Morton's Neuroma

[jamesnan]

I have been on the waiting list for day surgery since last October and found out yesterday that I am No 87, and that the wait is usually 18 months. I live in Essex,and it seems so unfair that in other parts of the country,the waiting time is only a matter of weeks. By the time the operation is done I will be suffering from other problems as well.
What happened to short waiting times! Anyone have any idea how much it would cost to have it done privately

[Sqad]

Jamesnan.....that is no service at all and beggars belief that the UK population accept this.....but they don't care....waiting lists have been unacceptable for 50 years.

Ring up the nearest Private Hospital and as k to speak to an Orthopaedic secretary and ask he for details of price.

What is the point of having a Health Service which is free at the point of need.......when there is basically ...............no service.

[Zeuhl]

That's dreadful jamesnan.

I have just seen my NHS orthopaedics consultant to review and discuss my leg fractures of 17 months ago and the removal of the main plates that have helped them heal.

He said they are very busy - he wouldn't be able to do it for 6 (yes six) weeks.

18 months is outrageous. What happened to the deal where the NHS would pick up the tab for operations overseas if the wait was too long?

I can't remember what the criteria were.
.

[bednobs]

the labour government had a policy of 18 weeks from referral to treatment. the coalition government is scrapping this

[jamesnan]

Sqad, I couldn't believe that there was such a long wait, and now also have osteo-arthritis in big toe of same foot, for which I have been given a steroid injection. This together with large neuroma means that I am walking twisted, and that has caused me to suffer from constant back ache. I will try to either be moved up the list, or put on a shorter one from another area, otherwise it will be a phone call to the private hospital.

[guilliebrougues]

if you go privately for the initial consultation you could also ask to be on the short waiting list, e.g. if there is a cancelation from a patient then you would be considered next on the list. this does work the only criteria then is ,if you say no then they contact someone else..

[guilliebrougues]

forgot to mention it may cost you £100 to see a specialist privately and you would be assessed.sometimes you can get onto the NHS waiting list faster by doing it this way especially if the surgeeon also does NHS and private surgery.

[jamesnan]

My 18 month wait already has me marked down as a Short notice surgery patient! No idea if it will make any difference. The thing that really gets me annoyed is the fact that it is only day surgery. I feel that when you hear on the news about the huge rise in alcohol related illness, they cause the rest of the NHS to be less efficient because resources are given to them, when it is in fact self-inflicted. What about the ordinary everyday working man/woman who just wants a better quality of life without really long waiting times.

[jasmin26]

I really feel for you having to wait for so long. As you know i didnt wait too long for my op.I think its dreadful that you have waited for long . I am in Newcastle and only waited a couple of months.

[jamesnan]

Yes I remembered you saying that, and again, this is what makes me so angry, we should all have the same treatment living in the same country, not this post code lottery we seem to have.

[jasmin26]

i totally agree with you !! it so unfair that how long you wait depends on where you live.