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AIBU?

To ask for NHS advice for my lovely Dad?

34 replies

goldwrapped · 09/02/2018 21:27

Hello lovelies
I'm hoping someone will be able to help.
My amazing, patient, non-complaining Dad has been suffering from an arthritic shoulder for some time.
He's done the usual NHS route. Years of referrals back and forth between the GP, physio and the hospital. Good days and bad days but deteriorating. Finally agreed that it was impacting on his life to such a degree that he should have surgery. He can now only drive short distances, can't do all the things he was so looking forward to doing when he retired.
Saw a surgeon in December. 3 month wait, 3 month recuperating for a shoulder replacement. Fantastic.
Phoned the surgeon last week to ask for an update. He was told he would have to wait a minimum of 9 months, maybe more, can't really say.
AIBU to think this isn't acceptable? Can anyone suggest anything we can do to improve this situation? Is there anyone we can speak to?
It's making him (and by default my Mum, and me) really sad.
Thanks everyone

OP posts:

Report

cestlavielife · 09/02/2018 21:31

Find out how much a private op is?
It s the reality of the nhs.

Ask Boris to get hold of the 350 million a week he promised....

goldwrapped · 09/02/2018 21:36

£12,000.
It is what they will do if they don't get any joy through the NHS. Just seems so wrong.
Bloody Tories.

OP posts:

mude · 09/02/2018 21:54

Google NHS RTT 18 week wait
Patients have the right to certain elective treatments within 18 weeks of referral. Your father fits this criteria.
If he breaches 18 weeks, he has the right to chose to be transferred to another hospital for treatment sooner where possible (this would probably be private hospital, paid for by the NHS, provided it does not cost the commissioner any more- and it usually doesn't)
I somewhat work in this field so happy to answer questions

TheFairyCaravan · 09/02/2018 21:59

The 18 week wait isn’t applicable anymore unfortunately. I tried to get them to implement it last year when I was in agony waiting for pelvic surgery. In the end I had to wait 28 weeks.

Have you contacted PALs gold? They might be able to help. It’s really not fair on your poor dad that he has to wait this long.

mude · 09/02/2018 22:08

18 week wait is applicable, the state of the NHS just means that majority of providers are breaching their targets massively and there isn't much they can do about it. Being clued up on your rights does help move things along though.

Sleepdream · 09/02/2018 22:10

This might be of some interest. I’ve heard you can ask to be refered there. How true this is I don’t know. Worth a look though.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5290359/SUE-REID-Gleaming-new-NHS-hospital-Calais.html

www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/14/british-man-timothy-brierley-kent-nhs-funded-surgery-calais-france

goldwrapped · 09/02/2018 22:13

@mude
Thank you so much. I thought there was an 18 week maximum, but wasn't sure how to enforce it when the hospital clearly intend to breach it.
Googling now....

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goldwrapped · 09/02/2018 22:24

@TheFairyCaravan
I'm sorry you had to wait so long, I hope you're pain free now?
PALS said they couldn't help, he contacted the Care Quality Commission but they've been next to useless. I won't let him give up - I think they're counting on him being beaten by the system.
@Sleepdream
Interesting link. I've sent it to him. Will let you know the result.
Thanks so much for replying.

OP posts:

mude · 09/02/2018 22:25

Like previously mentioned, and has been reported multiple times the NHS have almost given up trying to enforce the 18 week max wait but it is still in place. A patient also has a choice of any NHS hospital to attend, not just the local one (with some conditions set on specialist/tertiary providers) so worth looking at other options locally. Also, private hospitals may be an option. Speak to a rep at your local commissioner for local provisions

Worldsworstcook · 09/02/2018 22:26

Yep the Calais hospitals says they are ready and waiting! Go for it and let us all know xxx

BettyBaggins · 09/02/2018 22:28

I saw a news piece about the place in Calais, a woman went for a hip replacement. Its worth researching a little further, there was no waiting list. They have a deal with the nhs to cover certain operations for those willing to travel and it looked very clean and very empty!

TheFairyCaravan · 09/02/2018 22:30

Unfortunately not gold. I’m waiting to go back in to hospital, I’ve got a date for a week on Monday which will be 19 weeks since going on the list.

They were adamant when I tried to get them to implement the 18 weeks that it didn’t exist any longer. I hope you get more luck for your dad.

goldwrapped · 09/02/2018 22:33

@TheFairyCaravan
I hope you're soon pain free xx
Thanks everyone for your messages. Will get on to PALS again.

OP posts:

mude · 09/02/2018 22:35

Thefairycaravan at a guess they would not have been financially penalised for breaches, as the breaches are expected. Therefore in their eyes the 18 weeks does not exist, as there is no financial impact. They will still be required to submit compliance rates nationally and (should) have strict action plans in place to improve pathways for patients. Of course, I can't be sure if this. It may be useful for you to question this further with your provider

Tiredeypops · 09/02/2018 22:56

It is unacceptable. The NHS is in crisis. But the NHS know the problems - elective operations have been cancelled for over a month and there will now be a huge backlog. The person to complain to is your local MP!!

