Teeth
07-05-2009, 02:09 AM
Right, my case is complicated. I have spent the last 5 years waiting for treatment on the NHS with the orthodontic department in my hospital. For the first four years the've had commitment problems, my previous consultant refused to go ahead with treatment due to "oral hygene" and the fact that I was studying away from home for university. They argued that by me studying away from home, it would be difficult for there to be continuity with my treatment, and in their words they would be unable to offer me the highest quality of care due to this. Yet despite this, the underlying hypocracy laid in the fact that I did not stay at university all year around; rather 2 months at a time. Which meant that EVEN if I got treated locally, chances are I would have to go back and forth anyway. Which in this case if say my "brace broke" when I was at home, they would happily repair it, as long as my hospital at university did the bulk of the treatment.
Also to complicate matters further, I felt that it was in my best interests to get treated at home, because after the operations I would be unable to look after myself properly. If my operation goes ahead, I face the prospect of getting my jaw broken, wired up and will be unable to eat solids for a while. I will experience swelling and will be unable to speak initially. At university I have no support structure to help me through this. Nevertheless my hospital in my home town were NOT empathetic with my situation at all. Making all sorts of excuses, which my hospital in my university town had no problems with.
When pressed with the arguement for why it was ok for my hospital in my university town to go ahead with treatment and not my local trust at home, despite not having continiousity at university due to going back and forth. My hospital backtracked and just blamed it on "hospital policy" for being the reason why treatment could not be taken place at my home NHS trust.
Eventually, due to feeling very powerless, I took the step into getting my local MP involved after dropping out of university. I was very frustrated by this point, as treatment had not started. After doing this, my then orthodontic consultant moved position, and was replaced with another one. With my current consultant I have had no problems since; I have had no complaints about my oral hygene, and treatment started. On top of that I quizzed the guy about why I was unable to study away from home and get treatment started. He just told me that "it was in their best interests, because that way they could ensure the highest quality of care for their patients" (Take a note of this for later)
I have now been wearing a brace for nearly a year, and I was given an operation date for July 1st. My brace for the operation was fitted in 2 weeks in advance, and with it all I am finding it very difficult to eat, and speak. My operation was at the last minute cancelled due to a lack of hospital beds. But before this I had recieved a phone call in regards to a metal key involved in turning my brace, and if I had it. We were never given it!!
The following day, after trying to get hold of the surgeon assigned for my operation, I recieved a phone call from the secretary telling me that a bed was avaliable at another ward, and that the operation is to be commenced the following day. Only 15 minutes after recieving this phone call, I was then phoned again and told by the same guy, that he had made a mistake and there was no bed afterall. I asked him very precise questions on what timeframe I am looking at for my next scheduled operation date; he told me that he didn't know. Anyway, I asked if I could speak to my surgeon personally, he told me "no I couldn't". And told me that they would get back to me soon. Prior to speaking to him, I tried to get hold of the surgeon personally, and left a message with his PA, only for him to not get back to me personally.
Now, I am very pissed off for the following reasons:
a) The only reason why treatment has begun is because I had to go to extreme lengths to get it to this stage i.e. local MP. Prior, to this I was faced by incredible arrogance from my consultant, who was finding all sorts of excuses for why treatment could not begin. Hypothetically coming up with all sorts of scienarios to justify her claims on. Which for that point, has not happened, my brace has not once come lose; my oral hygene has not caused any problems and progression has been made. Lastly, my consultant at the time EVEN suggested that I get referred to a psychiatrist to help deal with this situation, RATHER then simply accept the fact that I was just a patient who was frustrated by the lack of progression made due to their incompetance with dealing with my case. Incidently, my mental health improved dramatically once treatment started to progress.
b) My operation was cancelled at the last minute, which is not really the main element that pissed me off. Rather, it was the lack of compromise made with me with regards to other elements of my treatment. E.g. Logistical; not being able to start treatment due to being at university, as it cannot "ensure the highest quality of care on from my NHS trust during the course of my treatment"...and yet, when it comes to their stage of the treatment which they are responsible for e.g. an operation. They cancelled on me, despite this.
This pissed me off, because I feel that they haven't taken into account individual patient circumstances, rather in a very selfish arrogant manner they would want things under their terms even if it causes the patient to change their life for it unneccessary. There wasn't a chance in hell I could get this done during my time at university, simply because it would inturrupt my studies immensely, and furthermore post recovery from any operation involving my jaw would have been extremely difficult. Yet, my NHS trust just didn't care as it didn't affect them directly. They would rather avoid the issue, then work around it.
c) I have not been given any answers with regards to what will happen with my operation now that it has been cancelled. My surgeon despite only operating on 3 cases a month, has not had the decency to contact me, rather he has been putting me through to a middle man that does not have the answers that I require. This in my opinion is frustrating as the hospital yet again, displayed their complete disregard to their patient feelings at a point where I as the patient has been hit hard by this. I was incredibly psyched up for my operation, motivated and organised my life to accomadate it. Furthermore, my whole summer has been ruined by it, I had plans for a speedy recovery and then a holiday in August. This looks very unlikely, and again I have to reorganise my life for them.
d) Following this operation I have another jaw operation next summer. As a result, my whole treatment is now delayed. It has been 5 years and very little progress is being made.
