My Mum fell, approx 5 weeks ago, onto her outstretched arms landing onto concrete. She went to A&E - which she never does - as she was in so much pain. She was told after a lengthy wait and x-ray that she had sprained her elbow. Given a fabric sling, told to wear it but also use her arm.
She was still in pain 2 weeks later without any let up in severity - also lacking use in the arm too. She saw her GP who said she didnt need another x-ray and prescribed pain relief.
She went back to the Doctors last week, explaining there hadn't really been any let up in the pain and the nurse practitioner agreed her arm was swollen and sent her for an x-ray.
She had this on Friday. I went with her. The radiologist made her wait afterwards to review the x-ray as it was an injury related x-ray. The lady said "Nothing jumps out at us so you're good to go. We'll write a report for your GP and it'll be available in a week"
She got a call Friday afternoon from her GP surgery - there was an "abnormality" on the x-ray and she would need to see the GP. Was told there were no appointments until a week on Friday.
She called this morning on the off chance there was a cancellation - saw the GP at 9.30 and was told "Oh yes, your elbow is broken - take this to A&E" She duly did this, saw triage, a doctor, given a different sling and told the fracture clinic will write to her.
I just feel that perhaps the latter part - the second x-ray, being told all was ok, lack of appointments when told there was an "abornamilty" by the receptionist but not explaining further then no appointments for another 8 days.... It just seems really pants.
And I know the NHS is stretched and all of that. It just feels like my poor Mum has been in pain for weeks when it could have been resolved ages ago :(