"not getting the treatment I need fast"

I am writing to you because I am in a lot of pain and I don’t think it’s fair the way I have been treated.

September last year I had my shoe built up at the privately run Orthotic Clinic. A change had been made to my requirements as my shoe needed to be raised from 20 to 45mm. I was concerned that I may need follow-up treatment and monitoring regarding this change so I asked whether I could book a review appointment in 6 months time. I was informed that it would not be necessary and that I just needed to telephone to make an appointment.

In January I telephoned the clinic to make an appointment, as I was experiencing increasing pain and discomfort. I was informed that I would be put onto a waiting list, which was verified by letter. This is the last I have heard and goes against what I had been told previously.

Whilst waiting to hear back from the clinic I have visited my doctor on several occasions who has tried different medication and also had my hip and knee x-rayed. He has discovered that I am suffering with arthritis in my hip and knee and also that my hip is twisted.

I feel that these issues are being worsened by the modifications made to my shoes but I am unable to meet with anyone from the Orthotic clinic as I am still waiting to hear back regarding an appointment. I also take issue with the fact that any modifications made to my shoes take at least six weeks to turn around, and one had to go back three times as it kept coming back wrong.

In summary I feel that the service I have received from the Orthotic Clinic in Northampton has been poor to say the least, given that the service I received from Weston Favell Podiatry Clinic was very good I cannot understand the change in my standard of care.