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"Waiting six years for Jaw surgery"

About: University Hospital Monklands / Oral Surgery & Medicine

(as the patient),

In early 2018 I was reffered to Monklands for double jaw surgery due to high pallette and underdevolped lower jaw (maloclussion class 2)  causing a struggle to eat and difficulty breathing at night cause my bottom jaw pushes so far back into my neck, things seemed to go smoothly albeit slowly till everything haulted  and haven't heard anything from them since the automated COVID letter in 2020. 

I contacted my GP who contacted them on my behalf at the start of 2023 only to be told that Monklands hasn't had a dental surgeon since 2019 with no advice or further help. I have not left the house very often because of how I look (I went out more during mask mandates but now I get funny looks when I go out with one ).  I feel forgotten by the hospital which has made my depression and anxiety even worse.

If they don't have a surgeon for such long years why do they not transfer to other hospitals that do? Why couldn't they re-offer the braces before surgery whilst I waited?  - I was offered to do braces before or after and I chose after.  Why the no communication? I cant speak on phones due to voice disphoria and a phobia of them and I feel like that somehow hindered me even further which feels unfair.

I dont understand the wait and lack of communication and because it's been so long waiting for this surgery my wisdom teeth have came through on my left side and thus I will have to have the x-rays and molds retaken, making the wait even longer.  I'm not getting any younger and my life feels so wasted stuck inside cause of my face.
Im so frustrated and upset by this that my trust is broken.
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Responses

Response from Jennifer Montgomery, Improvement Coordinator, Quality Directorate, NHS Lanarkshire 8 months ago
Jennifer Montgomery
Improvement Coordinator, Quality Directorate,
NHS Lanarkshire

Operational Lead for Care Opinion in NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 09/09/2023 at 00:30
Published on Care Opinion at 00:30


picture of Jennifer Montgomery

Dear aforgettenpatient,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Oral Surgery and Medicine department at University Hospital Monklands.

I am so sorry to hear about the length of wait and lack of communication regarding you jaw surgery appointment. It is unusual for patients to wait this length of time for what sounds like life changing surgery however I unfortunately am unable to comment on the specifics of the department.

We always want to make things better for patients and all feedback is valuable to us. Can I ask that you contact our Patient Affairs department at University Hospital Monklands so they can investigate this further for you? They can be contacted by both telephone and email but I understand that email would be much more comfortable for you. I have included their contact details below for information. They would be able to give you a more personalised response.

PatientAffairs.Monklands@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

Tel no 01698 752300

Kind Regards,

Jenni

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