Utter plonkers.
hursday at 4;30pm my wife went to A&E with a letter from her GP requesting an X Ray for a suspected broken clavicle. (s
She'd fallen heavily on her left shoulder)
Fine:the X Ray was done promptly, confirming that she did, indeed have a crack in said bone.
Off to A & E reception again to book in to be seen by a doctor. All details then taken. "Wait please".
Three hours later................. a doctor calls her in and asks what the problem is. "A broken shoulder", she replied. "OK" he says, "I'll get you sent off to have an X Ray".
Patiently (More or less) it was explained that the X Ray had been done three hours ago.Doctor looks puzzled.
"Please wait" he says.
15 minutes later he reappears saying" Yes, you have a broken clavicle: come with me to A & E Reception".
Off we trot and wait, A lady appears with a card. " Here is an appointment for next Monday to see the orthopaedic specialist"
WHAT? Are you not going to treat her now? She is in pain".
"No, we cannot treat broken clavicles - legs, arms etc, are no problem, but shoulders need to be done by an orthopaedic specialist".
THEY KNEW THIS THREE HOURS AGO, Grrr,
We left after extracting a prescription for painkillers, but in the meantime from Thursday at 8.15 pm until Monday at 2.15 pm my wife is in pain, with no treatment for a broken bone.
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I thought that broken shoulder bones were normally just left to heal naturally after putting arm in a sling.
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>> I thought that broken shoulder bones were normally just left to heal naturally after putting
>> arm in a sling.
Yup, mine was. As was my broken elbow, didn't even get a sling for that.
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>> Yup, mine was. As was my broken elbow, didn't even get a sling for that.
Do get checked out for brittle bones or other associated problems. You never know what might be the cause. You don't want to ruin the next holiday.
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>> Do get checked out for brittle bones or other associated problems. You never know what
>> might be the cause. You don't want to ruin the next holiday.
Yes, I have been bone scanned with three different type of machine. (one where I had a nuclear injection), Extensive blood tests and bone marrow biopsy. My bones are normal for my age and sex, tho a sample of the bone they drilled out when pinning my hip revealed some fragments of dead bone. They suspect from a past DVT or trauma. Probably a bike accident I had 40 years ago.
My broken bone score spread over 62 years of age is
Broken Thumb - Plastered
Broken Wrist - Plastered
Broken Collar bone - sling
Broken nose - reset
Broken right foot - not plastered
Broken Left foot - not plastered
Broken right ankle - Airboot
Broken right Elbow - nothing done to that, monitored monthly, told to keep moving it or lose mobility
Broken right hip - Pinned then tortured daily by physios.
Current thinking by orthopaedic specialists appears to be "work those broken bones" for a faster stronger glue. (unless its unstable of course)
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>> My broken bone score spread over 62 years of age is
>>
Nine broken bones - what are you, a stunt artist? :)
I've never broken any.
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I'm up to 11 now. Plastered, pinned, plated, corsetted (is that a word?) and left alone to heal.
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64 and no broken bones, or hearts (did I ever tell you about me hearts?) so far ... plenny of time yet of course,
unless I croak sometime soon.
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Shouldn't they have at least provided a suitable sling to help?
From the NHS website:
How a broken collarbone is treated
Most broken collarbones are left to heal naturally using a simple triangular sling to support the arm and hold the bones together in their normal positions.
The sling is usually applied in hospital after an X-ray has confirmed the collarbone is broken. You'll be given painkillers to relieve the pain.
Surgery under a general anaesthetic is only needed if the injury is severe – for example, the bone has broken through the skin – or if the bones have failed to line up and are overlapping significantly.
Many different techniques have been used to repair the collarbone, but the most common is to fix the break with a plate and screws. If you need surgery to repair your broken collarbone, ask your surgeon to explain which technique they'll be using, and the advantages and disadvantages of this method.