To conclude, I feel that with the exception of my current orthodontic doctor, the doctors in my department do not care about their patients well being, and I am sick of the arrogance displayed by many of the members involved in treating my case over the years. It almost seems as though, if they make a mistake or prolong things it is ok, but if say I arrive 10 minutes late (this has happened ONCE) I get crucified.
Given the above, is there anything I can do to speed up the process with regards to my operation?
Also to complicate matters further, I felt that it was in my best interests to get treated at home, because after the operations I would be unable to look after myself properly. If my operation goes ahead, I face the prospect of getting my jaw broken, wired up and will be unable to eat solids for a while. I will experience swelling and will be unable to speak initially. At university I have no support structure to help me through this. Nevertheless my hospital in my home town were NOT empathetic with my situation at all. Making all sorts of excuses, which my hospital in my university town had no problems with.
When pressed with the arguement for why it was ok for my hospital in my university town to go ahead with treatment and not my local trust at home, despite not having continiousity at university due to going back and forth. My hospital backtracked and just blamed it on "hospital policy" for being the reason why treatment could not be taken place at my home NHS trust.
Eventually, due to feeling very powerless, I took the step into getting my local MP involved after dropping out of university. I was very frustrated by this point, as treatment had not started. After doing this, my then orthodontic consultant moved position, and was replaced with another one. With my current consultant I have had no problems since; I have had no complaints about my oral hygene, and treatment started. On top of that I quizzed the guy about why I was unable to study away from home and get treatment started. He just told me that "it was in their best interests, because that way they could ensure the highest quality of care for their patients" (Take a note of this for later)
I have now been wearing a brace for nearly a year, and I was given an operation date for July 1st. My brace for the operation was fitted in 2 weeks in advance, and with it all I am finding it very difficult to eat, and speak. My operation was at the last minute cancelled due to a lack of hospital beds. But before this I had recieved a phone call in regards to a metal key involved in turning my brace, and if I had it. We were never given it!!
The following day, after trying to get hold of the surgeon assigned for my operation, I recieved a phone call from the secretary telling me that a bed was avaliable at another ward, and that the operation is to be commenced the following day. Only 15 minutes after recieving this phone call, I was then phoned again and told by the same guy, that he had made a mistake and there was no bed afterall. I asked him very precise questions on what timeframe I am looking at for my next scheduled operation date; he told me that he didn't know. Anyway, I asked if I could speak to my surgeon personally, he told me "no I couldn't". And told me that they would get back to me soon. Prior to speaking to him, I tried to get hold of the surgeon personally, and left a message with his PA, only for him to not get back to me personally.
Now, I am very pissed off for the following reasons:
a) The only reason why treatment has begun is because I had to go to extreme lengths to get it to this stage i.e. local MP. Prior, to this I was faced by incredible arrogance from my consultant, who was finding all sorts of excuses for why treatment could not begin. Hypothetically coming up with all sorts of scienarios to justify her claims on. Which for that point, has not happened, my brace has not once come lose; my oral hygene has not caused any problems and progression has been made. Lastly, my consultant at the time EVEN suggested that I get referred to a psychiatrist to help deal with this situation, RATHER then simply accept the fact that I was just a patient who was frustrated by the lack of progression made due to their incompetance with dealing with my case. Incidently, my mental health improved dramatically once treatment started to progress.
b) My operation was cancelled at the last minute, which is not really the main element that pissed me off. Rather, it was the lack of compromise made with me with regards to other elements of my treatment. E.g. Logistical; not being able to start treatment due to being at university, as it cannot "ensure the highest quality of care on from my NHS trust during the course of my treatment"...and yet, when it comes to their stage of the treatment which they are responsible for e.g. an operation. They cancelled on me, despite this.
This pissed me off, because I feel that they haven't taken into account individual patient circumstances, rather in a very selfish arrogant manner they would want things under their terms even if it causes the patient to change their life for it unneccessary. There wasn't a chance in hell I could get this done during my time at university, simply because it would inturrupt my studies immensely, and furthermore post recovery from any operation involving my jaw would have been extremely difficult. Yet, my NHS trust just didn't care as it didn't affect them directly. They would rather avoid the issue, then work around it.
c) I have not been given any answers with regards to what will happen with my operation now that it has been cancelled. My surgeon despite only operating on 3 cases a month, has not had the decency to contact me, rather he has been putting me through to a middle man that does not have the answers that I require. This in my opinion is frustrating as the hospital yet again, displayed their complete disregard to their patient feelings at a point where I as the patient has been hit hard by this. I was incredibly psyched up for my operation, motivated and organised my life to accomadate it. Furthermore, my whole summer has been ruined by it, I had plans for a speedy recovery and then a holiday in August. This looks very unlikely, and again I have to reorganise my life for them.
d) Following this operation I have another jaw operation next summer. As a result, my whole treatment is now delayed. It has been 5 years and very little progress is being made.
To conclude, I feel that with the exception of my current orthodontic doctor, the doctors in my department do not care about their patients well being, and I am sick of the arrogance displayed by many of the members involved in treating my case over the years. It almost seems as though, if they make a mistake or prolong things it is ok, but if say I arrive 10 minutes late (this has happened ONCE) I get crucified.
Given the above, is there anything I can do to speed up the process with regards to my operation?