Addenbrookes or Broomfield for Plastics?

[Myusernameismud]

Really specific area, post trauma paediatric hand surgery/therapy. DS was being treated at QVH in East Grinstead but we've moved to East Anglia and been given the choice of these 2. I know little about either of them, so after a bit of advice.

Broomfield is significantly easier to get to, they are the regional plastics centre and the wait time is only 2 weeks, but their CQC rating isnt great. I know that's not the be all and end all, much like ofsted reports!

Addenbrookes has a better reputation as far as I know, but is difficult to get to, the wait time is ridiculous and it's a huge hospital.

It will be a potentially life altering surgery (for the better) so I want to make sure I've got all the facts to hand before I make a decision.

[Myusernameismud]

Hopeful bedtime bump. I know it's a really specific subject, but if anywhere has answers, it'll be mumsnet!

[PhysaliaPhysalis]

I had plastic surgery on a scald at Broomfield, but this is 20ish years ago when the plastic surgery unit had just taken over from Billericay. It was fine, doctors were lovely, everywhere clean etc (way, way nicer than Billericay), but as I say, it was a long time ago!

[Myusernameismud]

Thanks for replying Physalia, their website isn't quite as detailed as Addenbrookes, so it's tricky to get any real information. I think I'll just bite the bullet and go for Broomfield. QVH is such a fantastic hospital, the standard of care is second to none and they're world leaders in hand surgery so I feel nervous taking DS for a life changing surgery on his little hand somewhere else!

[CMOTDibbler]

I had a massive hand/arm trauma and had surgery with a consultant from QVH after 4 surgeries with a hand specialist elsewhere. I have to say that the team at QVH was amazing and they had resources that the DGH and hand specialist I saw before just didn't have.
Is there no way for QVH to continue?

[Picassopilot]

I work at Broomfield. Their Burns and Plastics dept is very, very good

[Myusernameismud]

They didn't even offer me the choice to be honest, but I don't drive and it's a 190 mile round trip now. We'll be going for regular appts and DH would have to take annual leave for each one.

I feel cross because DS has had functional difficulty in his hand for years, which is affecting his handwriting and I kept asking for OT referrals from school (GP wouldn't refer to OT for whatever reason). School said he wasn't trying hard enough, had got into bad habits, needed another bloody handwriting intervention etc. We lived 15 mins from QVH so could have been seen there as easy as anything.

We've moved to E Anglia and DS new teacher noticed within a few weeks of him starting that he was having problems, referred him to OT who said they can't help and he needs to go back to plastics. We always knew another surgery was a possibility, and I'm angry with myself for second guessing my maternal instincts and not pushing for a referral when we were within spitting distance of the top plastics hospital in the country.

[HabbyHadno]

I go to Addenbrookes over my nearest hospital every time and have had nothing but top-level care from them.

[Myusernameismud]

Habby I'm really torn. I'll be going to addenbrookes regularly to see the allergy specialists there and feel confident I'll get the absolute best care, but as far as I can tell Broomfield is the regional plastics specialist, so I think it's a better bet.

[Picassopilot]

myusernameismud
I am not bias because I work there. I certainly wouldn’t recommend them for some specialities - but for Burns and Plastics I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
Hope all goes well whatever hospital you decide on

[Myusernameismud]

Thanks Picasso that's reassuring. I've just been on nhs referrals website and booked the appt, for 3rd week of April. Addenbrookes was a 23 week wait! DS will be in year 6 by then, and ideally he'd need to have surgery in the summer holidays to minimise time off school so Broomfield really is the only choice from that perspective. Glad to hear positive things about it.

[MrsChollySawcutt]

Definitely Broomfield - it has the St Andrews Centre which is the regional centre for plastics and burns.

My own DD had hand surgery there as a toddler many years ago and I couldn't fault it. Her Consultant was Mr Manu Kant Sood, he is a specialist hand surgeon and is still practising there. He is one if the top hand surgeons in the world. Definitely the right place to be.

[Myusernameismud]

Just thought I'd post a quick update.

We had an appt with the consultant today, Miss Zweifel who specialises in paediatric hand surgery. She was really thorough, spoke to DS instead of speaking over him the way some doctors do and explained everything really clearly.

She's booking DS in for a quick surgery to release the extensor tendon which is causing his finger stiffness, and hand therapy after. Should all be done and dusted before he starts year 6 in September.

Thanks for all the Broomfield recommendations, really helped me make the decision and I'm so glad I did!

[AlexaAmbidextra]

Glad you’ve opted for Broomfield. Their plastics unit is brilliant.