"They cannot offer me an appointment"

I have suffered with painful arthritic joints in my hands and feet for many years. Over the years I have attended Orthopaedic ICATs and Podiatry with a diagnosis of Frieberg’s/avascular necrosis in my toes. Having waited some years on the waiting list, I attended an appointment in late 2022 with the Foot and Ankle Consultant Mr Henderson in Musgrave Park Hospital.

Mr Henderson examined my feet and reviewed the various x-rays and MRIs. He said that realistically all that could be done would be to make my feet more comfortable. I appreciated his honesty. He referred me to physiotherapy and said that he would review me afterwards.

And then Mr Henderson Foot and Ankle Consultant retired. I spoke to Musgrave Park Hospital Registration Office who told me that I am down to be reviewed, but that I have not been assigned to a Consultant to review me. I spoke to Partial Bookings but they cannot offer me an appointment because I have not been assigned to a Consultant.

I am in a lot of pain a lot of the time. I can only tolerate the shoe on the right foot for a short time because of burning pain in the toes and the feeling that the circulation in the big toe is being cut off.