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Repeated cancellation of orthopaedic surgery

Posted By Herica

"Repeated cancellation of orthopaedic surgery"

About: Raigmore Hospital / Trauma & orthopaedics

(as the patient),

I travel 250 miles round trip to Inverness. I was referred for surgery in October 2014.

I had one date in April 2015, cancelled previous evening at 17. 30. I had travelled.

Next appointment June 12th, overnight stay at Kyle court. Got to ward, ID bracelet, two anaethetists visit, BP etc, cancelled at 09. 10. No beds. I despair, it took me all day to travel home and unassisted 125 miles.

They cannot say when I can be fitted in yet again. As a consequence the admin boss said I should see my GP if I felt depressed by the situation and look to pain management techniques. Does she think I haven't tried all that? It is not like me complain but it has become beyond a joke.

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Responses

Response from Linda Kirkland, Interim Director of Operations, Raigmore Hospital, NHS Highland 8 years ago
Linda Kirkland
Interim Director of Operations, Raigmore Hospital,
NHS Highland

Submitted on 22/06/2015 at 22:54
Published on Care Opinion on 23/06/2015 at 07:40

Dear Herica

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to respond but I believe that you have also written a formal complaint and met with the service manager, Helen Robertson for orthopaedics as part of that.

I am so sorry that you have had such a terrible experience. We have certainly struggled to see all our patients within the appropriate timescale. This has been partly due to cancellations due to a shortage of beds on the day of surgery and partly due to an increase in referrals for treatment. I appreciate that this does not help with your situation and I am sorry for that but we are trying very hard to rectify the situation. We have just appointed two locum consultants pending recruitment of permanent staff and this should help.

Assuming you are the same patient Helen met I know that Helen I believe she did offer transport and I know she was concerned for your well being advising you to see your GP. I believe also that you now have a date to be seen. Please contact me directly on Linda.kirkland@nhs.net if I can help in any way

Best wishes Linda

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