"Shoulder Joint Operation - Part Two"

Following referral from NHS consultant to Independent Sector Treatment provider: Claremont Hospital in the Spring of last year, I attended for my shoulder operation as a day case. Patients around me were also attending for minor surgery, and although this was still on the NHS, the surroundings bore the hallmarks of private hospital care. The coffee was certainly of a higher quality. Operation went smoothly, all was relatively low key. Couple of the nursing staff were from an agency and had other jobs elsewhere but knew their roles and inspired confidence. Saw consultant that day and several weeks later as outpatient and am very happy to report that there was some low grade post op pain which subsided as predicted and the pain in my shoulder has all but disappeared. Soon after this episode I also had problems with a Bakers cyst on my knee and trigger thumbs both requiring consultant referrals at the Northern General Hospital one to different Orthopaedic consultant and the other to Plastic Surgery. After years of not attending any hospital I suddenly felt I should have a season ticket! Waiting times were not unreasonable for appointments and subsequent scans and investigations. I was happy with both sets of treatment, was kept well informed and felt I was involved in the decision making process: in case of my knee this was an explanation of what the problem was and a decision that it did not merit surgical intervention at this point, my thumbs both required injections but up to now nothing further. The important theme throughout these investigations was the extent to which I was kept informed and felt part of the process, inspiring confidence for the future. One slight moan and I guess general comment is the extent to which all these different processes were dealt with by people very specialised in their field and when I asked questions about underlying causes and what might be happening "whole body" wise, noone was very forthcoming. However I do have an excellent GP and will discuss this with them. In the meantime I can once more thankfully work on my tennis serve. To see the first part of this story click here