"RAH, Paisley Orthopaedic Department"

My husband has been waiting on 2 knee replacements for over 3 years, one of which is more complicated than a knee replacement.  We do realise that due to COVID things have been delayed.

My husband had an appointment to see the orthopaedic surgeon in September 2021, which was then cancelled.  He then received another appointment for October 2021, which did go ahead.  My husbands condition has deteriorated a great deal since he was at the hospital over 3 years ago, to the point that he can hardly walk. He has been working at home for sometime now as it was too much for him to manage. 

The consultant did agree that both his knees were a lot worse.  My husband was asked if he had any holidays booked over the next 12 weeks, to which he said no and was told not to book any.  My husband also got blood taken.

He then received a letter from the hospital with the 12 week target date, which would have taken him up to mid January 2022.  This gave him a bit of hope that soon he may have one of his knee done.

About 2/3 weeks after the mid January 2022 date I decided to phone the consultants office at the RAH to ask if they had any idea roughly when my husband would be getting his operation(s). The consultants secretary was on annual leave, but I did speak to another personl who checked and told me that my husband had only been on the list for 93 days, since October.  I was absolutely shocked at this as I explained that he had been waiting for, at least, over 3 years.  This told me that his waiting time on the list had been re-set to when he saw the consultant in October 2021.  I was told me that he would be waiting for 12/18 months, to which I replied he will be lucky if he is able to walk at all in 6 months.  I  was also told me there were no operating theatres at the RAH, only a couple of slots at Inverclyde, which everyone wanted.  The person said they would email the consultant and tell him what I had said.  To-date 

we have heard nothing.

I told my husband about my phone call, and to be honest, wish I hadn’t.  He is in so much pain and can hardly manage the stairs now.  Even trying to stand up takes him time.  He only comes downstairs maybe once a week now.  I have also seen this affect his mental health.  He has given up with no hope now of getting his operations.

I don’t like having to complain about this.  I know that COVID has had a terrible affect on the NHS and there are back logs everywhere, but at the same time people’s circumstances change.  We don’t know where to turn anymore .

I would like if a manager of the management team at the orthopaedic department in the RAH Paisley could contact us to explain why my husbands place on the list is only from October 2021 and why tell him not to book any holidays within the 12 weeks if there was no hope  of him every getting an operation carried out for at least 12/18 months.