So – another update on my knee. It is now, at the time of writing, coming up to five months since I injured it and I STILL haven’t seen a specialist. For the background – click on the “knee” or “NNUH” tags above.
Last week I resolved to ring the hospital and see if I could arrange to go somewhere else to get my MRI done. I figured that this would have the dual effect of making my wait quicker and also reduce their waiting lists. I was not trying to jump over someone else more urgent, but as I drive and Norfolk is a rural county I figured it might help all parties.
First port of call was the MRI department themselves, who had bad news for me. Firstly, the wait time of 4-6 weeks I had been quoted was wrong. It is actually 9-12 weeks. Now, regardless of whether this wait time is acceptable (I would suggest it isn’t) – lying about it is definitely not. It means that I wont get done until August. This will be six months after my injury. Then another six weeks to see the consultant and if an operation is needed another four months after that…………
So I decided to ring Mr. Mann’s secretary – as he is the consultant who is dealing with me, even though I haven’t see him yet. Her voicemail was on, saying that she wasn’t at her desk but if I left my name and number she would “try” and get back to me. Try? If I left a voicemail like that, my manager would crucify me. But I guess standards in the NHS are different.
So three messages left with a day between each – no response. Today, I got fed up and called the operator. She sighed and said “These people have their own agenda” and told me she couldn’t see if she was on leave or not (although if she is, she should say so on her voicemail). I was put through to a rather abrupt lady who is apparently the secretary for Mr. Patel. She told me the lady in question had been off last week, but her phone was monitored. I pointed out it hadn’t been monitored very well – but she didn’t apologise or make any comment. She said the lady in question would ring me back today…….
We will see.
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