Linda twice sent home on day of surgery
BY ANDY PHILIP A WOMAN suffering from a painful medical condition has told how she was twice turned away from scheduled operations.
The case of Linda Brown, who has been waiting since January for keyhole surgery for a prolapse, underlines the growing pressure on the health service.
After her concerns were raised, NHS bosses apologised and arranged an appointment at a different hospital for tomorrow.
Linda, who lives with her husband Kevin and two teenage sons in Armadale, West Lothian, has an underlying condition called functional neurological disorder (FND).
The 47-year-old mum was sent away on two occasions after waiting more than five hours in hospital, prepped and ready for surgery.
She said: “I’m in excruciating pain and I have a sore back, as well as dealing with FND.
“It’s really hit me as well as my family. It’s emotionally stressful preparing for an operation and I’ve been left devastated each time.
“The NHS is overstretched – I feel sorry for the staff. They’re not being replaced and they’re left with long waiting lists.”
When Linda saw a consultant on January 18, she was told surgery should be available in about 12 weeks.
Her pre-op assessment on March 1 was cancelled because of the widespread weather chaos caused by the “Beast from the East”.
After a rearranged appointment on March 26, her surgery was set for April 11.
She went to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary as planned and went to a ward – but was sent home after five-and-half hours. On May 29, the same thing happened after staff said no one would be able to perform the procedure that day.
A new date was set for July 4 – but after concerns were raised, Linda will now be seen at St John’s Hospital in Livingston tomorrow.
NHS Lothian chief officer of acute services Jacquie Campbell said: “We’ve been in contact with Ms Brown and apologised to her directly. A new appointment has already been offered for this week.
“I would assure patients that decisions to postpone procedures are made to ensure their safety.
“NHS Lothian work with a strict criteria developed by clinicians to assess patients depending on their clinical need and priority before any procedure is deferred.”
“Patients are supposed to have a legally binding treatment time guarantee but there is no recourse for them when this is breached.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “It is always regrettable when a patient waits in hospital before an operation is cancelled.
“It’s welcome the board have rightly apologised to this patient.”