"Extremely upset-eight weeks for a clear diagnosis."

Anything else?

I visited A&E at the beginning of March after sustaining a knee injury whilst playing netball and the service was outstanding. My first consultation at the Trauma and Orthopaedics department was promptly organised and the doctor I saw was great; polite, caring and went out of his way to explain his thoughts about what I had done.

However this is where my satisfaction ends. I was scheduled in again for two week's time with a different doctor. Once again, the nurses were wonderfully friendly and helpful. However the same could not be said about the doctor I saw. I explained everything to him including details of my previous visit, he was thorough in his examination but was so uncommunicative. After suggesting an MRI he went silent and it was then up to me to ask all the follow up questions; what can I be doing to help? Are there any exercises I can do? Do I strap it up? Should I look into physio? How long will I be waiting? Each of these questions was met with the minimum communication possible.

I desperately want to do anything I can to get better so when his final comment was that I would be waiting another six weeks to be seen again I was devastated. This will mean I have been waiting eight weeks before an actual diagnosis will be given; I have no idea of what time scale I am looking at. I am aware that a prognosis cannot be accurate but I just have no idea about what this could mean for me.

I am still in pain. I am a teacher who works 20 miles away from home. I am having to be driven to and from work by a very understanding partner however this means my petrol costs have doubled.

Eight weeks?

After his final comment to me, the doctor left the room mumbling about asking for a brace without indicating that the consultation had ended. A nurse (I think, she was wearing a green uniform and was absolutely lovely) came in and took me to wait for a brace (at which point, I must confess, I burst into tears).

I have refrained from writing this for 24 hours so that I have had time to clear my head but I am still frustrated and very upset. The cost of this all is crippling and the pain and frustration from not knowing anything for eight weeks is unacceptable.

I have Tweeted my frustration to the UHBristolNHS and NHSBristol and have not been recognised so feel this is my next step.