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Waiting time for knee operation

Posted By Top team 3

"Waiting time for knee operation"

About: East Ayrshire Community Hospital / Trauma & orthopaedics

(as a service user),

My husband has severe Osteoarthritis of the knees. One knee was operated on 7 years. The other knee is now really painful. He was told probably 1 -2 years waiting list approx 3 months ago. He now has attended GP and has been told be well over that time before op. Very disheartening. His COPD is getting worse and he may not even be fit for this operation if it takes too long. 

I think they should have told him it could be as much as 5 years or so at the time. 

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Responses

Response from Karen Andrews, General Manager, Surgical Services, Surgical Services, Ayr Hospital, NHS Ayrshire and Arran 2 years ago
Karen Andrews
General Manager, Surgical Services, Surgical Services, Ayr Hospital,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Submitted on 27/02/2023 at 14:11
Published on Care Opinion at 14:11

Dear Top team 3

Thank you for your feedback following your husband’s outpatient appointment with our orthopaedic service.

Please accept my apology for the extra distress and anxiety experienced as a result of the waiting time within this Service. I can only imagine how difficult this situation must be and appreciate the impact that it is having on your husband’s overall health and wellbeing. Please be assured that your frustrations in relation to the waiting time for surgery are completely understandable.

The recovery of the Service continues after the restrictions that were in place as a result of Covid-19 pandemic and staff related absences. Keeping patients safe and minimising the potential spread of the virus remains our priority.

On behalf of the Service, I would like to offer a formal apology for the uncomfortable wait that you are enduring for surgery. Whilst I realise that it will be of small comfort, please be assured that we are doing all that we can to improve waiting times. We do not anticipate patients having to wait more than 2 years and we are aiming to be as close to 18 months as possible. It is important that you are aware that there is no definite guarantee due to being unable to predict any emergency and urgent cases that require surgery.

I appreciate that this information will be very disappointing for you to hear and do not underestimate the ramifications of this ongoing situation on your quality of life. We will notify you of a surgery date at the earliest opportunity.

Kind Regards

Karen

General Manager – National Treatment Centre / Orthopaedic Service

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Top team 3 (a service user)

Thank you very much Karen. I do appreciate you taking the time to respond.

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