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You need to manage your expectations, a cracked clavicle was not life threatening or disabling.You have no idea what the doctor was dealing with at the time, heart attacks, strokes, and major injuries take priority over discomfort. I expect if the x-ray had shown a serious problem your wife would have rapidly been bumped up the priority list. The NHS has saved my life a couple of times and I assure you clinical priority rules. It is usually people with minor problems who complain the loudest.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 3 Mar 17 at 07:17
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No complaints about the doctor. He was not given the information that an XRay had been done and the injury confirmed by the radiologist. He thought that, after our wait, he was the first person to see her. He had no idea that the XRay had already been done,
It was a complete lack of communication.
In the event, we had to push for painkillers and the temporary sling provided during our wait was inadequate, being very flimsy material and secured with sticky tape of a not-very-sticky variety, poorly and hastily applied.
When I go to the pharmacy to collect the prescription (Tramadol, as she is allergic to Ibuprofen and Paracetamol does not work) I'm going to see if we can buy a more satisfactory sling. It's a good job I had Tramadol on hand for last night and early morning.
It still seems a stretch to have to wait 3 days for actual treatment, though.
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>> You need to manage your expectations, a cracked clavicle was not life threatening or disabling.
To a lady, who is nearly 80 yeas old, it is at the least distressing and to an extent, quite disabling, too.
Last edited by: Roger. on Fri 3 Mar 17 at 13:50
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I agree with you Roger. We do have have right to me treated reasonably and kept informed and in your wife's case this clearly did not happened. Unfortunately in some areas of the NHS they have forgotten this whether due to a culture or lack of resources.
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>> >> You need to manage your expectations, a cracked clavicle was not life threatening or
>> disabling.
>>
>>
>> To a lady, who is nearly 80 yeas old, it is at the least distressing
>> and to an extent, quite disabling, too.
>>
Do let us know the result of your formal complaint to the NHS. Unless you have realised that life threatening cases take priority over the routine ones.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 3 Mar 17 at 17:23
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The blokes wife has had an incident, which may not be life threatening but at her age must at least be upsetting for them both. He's never mentioned making a complaint to the NHS, you are making things up now.
It's completely unnecessary and inappropriate to come up with a smarmy comment about it anyway, but I won't remove it as I imagine you wanted to show off your uncompassionate side.
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.>> It's completely unnecessary and inappropriate to come up with a smarmy comment about it anyway,
>> but I won't remove it as I imagine you wanted to show off your uncompassionate
>> side.
>>
Calm down Smokie, if my comments are unnecessary, inapropriate, and smarmy do your job as a moderator and delete them. We are not all snowflakes and live in the real world where we may not get the "me first" treatment we expect or demand. Anyone who thinks they have not received an adequate service from the NHS can complain but it has got to be a formal complaint.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 3 Mar 17 at 18:18
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It was Roger who called the A&E team as utter plonkers and Navy who called them life-savers and is deeply indebted to them.
Last edited by: BiggerBadderDave on Fri 3 Mar 17 at 18:22
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>> It was Roger who called the A&E team as utter plonkers and Navy who called
>> them life-savers and is deeply indebted to them.
>>
The medical staff were OK - it was the admin's failing to pass on information which irked us.
As I said, we waited for three hours - after an X Ray ordered by her G.P. hasd confirmed a clavicle crack.
We were never informed that such an injury would not be dealt with at A & E. until the three hours had passed.
Had we merely turned up as self-presenters, a three hour delay to be seen INITIALLY, would have been understandable, if unwelcome. No one expects instant attention at A & E, given all the NHS problems.
Added to the "irk" factor was the knowledge that they had known that a clavicle fracture would not be treated in A. & E. for all of that three hours. So we sat there like lemons when we could have been at home.
She/I have no intention of making a formal complaint.
Life is too short to use up valuable NHS time in just "irksomeness"!!
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>> Added to the "irk" factor was the knowledge that they had known that a clavicle
>> fracture would not be treated in A. & E. for all of that three hours.
I agree that there was a communication breakdown. As far as I know A&E do not treat anything, their function is to stabilise patients prior to admission to hospital or referral to an out patient clinic.
