‘NHS let me down after promising to give me new knee’

Operation called off due to high blood sugar level

An Ashford resident says she feels “failed” by the NHS for spending months in pain after being unable to get her new knee.

Annette Rutter from Charing has had problems with her knees for 40 years after falling down some stairs at secondary school.

However, three years ago her suffering became worse when she tripped over a plant pot and tore some ligaments in her right knee.

Mrs Rutter, who also has diabetes, said: “It’s been horrendous. I’ve been on crutches ever since.

“I cannot get up the stairs so I’ve had to sleep on the sofa. I can’t drive and I used to deliver parcels as a job so I’ve had to give up work.”

After the latest accident, Mrs Rutter saw a consultant and began attending physiotherapy sessions;18 months later she had the cartilage in her knee sorted to try and ease her pain.

However, in January of this year Mrs Rutter was told she would be getting a new knee.

“I was due to have a new knee on May 23,” she said. “I had my pre-assessment four weeks beforehand and then my operation got moved forward due to a cancellation.”

But just four days before her operation was due, Mrs Rutter was told it was cancelled, with no explanation as to why.

She said: “I’ve had lots of aggravation from the hospital, I tried calling them and they don’t answer.

“Eventually I got through to them but I was just given a lot of excuses, until I found out it was because my blood sugar levels were too high.”

She was given two months to get her levels down from nine to seven; in order to do so she had to change her diet, take insulin and prick her finger every morning to check her levels.

“It’s not just getting the levels down, it’s keeping them down,” said Mrs Rutter “I went back for another pre-assessment in June and was 0.5 over but my surgery thought the hospital would accept this because of my hard work.

“After two weeks the hospital said no and to go and see another consultant but now I can’t get in contact.”

She continued: “I still haven’t got an appointment so I’m still taking the insulin because I haven’t been told what to do

“Nobody seems to care. I have severe pain, my mobility is reduced, it interferes with your quality of life, sleep and everyday tasks.

“I just want my new knee, I’m a patient that’s in a lot of pain.”

Annette Rutter feels failed by the NHS after still not getting a new knee