To not take dd to fracture clinic

[VivaLeBeaver]

i probably am aren't I?

She broke her little finger a few days ago while we were on holiday. Not a bad break and not into the joint. The hospital in Wales was very nice and strapped it up and told me to ring up my home town hospital fracture clinic and get her seen a week after the break. The nurse said they'd want to check for malrotation, ie that when she bends her finger it isn't wonky.

So I ring up hospital back home. They won't make an appt in fracture clinic until I turn up at our local a&e and endure the usual 7 hour wait. Only when dd has been seen by their a&e will she get an appt at their fracture clinic.

I reckon I can keep checking her finger to see if it's in line or not. Keep it strapped for six weeks..........is that bad? How serious is a little finger break? I never had to go to fracture clinic when I broke my big toe.

I think the problem is that every hospital throughout the land will have it's own policy for referral to fracture clinic, whether that by via a&e or the GP or occasionally both channels. I can understand them not being happy to deal with clients on the basis of x-rays or DVDs that they bring in person as there is no guarantee that they are the correct films, it would be negligent not to re-x-ray...

For future reference, if you find yourself in a similar situation I would ring your local fracture clinic and do as they suggest...

GP because it isn't an emergency is it?

Viva - which doctor did you speak to? An ortho reg? Because I would take any other opinion with a large pinch of seasoning (salt's bad for you ;) )

myBoysareBonkers most NHS workers (especially ward nurses) don't get the breaks during a shift to which they should be entitled. Doctors don't either. We grab lunch as we go and develop impressive bladder control. Yes it's illegal, but without enough staff on the rosters it will never change.

So sorry you have had the run around, OP.
FWIW, I would turn up noisily with all of DC in the A&E at a time of my (relative convenience) and let them run amok (treat it as a medical theme park) until I got the necessary referral.

Given your job I know you can't complain, but I think anyone else in your boat would write a few choice letters of complaint...

Well fracture clinic have finally answered the phone. They have no record of any appt or any appt request. So I'm very confused as to why they left a message on my phone saying I had an appt this week.

The nurse told me my only option is to go to a&e. I asked if there's really any point now three weeks on and she ummed and ahhed and said it was up to me. She said if there is any pain then yes we should definetly go. DD was pain free till she banged it this morning. Guess we're off to a&e. But I am angry that fracture clinic seem so bloody imcompetent.

You have a right to be angry :(.
Take some books, and a picnic!