An example of how prioritization works, I was at an out patient clinic, (not cancer) and told the consultant that I felt I was deteriorating at an increasing rate. Having ascertained that I had transport he said go home, get an overnight bag, come back to my secretary to pick up your medical notes, and go to ward 10 in the main hospital in Edinburgh. The consultant there examined me and said you are now a ward patient here, I need to do some checks and a CT scan and will operate on you in about a week, go home I will contact you. He later told me the overnight bag was because he did not know if I was going to walk in or arrive plumbed into an ambulance. When the need is great things move rapidly. That sequence of events took a couple of hours including travelling time.
The cancer referral system up here is rapid, within a week of diagnosis you see the full team of consultants in Edinburgh (New referrals every Tuesday afternoon) and treatment starts within days.
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>> Added to the "irk" factor was the knowledge that they had known that a clavicle
>> fracture would not be treated in A. & E. for all of that three hours.
>> So we sat there like lemons when we could have been at home.
I suppose the issue is that it's likely only a doctor can make that decision and it would have taken 3hrs for the doc to get to you to and make that determination even if they'd known about the X-ray.
The annoying thing we've had happen twice in hospitals recently is waiting hours to be discharged due to waiting for a doctor needing to write a prescription.
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>> The annoying thing we've had happen twice in hospitals recently is waiting hours to be
>> discharged due to waiting for a doctor needing to write a prescription.
>>
I have had that one, plus the wait for the drugs from the hospital pharmacy.
Hugely mitigated by getting out of the hospital alive, even if only strong enough to walk 50 yards at a time.
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Sorry to hear about that Roger, best wishes to your Mrs for a speedy recovery...
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I'm giving her TLC and the painkillers are helping: many thank for your good wishes. :-)
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Does She find the Tramadol works? - I went through a stage whereby I was eatin them like Smarties! - they did nothing for me! I found that Co-Codamol 30/500 worked best, but then I needed a gallon of "Syrup "o" Figs" ;-))
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>> Does She find the Tramadol works? - I went through a stage whereby I was
>> eatin them like Smarties! - they did nothing for me! I found that Co-Codamol 30/500
>> worked best, but then I needed a gallon of "Syrup "o" Figs" ;-))
Pffttt mere smarties. The Oramorph they sent me home with is the complete dogs danglers.
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>> >> Does She find the Tramadol works? - I went through a stage whereby I
>> was
>> >> eatin them like Smarties! - they did nothing for me! I found that Co-Codamol
>> 30/500
>> >> worked best, but then I needed a gallon of "Syrup "o" Figs" ;-))
>>
>> Pffttt mere smarties. The Oramorph they sent me home with is the complete dogs danglers.
>>
Dunno - we don't know how bad it would be without them!
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Hope she gets better soon Roger.
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"The Oramorph they sent me home with..."
I trust you did not get too... attached to it?
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>> "The Oramorph they sent me home with..."
>>
>> I trust you did not get too... attached to it?
Just call me sherlock....
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"Just call me sherlock...."
Ah - so coke by choice, with morph as the alternative, and the occasional dabble in smack.
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The Oramorph that A & E sent SWMBO home with did not work on a chronic headache
Perhaps the dose I gave her was too low.
The good news is Botox is working for her.
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"The good news is Botox is working for her."
Glad to hear Botox is curing your wife's headache - whatever that may be caused by. Ageing, presumably.
N.B. Oramorph is no good for wrinkles.
Last edited by: Focal Point on Sat 4 Mar 17 at 10:04
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>> "The good news is Botox is working for her."
>>
>> Glad to hear Botox is curing your wife's headache - whatever that may be caused
>> by. Ageing, presumably.
>>
Thanks FP.
The cause of the headaches was regular/continuous use over a long period of over the counter/ GP prescribed common painkillers.
I had to to be a real B and implement cold turkey which was not nice for either of us.
The consultant warns that such pain killer should only be used for 10 days a month else you start to run the risk of getting into a problem.
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To be serious, Henry - and my apologies if I've been insensitive (again) - I had no idea headaches could actually be caused by painkillers.
Cold turkey in your wife's case would have been no fun.
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FP.
No offence taken whatsoever.
I posted the details for general info.
IIRC in one of the recent doctors programmes the weaned a young lady of 28? pain killers a day.
