"On Monday 24th October I attended ..."

What could be improved

On Monday 24th October I attended a clinic for an update on the condition of my right side arthritic hip. Before going in to see the Consultant I was asked to go to get the hip x-rayed.

With extreme difficulty I managed to get on to the table which was very high. To facilitate the radiologists to obtain the picture they needed I had to lower the trousers that I was wearing.

When the x-ray had been taken I was told to get up and go back to the clinic. I have arthritis in my hands and shoulders and I found it extremely painful to try to get up into a sitting position in order to get off the table. I asked the radiologist to help me and they informed me that due to Health and Safety regulations they could not do this. When I enquired as to the procedure if I could not move I was informed that they would have to call the ward and get a hoist.

My son is a Health and Safety instructor and is qualified to teach “Manual Handling” in a hospital environment. He said should be no problem using an elbow to elbow lift in this situation.

I was made to feel totally undignified as I tried to struggle, wriggle and squirm with a great deal of pain to until I managed to get off the table. When I returned to the clinic waiting area I was very near to tears and my husband was extremely angry at the way I had been treated.

It seems that it would be a good idea if your staff took some further training in order to avoid embarrassing and belittling patients like me who just need a small degree of help. My husband just needs to hold his arm out so that I can use it to pull myself up. There is no strain and no way I could do him any harm.

With the degree of disabilities that your hospital deals with on a daily basis would it be possible, if the staff are not allowed to help, some sort of handrail or other device be available for those who do not wish to have the indignity of a hoist, to help themselves in this situation.

Yours faithfully

Mavis Semans