To go to a&e?

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Well yes I know I am but at my wits end.

I hurt my foot about 4 months ago. Still hurts, got an x-ray through GP and turns out that it is broken - displaced fracture (and something todo with a tendon I didn’t quite understand). The GP said they were urgently referring me to the fracture clinic.

I rashly thought urgent would mean in the next few days. But that was over a week ago and I’ve heard nothing.

I’m going slightly crackers does anyone know how long an urgent referral to the fracture clinic might take?

Have you chased it with your GP. If your in significant pain and your foot is becoming swollen, white, red or warm to touch then go A&E. If it's pain and you need pain medications contact 111. If none of the above call GP tomorrow

If it's got significantly worse since you saw your GP go to A&E. If you're just fed up waiting - don't, phone & chase up your referral

I don't know what the a&e could realistically do. In all likelihood, you'll wait 8 hours just for them to poke at it, maybe wrap your ankle, and tell you to talk to your GP.

Have you got crutches to take the weight off it?

My son was in A&E on Monday night and was given an “urgent referral” for paediatric surgery that night. I was told because of his age and the nature of his condition he’d be bumped to the top of the list. I applied for the offered consultation appointment first thing Tuesday morning, expecting it to be “within a couple of weeks” which is what the A&E doctor said.

It’s on 9th October.

Your foot sounds really painful, and I’m sorry if you get a similarly long wait. Can you afford to go private?

You need to chase the referral

I know you are right - will chase the GP tomorrow. it just hurts a lot. Got all the pain meds just really want a working foot.

Gosh sorry to hear about your son. Hope he is ok.

You poor thing. If it's no worse then call your GP tomorrow and chase. If they are useless I would call the fracture clinic directly. It sounds like the referral hasn't gone through. It's usually quite quick in my area (have experience due to sporty children)

No it’s not right to go to A&E to chase the referral, call up the clinic or chase via your GP tomorrow.

Get some crutches so you're not on it and wear soft shoes like ugg boots wherever possible. That will probably help with some of the pain in the meantime.

a&e are great for fixing things there and then.. broken leg, no problem put a pot on it, a cut to the hand.. whack some stitches in...

but for anything needed further treatment.. you are pretty much at the mercy of the dreaded waiting list!

all a&e would do is send you home, telling you 'you're on the list'.. and wave as you hobble out.

hope its sorted soon

My appointment was 12 days after I went to a&e, but I did get the appointment arranged within a week

Thanks. Should I have been clear I’m definitely not going to go a&e I’m just whinging.

have crutches, have pain meds have comfy shoes. What I don’t have is a working foot.

12 days! Yeesh. I clearly do not understand the word urgent.

I broke my ankle earlier this year - did get taken to a&e as couldn’t get up from where I fell. They strapped it up and then I was on the urgent list for an op to pin it all etc. it was over 2 weeks til I got my op so potentially could just be the wait time but I would definitely speak to your GP.

I would definitely chase the GP tomorrow and if there’s still no joy you can always self present at the fracture clinic. I had a broken wrist in April and was waiting not so patiently for a referral for 2 weeks. (I play sport professionally and was keen to get back to it asap so I could start rehab etc) self presented at the fracture clinic and they gave me an appointment for the next day.

it’s awful being in pain so sending a hug too:(

Thank you he’s less in pain than he was, which is a blessing.

Not waiting til October for treatment though - hopefully my husband’s work policy will cover.it.

I’m an A&E dr. Our fracture clinic is next day. Even at W/E Or BH. Call the fracture clinic.

I has a stress fracture a few years ago the GP took about a week to send odd the referral. Once the hospital received it, I had to wait a couple of weeks for an appointment.

dd broke a bone recently, fracture clinic was next day. She was seen in the fracture clinic plaster room for a temp cast during her A&E visit.

Can you phone the fracture clinic to ask? Could it be the letter is in the post?

I am a senior manager in surgical services. The vast majority of oryjo units run a virtual fracture clinic since covid. They receive referrals from ED of anything vaguely orthopaedic. They review xrays or other imaging taken in ED and the consultation notes on the VFC and formulate a plan. If the correct management advice had been given in ED then you may just recieve a letter or even a call from a junior doctor or nurse practitioner. If you have anything that looks more complex or hasn't been managed appropriately they will call you in. This could be for further imaging, to see the consultant or for casting in the plaster room. I would expect that you would have had a plan within 72 h either way.

I would call the fracture clinic in hours tomorrow (you can get them through switchboard) and ask to speak to the nurse in charge. She/he will be able to confirm if your referral has been received and discussed. She may ask an ortho practitioner or registrar to call you back.

Sites that don't have a VFC effectively have to see all referrals as they don't know what needs their attention, and should appoint you within a week at the absolute max.

Thanks! I shall be phoning everyone tomorrow.

That was meant to say 'ortho unit'. Excuse my fat fingers

Sorry I’m confused … has it been broken for 4 months? And you’ve only just got it looked at now?