24 Weeks after pre op assessment...

[ItsRyanBlair]

Back in November 2015 I damaged my ACL in my knee. The time for getting my scan was over 2 months and in that time it had gone from a stage 1 tear to a fully stage 3 tear and unrepairable without surgery. I had my scan in February and after a few more appointments I finally had my pre op on the 30th of June. I am down to have a grade 3 acl repair using something from the back of my leg, I am also having meniscus repair surgery and a skin graph in the one operation. It is now mid December and I have still heard nothing. That's 24 weeks. I have been in contact on so many occasions and I have just been told that my surgeon is very busy no date can be given. I have tried to change hospital but my GP said this is not a possibility. I have to work to pay bills but I am in pain pretty much everyday and I am always at risk of my leg collapsing from under me due to the injury. My ankles have begun to hurt due to the compensating that I have to do. I am only 26 and I feel because I am young it seems like I have been put to the back of the queue. I can't look for a new job because of the surgery and I can't play any sport or even play sport with my child. Any advice would be great as I am getting pretty desperate. Thank you.

[RAYJAYC]

You could contact the hospital's PALS team (Patient Advice & Liaison) to inform them of your waiting time already. Being told that the "surgeon is busy" isn't really acceptable and there are targets that hospitals should adhere to regarding waiting times; you've been waiting & have deteriorated during your long wait.

Have you been to your GP to get some pain relief in the meantime to help you through? You can also reiterate the extra problems you're experiencing so your GP has good reason to request your surgery date be expedited AND check that you haven't been 'lost in the system' this forgotten!!

Definitely PALS is the first port of call...

Good luck

RJC