"Muscle and Joint Pain Surgery East Lothian"

In 2021 I have been looked after by the A & E dept and Cardiology Dept at the Royal Infirmary, I have also received both my vaccinations in Edinburgh and the service I have received has been excellent, kind and caring without exception.

Last week I self referred to Muscle and Joint Pain Surgery as I was experiencing acute knee pain. I could barely walk and in the interim I was seen by a GP, who offered me medication and gave me an Xray referral, but he said the physio would be able to shed more light on my situation. I had also requested crutches as I was unable to weight bear.

I was given an appointment at East Lothian Community Hospital within a couple of days. The prescribed medication had worked wonders and I was able to move myself with a limp and I attended the appointment. It was quickly established (in a corridor in the waiting area-other patients present) that crutches were no longer required. I was then asked what was wrong? Then asked to take a few steps (still in the corridor, others still present) and the comment was made "that is not good". The appointment/assessment was concluded in less than six minutes and I had wasted the entire day waiting to be "assessed" in a corridor in front of other patients. This cannot meet any of the standards of healthcare, patient confidentiality etc. During the 6 minute encounter I had no sense of privacy and felt like I was being processed. No words to describe how I feel about this encounter. I have booked myself an appointment with a private physio, as I do not want to ever encounter this individual again. I do not believe this is a departmental issue as I did not see other assessments taking place in the corridor.

I would like to thank all the other clinicians that have helped and cared for me in 2021.