How to interact with NHS staff after cover up by them

[sunscomingout]

Hi all,

Sorry for the long post...

I broke my wrist early this year (badly deformed break in my dominant wrist). My little boy pulled me over skating, he feels terrible, especially with what has followed... They operated 3 weeks later and said it was bad and needed a metal plate in. From the get go after the op it was clear something was not right, I developed severe pain in recovery once out of theatre that no drug even the strongest of opioids could touch, and was kept in for 3 days writhing in agony, it was meant to be a day case.

Flash forward clear clinical signs something not right: hand lolling to the right at an unnatural angle, unable to flex hand back or forth, side to side, or turn it over palm up. I kept expressing concerns but kept being told it was early days or just stiffness and refusing further imaging eg CT scan on the basis it was "too early" at 5 months post op and my hand was still like that. Off work as unable type fast with just one hand (writing role) and could no longer drive or cook well, impacting school run and childcare as a lone parent and daily tasks. Finally in September approached my GP and showed them my hand and wrist -- they referred me for a second opinion who referred me for a c t scan, finally it can came through nearly 9 months since op. My solicitor then also wrote to the trust asking for copies of my records and radiology. Finally they confessed (only after the letter from legal team) that my wrist soft tissues were damaged during the surgery and there has been irreversible damage and said I'll never turn my hand over again, in addition they also said the metal plate inserted was too big and has also caused damage. I'm gobsmacked, surely they knew something was wrong all along by looking at it/lack of function given their clinical experience? I feel so so upset and betrayed by the whole clinic and now I have to get another surgery by them on Tues to take the too big plate out and they are wanting me to start physio again 2-3 times a week, I feel like I can't fake having those how are you chats with the team 2-3 times a week knowing what I've just found out. Also gutting to think they were forcing my wrist & hand back in physio 2-3 times a week this year for 6 months plus given how damaged my soft tissues were as it has now transpired.

It seems it was a cover up. They literally saw me struggling every week and going from a £35k a year job to just SSP. I've been struggling to feed my kids due to all this and feel so angry. They could have admitted the mistake so early on and got the plate out at least (it's been in 9 months!). The damage done from surgery is irreversible they said though and I now have to come to terms with permanent loss of function in my main hand and wrist. Also scared about the new operation on Tuesday as lost trust in the team now :(

I honestly just thought they were going to say oh the plate was just blocking my tendons or something and they had been too disorganised/NHS pressured to remedy it, but this revelation is awful.

I feel really awkward seeing the staff now. The regular staff I've seen who broke the news were so overly fake nice too and could hear them conspiring behind the door for what to say before they came in.

I feel truly terrible. My family & friends are sick of hearing about it and my sister told me "to move forward" easy to say when you are not in that position.

I feel really low and confused about why this has all happened.

Thanks in advance for any advice or support.

You can't have the op done by a different nhs trust?

I think I would sue them actually. I don't say that likely about the NHS but I really would in your situation because you've been so financially affected by their absolutely crap decisions.

They are the ones who should be frightened of seeing you. They should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

My family and I have also been very let down by the NHS. I’m so sorry. I have a very low opinion of much of the service.
Can’t you ask to be referred to a different hospital for your surgery? Surely the people who’ve ruined your life shouldn’t be let loose on you again?
I’m glad you’re seeing a lawyer. Ifyou’ve lost your earning potential you should be compensated for this. You should also be paid for any future treatment or surgeries you may need in the future. My understanding is that medical negligence victims have their future treatment privately. This reminds me of the women who have been subject to the mesh procedure. It strikes me as outrageous that the surgeons who put them all in are now making a fortune taking them out again and women are supposed be ok with that (mesh is not my issue but a good example
of how women have been gaslit by doctors).
I really think you should demand to go elsewhere.

Sadly, sometimes the NHS makes mistakes.
Plenty of people claim compensation, I think you should do the same.
Claims for NHS clinical negligence is just under 3% of their budget, it should not be up to you and your kids to put up with this with no help, the NHS should pick up the pieces when they make a mistake.

I'd be making sure I was treated by a different team, out of trust if necessary.

I'm so sorry you've been let down. The mistakes I could probably take on the chin. They need to be held to account for the cover up though.

@sunscomingout I have sent you a PM.

Sue them

I had similar on my ankle.

Wait.

Get a (private) second opinion if you can.

If you have substantial soft tissue damage and nerve damage then another operation will not necessarily help matters.

Ask for a referral to a neurologist - the ongoing and severe pain needs treating and first line for this is not painkillers but meds that essentially "turn down" the nerves. Amytriptyline is the first one used.

I'm so sorry, that's awful. Can I ask, when you had original op, did you have a general anaesthetic or a spinal? Do you recall anything being said by medical staff? I had a spinal for a fractured ankle and was aware of everything going on.

I think that would take a fair bit of time to organise and the plate is causing me severe stiffness and pain as it's too big for my wrist, it would be a relief to get it out tomorrow though soft tissues damage apparently can't be reversed and I don't trust the team. It's a tricky one and sad to be in this position. It is a new more senior surgeon hopefully they'll be more careful knowing they are under the lens of a solicitor now -- perhaps I could switch trusts after for a second opinion on the damage left hmm

Thank you, mistakes get paid but the fact they've delayed correcting it and even obstructed me finding out by refusing CT scans til my GP intervened very much makes me want to take the legal case forward. My kids will have less presents this Christmas due to them!

