The complaint is ongoing, and I would not wish to disclose personal details on a public forum so I'll stick purely to facts and circumstances. Suffice to say that a few years ago, I was treated in such a way by my physio that I was humiliated and degraded in the corridors of RD&E hospital.
At the end of that appointment, the physio said that there was no point in seeing me until I could carry out specific walking based tasks. I was actually seeing this physio for treatment of a condition, which had taken most of my leg functionality (both legs) and rendered me unable to walk without at least one crutch.
The physio made it perfectly clear that I should not go back until I could complete these tasks, by saying that seeing me was a waste of clinic hours that could be better used by others. This physio told me that I should just walk normally. The pain from the effort of it all reduced me to tears in that corridor. I asked for a second "stick" in order that I might achieve the impossible task I was being set. I suffer from somatoform pain disorder, among other things, so this was no easy feat. It was after failing at this task that the physio made it clear I should not return until I could do things their way. Wasn't that what I was there for? To get help with all that? I feel that I was effectively discharged by the physio at that appointment.
Several years on, the continued unsupervised use of a crutch in my right arm has led my shoulder to serious harm; I use a wheelchair now when things are too difficult and am currently receiving treatment elsewhere for rotator cuff injury and other damage which prevents me from using my right arm much at all. I believe that I am now more disabled than I was before as a result of the failure of treatment by that physio.
I wrote to the Chief Exec of Wonford hospital about all this, and the response is almost laughably inadequate. I have yet to see any solid proof that my complaint is being taken seriously or that any kind of investigation has taken place at all. I requested a copy of my complaint record and received copies of the letters exchanged between us and a couple of insignificant emails between staff. Not a shred of any investigation records, which indicates that the Trust's own complaints policy is not being followed and my complaint not being taken seriously. What's more, the administration/management of the hospital have taken the view that since nobody else has made a similar complaint, my experience can't have happened. The latest response suggests that trampling on someone's rights is ok if the person concerned didn't mean to. Considering the Chief Exec et al are ultimately accountable, if I prove the hospital to be in breach of my rights, I would have expected a deeper level of concern.
I am at the stage now of deciding on the legal route or the ombudsman. I think I'll go Ombudsman first, otherwise the legal route will close off that option. I think also the CQC should be made aware of all this.
Anyway, I just wanted to get my 'story' out there, because the hospital don't seem to be taking it seriously. Thanks for reading.
"Lack of care by physio has caused long term health problems"
About: Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford) Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford) Exeter EX2 5DW http://www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/
Posted by CJR33d (as ),
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Responses
See more responses from Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (2)
Update posted by CJR33d (the patient) 10 years ago
Update posted by CJR33d (the patient) 10 years ago
See more responses from Brenda Leaman