The Neurologist treating her is a top guy ( in London). The Botox treatment takes 5 mins but to hell with the money.
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>> >> "The Oramorph they sent me home with..."
>> >>
>> >> I trust you did not get too... attached to it?
>>
>> Just call me sherlock....
>>
sherlock2 please :)
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My wife broke her upper arm, as an X-ray showed but it was classified as a broken shoulder - that being "The way we classify them" or some such words. She was given a tight sling, tightened further after three days and I squirted the morphine provided into her mouth as required. This she cut down as soon as possible and was well enough to be fully independent after about three weeks.
I broke an ankle about two years ago and had to wear something like a giant ski boot until it healed. I cracked a humerus at age ten and I was about 25 before I could throw with that arm without a twinge of pain.
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Never mind it'll all be sorted after Brexit and an extra £35million a week will be put in the system.
Last edited by: R.P. on Sun 5 Mar 17 at 13:59
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>> Never mind it'll all be sorted after Brexit and an extra £35million a week will
>> be put in the system.
Whoops!
R.P. - you need to move your decimal point one place to the right!
It's 350 million quid a WEEK that we will be getting - yes, honest. Would politicians lie to us?
Link to the Independant:-
tinyurl.com/gngku6s
I wonder if I will get a scowly face for that?
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All politicians are liars.
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>>Ha ha I got one !
Yes you did, yet Duncan didn't.
So I wonder which one of Car4Play's glorious dickless is more offended by stuff you say than by what Duncan says. Or perhaps they are simply more scared of replying to you openly.
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Oh I don't mind ! It's a fact that a number of politicians and a bus promised the £350m for the NHS and occasionally it needs to be brought up by an accepting "remainer or remoaner" It's now a fait accomplis and I hope it goes well for all our sakes.
Last edited by: R.P. on Sun 5 Mar 17 at 18:27
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Credit where it's due.
Today's fracture clinic was a much nicer experience.
We arrived 10 minutes early and logged in at the dedicated reception. We were seen spot on the arranged time by a nice doctor, who at first seemed seemed think the appointment was for her arthritic knee, which was the XRay up on his screen.
Confusion sorted, we were given a good explanation of current treatment for cracked clavicles, which for the majority of simple breaks in the centre of the bone is masterly inactivity. i.e. none.
True to form for being difficult, my wife's break is not in the centre of the bone but at the outer end. These breaks may need surgical intervention to ensure the broken ends match up for healing.
Accordingly she has an appointment on Friday to see the orthopaedic surgeon, (the shoulder specialist), to establish whether or not surgery is needed.
Good, quick, service.
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Your experience back up mine in that the service can vary so much between departments.
Mrs B works in NHS hospitals, but across different health authorities. She is always commenting on the variations between different wards providing the same service - the only difference being location.
She is working on a ward today and has told me how good the food is - mostly branded good quality and plentiful. Cooked in house and patients are given a menu in advance to choose from. Other settings she works in are very different - poor quality inedible food delivered on a trolley with little choice.
Staffing ratios also vary from barely meeting the absolute minimum requirement, where others have time to spend with patients. I've no idea how the budgets are decided upon, but there must be big variation.
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You did well.
Based on my limited experience I would avoid monday morning for the fracture clinic experience. Full of football and other weekend activity related injuries that have weekend referrals.
Better to wait until Tuesday for a more relaxed experience.
Last edited by: sherlock47 on Mon 6 Mar 17 at 19:05
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Fracture clinic in my local hospital is on the first floor. Fine if the lift is working..
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>> Fracture clinic in my local hospital is on the first floor. Fine if the lift
>> is working..
Anybody with a fracture and discharged with crutches is taught how to tackle stairs.
Dot and carry, one step at a time. Ascending the good leg leads, descending the fractured one.
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>> Dot and carry, one step at a time. Ascending the good leg leads, descending the
>> fractured one.
>>
The good leg up to Heaven, the bad leg down to Hell.
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>> The good leg up to Heaven, the bad leg down to Hell.
Exactly what physio said to me.
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Hospital woes. - CGNorwich