Given what you have said I would allow them to do the procedure.

I wouldn’t fake nice with them. I would question everything and if need be record all interactions and tell them why.

I would also have someone else present for any appointments or conversations. Also recorded.

Then I would sue. No question.

Thanks so much for this message and so sorry to hear your family have suffered too. The plate is really too big for my wrist and now in a situation where I can't carry on I'm sure it will come out in a dangerous way if left and it will take time to organise surgery with another trust :( I'm leaning towards getting it out tomorrow then transferring care. I didn't know about that re private care funded for negligence patients perhaps that might be an option for the follow up care I'll need eg twice weekly physio.

Thanks, you are right! It's affected my mental health too knowing something is wrong but it being denied -- it's been exhausting.

I second video recording each and every appointment from now on. Be sure to get vision of their screen as they are talking and illustrating points.

Start a spreadsheet with all your costs, including mileage and parking.
Make sure you include loss of pension.

Thanks for this -- will look into the neurologist idea!

Thanks everyone, these are great ideas, especially recording and the spreadsheet one! Gosh the amount I've had to spend on Uber £1000 + and buses when funds went too low but I can't hold on on a bus very well when busy with one hand. They admitted this mistake on the 2nd Dec verbally in clinic and I have had no follow up letter with this all written down which makes me anxious. I suppose they probably realise that letter will be incriminating or behind on admin -- either way not good enough when I'm meant to be having my operation at 7am tomorrow... my GP has had no letter either detailing what was said. I've emailed the secretary to ask where the letter is....

Also I’m so sorry this happened to you.

It is chilling that medical staff can lie and deceive in this way.

If I were you I would also make a formal complaint to the GMC about the individuals involved as they deliberately withheld information that had major health impacts for you.

After they fix it.

Unfortunately on MN you'll find many who are wilfully blind to glaring NHS incompetence, never mind actual negligence which - on the face of it - this is. I am amazed that so many people seem determined to 'protect the NHS' when faced with situations like this.

Find a solicitor who specialises in clinical negligence claims. Any one should take you on a conditional fee arrangement ("no win, no fee" in the vernacular). Sue them to kingdom come. As MPs say, keep track of all your out of pocket expenses as well as things like loss of earnings. If you can put off further treatment research your other options - privately, if I were you - and claim for the cost of the remedial work too.

And finally, make the Trust put the staff involved through their governance processes and find out how they're managing it. And then report them to the GMC yourself anyway.

In terms of how you treat the NHS staff:

Treat each one as an individual. NHS staff, particularly theatre staff work rotas and it is likely that none of them will be particularly aware of you beforehand.

This is a problem that has occurred at consultant level not at nurse or physio level.

So - be polite. If they ask you to do something that hurts, stop and explain it hurts. I have found it much more effective to explain to staff (for example) that I have severe nerve damage to my ankle and I don't think their suggestion will be possible.

Think very polite but very clear. "That's not going to be possible for me, is there an alternative?"

Longer term, you need a referral to the doctors who specialise in nerve and soft tissue damage as that's the more problematic. Bones heal surprisingly fast. Nerves not so much.

You may also find it helpful to start looking at support from the state. If you have been previously working you may be entitled to contributions based ESA (employment and support allowance). I have also recently applied for PIP although I will warn you the process is not fast and is quite gruelling.

The neurologist will be able to help with the pain. If you are currently on painkillers (tramadol? Morphine patches?) then there are injections directly into the nerves and or the spinal cord which will help control the pain.

I’m so very sorry. Often the lies, gaslighting and corruption exposed cause even greater pain and anxiety than the error. That said this sounds like more than error on the face of it - more like negligence. Surely it would have been obvious that the plate was the wrong size. Is that all the NHS have? / sized for men etc. ?

I still think you should consult a medical lawyer asap - not because you’re determined to take legal action but as back up to get them to take this seriously. In particular I wouldn’t be risking more surgery that might make matters worse without checking the status and experience of the surgeon and having a discussion with him first and a second opinion. It’s nonsense to assume they’re all equally competent. Do you have any medical friends or family who can attend meetings with you?

It's reassuring that it's a different surgeon, and for what it's worth it's in their interests to do their best to help you get better.

I hope your solicitor is an expert in clinical negligence? Accreditation by AVMA (Action for theVictims of Medical Accidents) is a good starting point.

Thanks everyone, the surgeon doing it is the head of the clinic, I'm hoping he wasn't aware of what happened before at first and that he will be having stern words with staff under him but also know they close ranks and he will want to protect his departmental image ultimately. He was quite rude to me on the first meeting then very fake nice when giving the bad news post CT scan...
It's all such a shame I had just graduated from my PhD the December before this op after years of hard studying as a lone parent too. The 35k job was just an entry research and writing role thing really and I had hoped to progress.

I will check out the AVMA thing for solicitors accreditation, thanks!

Btw my operation will be awake (someone asked) and was last time -- under arm block only no GA as have severe asthma.