Waiting times (Wales) Question

[tiggywinkle2009]

Evening all,

 

Hope you are all keeping warm and well.

 

I've been waiting since early August for surgery on my shoulder, as a 'soon' case, the surgeon said he operates a routine, soon and urgent caseload and I was told I should wait no more than 16 weeks for surgery if I fell in this category.

 

Obviously 16 weeks has come and gone, I rang. the hospital where I am scheduled just to see where I was on the list and I was told the target was now not to wait anymore than 22 weeks for a 'soon' case. I asked whether the waiting time included the 2 week break for Christmas and I was told yes, operating as normal over Christmas as far as possible. Asked also would the winter increase in people affec this time scale, advised no because the surgery is being done as a day case and it's only the inpatient surgeries which will get affected ( hmmmm not sure on these two as I am sure these will put a delay in any case!). I asked about a rough date, told second week in January, so was quite pleased at that. That was in December.

 

However, still not heard anything and I am getting increasing pain, but that is fine, I know it is only a matter of time to getting it sorted! My GP is not supportive of me having the surgery, he thinks I should leave it alone but the consultant thinks I have a 95% chance of a full recovery with no ill effects, so I am going with the consultants choice as previously have had all non surgical treatements, physio, cortisone, painkillers etc. I also asked my GP if he could write to the consultant to ask if my priority could be re-assessed due to the increasing pain and lack of mobility in the joint but he refused on the grounds he did not agree with the surgery.

 

I then telephoned the consultant's secretary who said not a lot she could do but pass a message to the surgeon. That was December as well.

 

So, I'm in a quandry really about what to do, I am in so much pain it's unbelievable at times, can't drive at the moment as I can't comfortably raise my arm to the top in the steering wheel and I have difficulty making up bottle for my son as I can't pick up the kettle but luckily, my husband now does the bottles for the day!

 

I can't find any up to date waiting times for Wales at the moment and I know for some specialities they have a system where if you've not been treated within X amount of weeks you can opt to go to another trust or privately but unsure what specialities this covers or how long you need to wait.

 

Can't see myself being treated anytime soon though, due to blood clotting issues I am supposed to have a specific blood test 2-3 weeks before surgery and the surgeon was aware of that and put it on the card he filled in for my surgery, if that has been taken notice of, then I am not going to be treated within the 22 weeks as even if the surgery was scheduled for late Jan/early Feb, I would need to have had or be scheduled for the blood test now!

 

Does anyone know where I can find out the up to date waiting list times so I have an idea of when I could expect treatment or whether the private surgery scheme extends to shoulders (I know knees were on the list as I had a knee op privately as I'd waited 22 months on the NHS back in 2004)or even if this scheme still runs?

 

Thank you!

xx

[corgiman]

In wales there is a 26 week target from gp referal to treatment in your case they have breached this target .I believe you should write to your AM and complain and quote the RTT target ie referal to treatment as health is a devolved power

[tiggywinkle2009]

Thank very much Corgiman.

 

I will get on to that today.

 

Very helpful, thank you.

[tiggywinkle2009]

Just to update, phoned AM's surgery office, spoke to a nice lady helper who rang the hospital in question.

 

She called me back and advised that on a generic basis (she took my details but said they probably wouldn't discuss individual cases) and basically, someone who has waited since August is likely not to be operated on until May/June 2010. They are not meeting targets and there is nothing they can do.

 

She will pass my concerns to the AM and ask that they are addressed.

 

Not good news though for me

[corgiman]

I work in the nhs on the admin side make a written complaint yourself to the hospital .This will invoke the complaint procedure which will make you a name and not just a number

[tiggywinkle2009]

Hi all,

 

I wanted to update this because I am absolutely disgusted with the NHS complaints proceedure.

 

I made a verbal and written complaint and both have been dealt with....well in the NHS's mind anyway.

 

I've been told there is nothing which can be done, despite the fact I have waited for such a long time, told there are people who have been waiting longer and are more urgent on clinical need etc. They told me to go back to my GP if my symptoms worsened.

 

I went back to my surgery, saw a far more understanding locum GP, who is fuming, he has written to get my case speeded up, went back to see him yesterday and he had asked for a response, didn't receive one from the hospital, so he rang and was basically given the same story.

 

I'm not sure what's happening next, I'm in agony, GP can see that and he's told the hospital that yet they aren't doing anything.

 

He suggested admitting me as an emergency, he spoke to the ortho on call who said they'd probably just discharge me with the same painkillers I have.

 

I'm thinking of involving my AM now but it just doesn't feel right....I'm grateful for the NHS, I am, but it feels like it's failing me now when I really need it.

 

Any advice would be appreciated

[corgiman]

Sorry to hear about your problems please can you pm and tell me which hospital is it.

i would personally make a complaint in writing to your AM and quote the RTT (REFERRAL TO TREATMENT ) of 26 weeks which came into all hospital in 2009. What the welsh assembly govement said a patient WILL GET the treatment within 26 weeks of a referral being made so what are you going to do about it. NHS managers considering the salarys they are on are accountable to the assembly govement and must tell the assembly on a monthly basis are they breaching the RTT targets so tell your AM this hospital is and you want your treatment withing the quoted 26 weeks.

Point out you have exhausted the hospital complaint system and still nothing is done.