NHS delays surgery?
Discussion
Hi folks,
Could anyone help me out regarding surgery? My brother went off the bike and broke his ankle. So he has been taken to hospital. It happened on Saturday, the doctor came round and took a few x-ray scans. Then on Sunday a doctor comes round and says that they will do a surgery on Tuesday as no equipment/specialist. Then today, Monday, another doctor comes round and says that the surgery will be done next Tuesday. Is this normal?
I believe that the surgery should be done straight away as this will delay the healing.
I got angry and went to ask in the reception what is going. And was told by some assistant of a surgeon or whatever he was, that the ankle is swollen and no equipment/specialist and that is why the surgery is being delayed. Of course it is swollen, but the reason for that that it is BROKEN!!! Does everyone gets delayed?
Could anyone help me out regarding surgery? My brother went off the bike and broke his ankle. So he has been taken to hospital. It happened on Saturday, the doctor came round and took a few x-ray scans. Then on Sunday a doctor comes round and says that they will do a surgery on Tuesday as no equipment/specialist. Then today, Monday, another doctor comes round and says that the surgery will be done next Tuesday. Is this normal?
I believe that the surgery should be done straight away as this will delay the healing.
I got angry and went to ask in the reception what is going. And was told by some assistant of a surgeon or whatever he was, that the ankle is swollen and no equipment/specialist and that is why the surgery is being delayed. Of course it is swollen, but the reason for that that it is BROKEN!!! Does everyone gets delayed?
Engineer1 said:
There could be a medical reason, it could be that if they leave it a week the swelling subsides and they can see better, or it could be that someone with life threatening injuries needed the surgeon more than your brother.
More than a week to delay? I think it is rather odd. Also they said that he could go to other bigger hospital in a city for a quicker surgery. But they could not find out if they have the equipment/specialist...Is your bro still in hospital? If he is, then get him to request to read through his own medical notes and see what different people have said in the notes. I believe he is entitled to have a flick through it on the ward there and then when he is still an inpatient. He can still request to read through the notes if he's not in hospital, but obviously the whole process of retrieving the notes, admin procedures etc etc means it's gonna take a while for it to happen.
Edited by mosc7pc2 on Tuesday 17th April 02:43
mosc7pc2 said:
Is your bro still in hospital? If he is, then get him to request to read through his own medical notes and see what different people have said in the notes. I believe he is entitled to have a flick through it on the ward there and then when he is still an inpatient. He can still request to read through the notes if he's not in hospital, but obviously the whole process of retrieving the notes, admin procedures etc etc means it's gonna take a while for it to happen.
Would those be the notes at the bottom of the bed, or do they also have more detailed elsewhere?Edited by mosc7pc2 on Tuesday 17th April 02:43
mosc7pc2 said:
Is your bro still in hospital? If he is, then get him to request to read through his own medical notes and see what different people have said in the notes. I believe he is entitled to have a flick through it on the ward there and then when he is still an inpatient. He can still request to read through the notes if he's not in hospital, but obviously the whole process of retrieving the notes, admin procedures etc etc means it's gonna take a while for it to happen.
He is at home now as they were short of beds... I don't believe the book would say more than they were. I was wondering if someone has been delayed just because were was no equipment/specialist. The doctor seems not doing rounds either. The nurse came round at 5.30pm and said that doctor is not able to come today at all.martynr said:
......... And was told by some assistant of a surgeon or whatever he was, that the ankle is swollen and no equipment/specialist and that is why the surgery is being delayed. Of course it is swollen, but the reason for that that it is BROKEN!!! Does everyone gets delayed?
Just to add (with the usual caveats of internet medical advice!) delaying surgery for a fractured ankle for a week is not that unusual and shouldn't effect his long term outcome (depending on the exact injury). Swelling and soft tissue problems are the main issue initially and not the underlying fracture. If they operate whilst it's too swollen they may not be able to close the wound afterwards, or the tissues may break down, all of which puts him at increased risk of infection.
The fact that they are awaiting equipment / a specialist suggests it's slightly more than a standard ankle fracture however, (unless it's a small hospital in the middle of nowhere), but the soft tissue swelling is still the main problem, so get him to keep his foot up on the sofa armrest and get a bell for maid service
Barbotage said:
Just to add (with the usual caveats of internet medical advice!) delaying surgery for a fractured ankle for a week is not that unusual and shouldn't effect his long term outcome (depending on the exact injury).
Swelling and soft tissue problems are the main issue initially and not the underlying fracture. If they operate whilst it's too swollen they may not be able to close the wound afterwards, or the tissues may break down, all of which puts him at increased risk of infection.
The fact that they are awaiting equipment / a specialist suggests it's slightly more than a standard ankle fracture however, (unless it's a small hospital in the middle of nowhere), but the soft tissue swelling is still the main problem, so get him to keep his foot up on the sofa armrest and get a bell for maid service
Thanks for your input. The nurses (have not seen a doctor there) were telling that it is being delayed because of the equipment rather than swelling. By the way, the hospital is in the midlands, around 15 miles from M42, so not really in the middle of nowhere...Swelling and soft tissue problems are the main issue initially and not the underlying fracture. If they operate whilst it's too swollen they may not be able to close the wound afterwards, or the tissues may break down, all of which puts him at increased risk of infection.
The fact that they are awaiting equipment / a specialist suggests it's slightly more than a standard ankle fracture however, (unless it's a small hospital in the middle of nowhere), but the soft tissue swelling is still the main problem, so get him to keep his foot up on the sofa armrest and get a bell for maid service
Yeah, he only needs a bell now...
Cheers
It's not unusual to delay surgery if there is a large amount of swelling. I have known this happen on several occasions with friends.
As others have said, if they are waiting for equipment/specialists then this is not your run of the mill fractured ankle and/or they are wanting others to review his X-rays.
Much nicer to be at home with your leg up than on a hospital ward.
As others have said, if they are waiting for equipment/specialists then this is not your run of the mill fractured ankle and/or they are wanting others to review his X-rays.
Much nicer to be at home with your leg up than on a hospital ward.
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