted to say sorry and I can sympathise - NHS waiting lists are a nightmare 

Sarah x

[Nettan]

Can't you call yourself and tell how you have it ?
Where I live we have this huge thing called Landstinget..work exactly like NHS...totally bad..when I have called myself I have gotten better dates.
Just a thought. Thinking of you !!

HUGS NETTAN

[Doc79316]

Hey Hop,

It may be worth speaking with your OS's secretary or the waiting list co-ordinator. That's how I got my surgery speeded up. You could ask to go on a cancellation list also. If you tell them you don't need much notice they may be able to slot you in somewhere.

L.x

[SarahJane]

You could also check whether your OS has a shorter list at another Hospital - the recent changes mean that NHS patients can change to other Hospitals ...   Not always possible, but worth a check  (have a look at the Dr. Foster web site)

p.s.   -  I do know how you feel .... Frustrated, angry, distressed etc.   seems like people in the NHS don't 'care' about the effect your knee prob has on your life etc. etc.

Stick with it!

[bex1708]

Hi Hop

NHS Is so frustrating.  I was told i would have to wait 6 months.  They were going to send me to another local hospital but realised there was noone there that could do my type of surgery.  So......  I bugged the hell out of my specialists secretary saying i needed to know when it was as i had to arrange cover at work.  After a couple of weeks i managed to get a date which was 4 months after i agreed to have the surgery.  Not great but better than 6 months.

Hang in there.  At least you know they are going to help you..... eventually.

Stay safe

Bex

[Hop skip n jump]

Thank you so much for your suggestions, Laura, Nettan, Sarah, Bex.  Am feeling more positive today. Up and down like a see saw! I'm going to try and get through to my OS secretary first off and see how I get on. Fortunately I still have her number from the last time! Can't remember her name though damn!

Sarah - Good idea about another hospital I hadn't thought of that! Will check it out, although I think because he does private for the nuffield too, I will be out of luck!

Again - thanks everyone - hugs to all of ya x

[Hop skip n jump]

Hi everyone

Well I called my OS's secretary who said he had received the letter from my doctor but she was unsure as to what his comments were and if he would speed things up or not. The admissions lady in charge of the waiting lists will have it now and she only works mornings so they are going to give me a call tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed now.

Hop

[bex1708]

Hi Hop

Keep at em, if they get you scheduled in for surgery that one less phone call they have to take

Bex

[smeagol]

ive tried foning letters GP everything to get it to go faster. i cant walk most days and im drugged up to my eyeballs on painkillers.  im ruining my degree and my life, i cant work so im useless.  tried explaining this to the hospital, "sorry you'll just have to wait the 6 months" and thats just for an investigative arthroscopy, the doc admitted he wasnt in a position to do anything other than repair the possible meniscus tear, not even look at the tumours or anything!
Charlotte

[UK Girl !]

Hi hop
I got told 6 - 10 month wait
wrote the waiting list people a nice letter begging to have it done in july when kids break up - the planned ops office rand me at work 2 days later and fixed the date for 26 june - thay actually said I could have beginning of june if I wanted - might be worth a try to do it that way.

which hosp are you going to?
good luck
anja

[Hop skip n jump]

Hi Charlotte
Blimey! There's me moaning and your situation sounds worse. I know what it feels like to be in pain all of the time but I suppose I do now know what's wrong. Have you asked your GP to write a letter on your behalf to expediate things? That's where I started, I phoned my GP to up my meds to tramadol and asked him then explaining how it's effecting my life and making me feel so low. I just need to find out what my Os's opinion is cos it's down to him. Don't give up trying, make them listen.

Hi Anja - Good thinking, if nothing comes of what I've tried to do so far I'll try that and if it doesn't work I'll call them every day until they sort it out to shut me up!
Well done for getting your sorted that's a result. I'm going into Southampton General.
Hop

[smeagol]

i asked the GP, she said it wont make a difference.  the hospital said it didnt make it urgent.  i know whats wrong, i have synovial osteochondromatosis, so i have tumours in my knee making cartillage and then thats causing locking and pain and collapsing.  i explained i spend alost all my time on crutches and i no longer have a life, and that had i been an animal any loving owner would have me put down, but they dont care.  my uni are just telling me to give up, because i cant study on acupan (i take one and im out like a light, so studying is out of the question, and im groggy for like 24 hours after one painkiller).  i cant work, for the same reasons, but i cant just sit at home in pain doing nothing.  ive scoured the country for someone with experience of this condition (i think theres only half a dozen in the uk) and found a guy at wrightington hospital in wigan, but im paying and going privately, paying £120 plus xrays, then if i need an operation he'll do it on the NHS for me, but it hurries it up a bit.  i waited 6 months to see my previous OS and he said he cant think of anything else to try so i just have to wait and get a knee replacement in a few years (im 19!) ive had this since i was about 10 and they tried removing the loose bodies, and a partial synovectomy, but nothing worked.  so i keep fighting, and my pony and my boyfriend keep me going.
Charlotte

[UK Girl !]

Hi Hop

good luck at Southampton - spent  some time there last year - my brother had serious car crash - smashed up knee cap on one leg and had several breaks in other leg plus loads of other little breaks and bruises- he is still not anywhere near being fixed up - but I know they are doing their best there.
He is home now so hopefully will recover faster. A very good friend of mine works as a theatre nurse there. seems like an okay place from where I am looking - but I am not going there for my surgery.
A.

[Hop skip n jump]

Hi Charlotte
I'll tell you what we'll get your extra cartalidge removed and I'll have some! I had a look at a fre of your last posts to gain an understanding of your condition. Nasty, really rare too which doesn't help. But hey you seem to have found a guy in wrightington
that may be able to offer you the light at the end of the tunnel you so deservedly seek. If he removes your synovial thingy (sorry) will this be an end to it? I read about your pigs (guinea) how cute! Would love to see what the babies look like, I bet they are adorable. So this waiting list is this for an initial consultation with Wigan OS?

Hi Anja
I would like to firsty send well wishes to your brother. Your friend in theatre might see the inside of my knee! Bleugh! Where are you having yours done?

Thanks guys, means a lot. (Ging to bed now, long day, see ya soon)
Hop