ORTHO. CONSULTANT HAS LEFT ME IN SITUATION OF ANY MORE SURGERY COULD RESULT IN AMPUTATION!!

[muffin]

What would you do in my situation? I have RA and had in since 2004.

I have had multiple surgeries on my left wrist, and at no time whatsoever, has my consultant told me of the problems which may incur following surgery. I had 3 replacements using the Motec system, then got septic arthritis in wrist. After lots of antibiotics had replacement centre taken out, more antibiotics, then Motec fusion. The surgeon used bone marrow from my hip, which he didn't tell me about. Found a large plaster on my hip so I guessed this is what had happened. This fusion dislocated.

It was fused again, this time he used human bone chippings and human bone paste to help the fusion. After a week the bone chippings started to make their way out of my wound, and badly burnt the back of my hand and wrist.

When I went to see consultant he was not interested at all, to the point he was showing me through the door, when in pulled off the plaster cast to show him. His reaction was "I've seen worse". I had the wound dressed and went home. I returned a few days later as my wrist wound had completely burst open and was oozing yellow matter. The consultant put in local anesthetic but didn't wait for it to take effect, and immediately started to stitch up wound. The pain was terrible.

A few days later, the wound had opened again and on this occasion I was admitted for surgery the next day to remove the human bone chippings and paste.

I was in the private hospital as nhs patient, for 4 days, and soon became aware the wound had opened again, was not very good, and I could smell it. When I complained to the nurses/dr. they didn't take much notice. In exasperation, I took off the plaster cast on 3 occasions, to show different staff my problem, and on each and every occasion I was found to be right, as swabs showed I had infections. Because I took off the cast, which is easy to do due to the shape of my arm. my consultant declared I had mental health issues and I was referred to the mental health team. During the time I was in the private hospital, I did receive iv antibiotics, and on two occasions they tissued.

For a reason unknown to me, I was sent into the local nhs hospital where I was for 3 more days. I had a picc line put in and after discharge, had to attend the Same Day Emergency Care dept for 6 weeks, 7 days a week for iv antibiotics. On discharge from there, a different dr. saw my plaster cast had dropped down my arm, she took it off and threw it away.

On my next appointment, it was found the fusion had dislocated again!

Now going to Wrightington Hospital, a specialist ortho hospital, where I had received the more wonderful care. Unfortunately due to all the infections I have had, which I believe I got from the private hospital (possibly the operating room), I am advised no further surgery should be done, as it could result in the amputation of my arm.

I have written to the private hospital but they keep putting off their reply. I have been waiting over 3 months. I have had a reply from the nhs hospital, who tell me I was admitted with sepsis, but when my sister spoke to the consultant he said "she's not got sepsis". Who knows what I had.

I have been left in a real mess. Following the first replacement my wrist came out at an angle, from which it has not recovered.

The pain is hard to live with, in previous surgery I had the two tendons removed, and had an internal brace fitted. This has now collapsed and I do not have any use in my thumb. Again, due to previous ops. the bone to my middle finger has disintegrated and is also painful.

Any suggestions on what I could do regarding a complaint, would be appreciated. If anyone has used a company for medical negligence, I would be grateful to know who you used.

Thanks in anticipation of your comments.

Alyson.

[medway-lady]