HappyFridays · 09/02/2018 23:14

Hey, OP so I saw your post and wondered if your Dad would give something a try. I'm 33 and was diagnosed a few years back with early onset of arthritis in my neck. I was in a fair bit of pain like your Dad, but thought there was nothing I could do but live with it. After much research I stumbled across something called MSM cream. It is a natural mineral some of us our deficient on. If you read up on the arthritis uk website the info about it is on there too. Or do some general reading on msm and it's benefits. Anyway, I used it 3x a day, as a cream only. You can also consume msm in drinks etc.These days im completely pain free, like I never had a problem. You can also make the cream up yourself so it doesn't have to be expensive. If you pm me I can get you the recipes to make it yourself Seriously, you need to give this a go. I

HappyFridays · 09/02/2018 23:17

Are deficient in, typo sorry x

millymae · 10/02/2018 00:13

This is today’s NHS sadly.
My dad has been waiting for surgery for over 12 months now. In the time he’s been waiting he’s been cancelled twice before he even got to the hospital, and what now needs to be done has gone past the point of being suitable for keyhole surgery to requiring the surgeon to devote the whole of one of his lists to him, and dad having to remain in hospital for at least week afterwards.
If Jeremy Hunt or Teresa May had followed his journey I’d like to think they would be ashamed of what the NHS has become for many of its patients. It’s undeniable that it still does wonderful work, but for many it is now nothing less than appalling. They of course will never know the true reality of things at first hand because only the best would be good enough for them.
After his 12 month wait, dad finally (we thought) went in for surgery today, and after being part prepped and waiting for over 4 hours he was eventually sent home because there was no bed for him.
The cost to the NHS must have been enormous - an entire theatre session was wasted, the surgeon, anaesthetist and all the other theatre staff were unable to do their jobs and all the pre-op tests were a waste of staff time and money. The cost to my dad an insulin dependent diabetic, was not insignificant either. He had been nil by mouth since the very early hours of the morning and had been required to stop certain other of his medications as well. Having worked in the NHS for well over 40 years he wasn’t particularly anxious about the procedure itself and had at the back of his mind that it could always end up being cancelled again, but how he remained so calm when the surgeon apologetically told him that a bed couldn’t be found for him I don’t know.
As for me I was, and am enraged on his behalf. The problem he has causes him daily discomfort and restricts his life in alsorts of ways, and the way he has been treated since he was first referred by his GP more than 12 months ago has been shameful. Most of the staff he’s come across have been kind and caring and tried their best in the circumstances but there has been cock up after cock up along the way. If our experience of complaining to PALS is anything to go on I’d say don’t waste your time. They were honestly next to useless and certainly didn’t help in speeding things up.
OP I really hope your dad (and anyone else waiting) gets the treatment he needs soon. No-one deserves to be treated the way my dad has been.

goldwrapped · 10/02/2018 09:31

@millymae I have a tear in my eye reading your post. So sorry you and your family are going through this. I hope he gets his surgery soon.
@HappyFridays I will suggest the cream, thank you.

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winterwonderly · 10/02/2018 09:52

Sorry to hear about your dad, it's horrible when you feel so powerless to do anything. My baby who is only a couple of months old was referred for a hospital appointment and was put on the urgent list. The urgent waiting list is 3 months!! That's for issues which they seem to be urgent! It's a lot longer for anything else. We ended up going privately. Yes there is a lot of amazing work done in the NHS by wonderful staff, but the system is not working.

AnnaMagnani · 10/02/2018 09:57

Theresa May clearly does not follow the NHS journey as she wears a Freestyle Libre to manage her Type 1 diabetes.

In my NHS area she would not be eligible for one and she was using it way before they were on the NHS.

Having Type 1 DM is horrid and I feel for her having it, but her experience of it when she talks about it is clearly light years away from every other NHS patient.

goldwrapped · 10/02/2018 17:35

Thanks everyone who took the time to reply.
I've passed on recommendations and emailed the MP.
it does seem that the 18 week cut off is no longer enforceable but we will keep fighting.
Big love to everyone who is also feeling the effects of this horrible situation.

OP posts:

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goldwrapped · 12/03/2018 17:26

Evening all. I just popped on to say a huge thank you to everyone who offered me advice a few weeks ago, in particular @mude.
I sent lots of emails and was eventually told that my Dad did have the right to be re-referred to a private hospital and for the operation to be paid for there on the NHS.
His GP practice didn't want to do the re-referral but after a bit of pressure they did it.
His operation is tomorrow.
This wouldn't be happening without your invaluable MN advice and support.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart xx

OP posts:

Brummiecahhh · 12/03/2018 17:29

What a lovely resolution

Sending to your dad

liftthatup · 12/03/2018 17:37

What wonderful news! I'm delighted that your perseverance has paid off. All good wishes for tomorrow and for a speedy recovery

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