From an experience the only thing you can do is go to a solicitor specialising in medical law. They call for your medical records and catalogue them then they go to a barrister who specialises in medical cases of the type involved. If you have a car insurance policy or' even a home insurance you may find you're covered for legal expenses but the policy must be for the year the incident occurred so a policy now, would not be relevant to something that happened 2 years ago. And the NHS has a system called Resolutions which does not relate to a private hospital only matters, that happened in an NHS hospital. You can look it up online but personally I'd urge you to consultant a solicitor. Nowadays no win, no fee does not mean you face a huge bill as it's limited by regulations. I'd say complain as well but seek professional advice and your solicitor can look at all the case notes and your GP records they collect everything back to birth ! and even go into any other factors like other conditions. It's not easy though and time limited so you only have 3 years to launch a case before it is timed out. I have a claim and it does not affect the NHS financially that is a fallacy the compensation is from an insurance fund not the NHS. You can also write and ask if a Serious Incident Report was made and you are entitled to see it, it might help explain what they did and why it went wrong, If it did of course, as you know there is always another side to every story even if we don't agree with it. Don't be put off and be objective and write down what happened and when, as your solicitor will need to have as much information as possible. I'm lucky or not! as had an admission of fault before going to a solicitor, and a copy of the SRI so in my case there is not much of a dispute. But you might be in a very different situation and really do need to talk to a legal professional.

[muffin in reply to medway-lady]

Thank you very much for your reply, which was extremely interesting and will prove to be very useful.

Alyson

[Lupusrelative in reply to muffin]

Good luck with all this. We had many, many problems with my sister’s surgery outcome. Once you or a solicitor starts requesting medical notes and records ,they mysteriously disappear. Be sure to file a complaint with the CQC. They can’t help you but will look into the hospital and surgeon.If you would like to discuss in more detail, you can PM me.

[medway-lady in reply to Lupusrelative]

I have to add that my notes most definitely didn't disappear ! from the GP to the Nephrologist and RA team, everything did take time and it wasn't easy. I cannot stress enough that mistakes do happen and its the SRI you need. I might have been unlucky that what happened to me was simply it seemed at first unaccountable, but no doctor made a mistake in my case I'm happy to say, but the system failed . My original complaint and action saved 9 other people as the system failed all of us but I was the first and made the connection so asked the questions which revealed a catasphrophic system failure. I was encouraged to take further advice not discouraged. Every step of the way to finding out what had happened the Chief Medical Director phoned me and really was supportive.

[muffin in reply to medway-lady]

Thanks. The main thing for me is to have the consultant shamed, perhaps in the.local papers.

Don't want this to happen to anyone else.

Alyson

[muffin in reply to Lupusrelative]

Thank you for your response.

I already have my hospital notes, and I will be in touch with the CQC.

THANKS.

Alyson

[Deeb1764 in reply to medway-lady]

Great reply and I hope this info helps you plus maybe a call to NRAS to see if they know anyone who can assist you in sorting this as well.

[Blodynhaul]

Totally shocking state of affairs. Feel terribly for you. Unfortunately I can't help with experience on complaints etc but truly wish you well & for things to improve somehow for you X

[muffin in reply to Blodynhaul]

Thank you very much your thoughts are appreciated.A

[Hidden]

Sounds appalling. I would get Legal help. Also look up BMA & GMC procedures on reporting ‘dodgy’ doctors & private hospitals. Take care x

I go to Withington as an ‘out patient’. I have always received excellent care there.. 10 years plus..

[muffin in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I will look them up and complain.

Thanks for your advice.

Alyson

[Grayling]

If i was in your shoes i would look up the hospital on the internet and search through the surgeons names to find this guy, it will show his GMC number write it down and then complain to the highest member of the trust along with his GMC number and wait, the local newspapers like a story like you have told us, Hope you get satisfaction, we don't want people like him to treat us, we have not asked for this disease.

[muffin in reply to Grayling]

Thanks, I look up his GMC number and complain. I will have the greatest pleasure in distracting this man publicly in the papers.

Thanks for your advice.

Alyson

[medway-lady]

Please, please be careful in the 'naming and shaming' type of idea, if it goes wrong you could end up in court facing a libel action. And it could cost you a fortune to defend. Remember he doesn't have to prove himself innocent but you must prove his negligence. And did you sign a consent form for surgery ? it'll all matter and is not straightforward. It will be best to seek proper informed and in your interests legal advice, complain yes of course but don't shoot yourself in the foot as a journalist won't necessarily act in your best interest just go for a good story. I'm not sure that the press is a good idea especially if your seeking any form of legal redress.