Where are the Doctors?

[BigPat]

Be warned....this is a rant!

So where are all the Doctors and how the hell do you get to see one?

I live in Ipswich which is a medium sized town in sleepy Suffolk and not an area of high COVID infection. So why is COVID the standard excuse given for every time you cannot see a Doctor. I rarely go to the Doctor and in fact I think it has been well over a year since I last went. But on Wednesday I was out clearing woodland when I took a tumble. Luckily I managed to get the chainsaw clear but in doing so I ended up with my right forearm underneath me as it landed onto a low tree stump. Nice big cracking sound but other than being sore it didn’t feel too bad. But by Sunday I was in so much pain that I ended up taking a trip to A&E. Apparently no doctors available due to COVID but I could see a nurse who was convinced I had broken my arm. Quick X-ray (which was bizarrely not on the area that I had the pain in and despite me saying this I was ignored) and to the nurses surprise no broken bones. So I am told it will get better as it’s only soft tissue damage. So I’m sent home with no pain relief or support just the instruction to take painkillers and rest.

No sleep Sunday night, no sleep last night. Whole forearm swollen and any movement of my hand/arm results in a grinding sensation and shooting pain and hand now got constant numbness. So called the doctors to be told that no doctors available for a consultation due to COVID so I should call the nhs physio service. Called them and yes they will be able to talk to me in 2 weeks after which they may be able to arrange an appointment if required, apparently no doctors or physios available to do an assessment due to COVID.

So now I’m going back up to the A&E dept to try and get help.

So where are all the Doctors?

 

[pezz69]

I'm from a medical background and it sounds broken to me without looking at it.

 

[Heym SR20]

I wpuld get back to A&E sooner rather than later. There are plenty of orthopaedic consultants doing very little at the moment. Indeed I believe in some areas they have.been furloughed. Sounds like ligament type damage and unless you get it seen to it can cause all sorts of problems.

 

[snake_2586]

Your not the only one, I have been told of in the last couple of days, of two different people with broken bones, that the doctors are to busy to see and do something about, one has been living with it for 2 weeks now, to my mind the bone will have started to heal/regrow and will need breaking and resetting correctly by the time the doctors get there act together and see him, I pity anyone that injures themselves at the moment!

I agree In large city's with high outbreaks the doctors are probably busy, and we all have to take precautions, but when I have been to the gp's and it is rare, half the people don't need to be there, so turning them away I don't see an issue with but, in smaller community's with low outbreaks I think they need to be a bit more realistic and see patience's that need help.

 

[opticron1]

Definitely head back up to A&E and explain that you haven't been able to get an appointment at the GP which would be the first port of call. The swelling and numbness would be big warning signs for a further bit of investigating to ensure that you haven't got nerve damage or vascular damage. Usually the advanced nurse practitioners are pretty good (if that's who you saw) and I would trust them more than some Doctors I could think of! Good luck.

 

[pete evans]

I work at an orthopaedic hospital. There are certainly a lot of disruption to service for various logistical and risk related problems. Regarding trauma, we have had pretty much full lists since the beginning of lockdown although the nature of injuries has reflected the times (quite a lot more gardening/chainsaw related stuff I believe). Phoning GP for appt/follow up is likely to be frustrating, under the circumstances the best port of call is A&E as this is often the most direct route back into trauma. Best of luck.

 

[BigPat]

At A&E, just been seen by triage nurse who asked for background, then proceeded to ask what I thought they could do that my GP could not and closed on this gem “maybe you stop taking pain relief and you feel better”.
I politely but firmly asked to see a doctor to which she muttered something and sent me back to the waiting area.

 

[Grannysmith]

Horrendous! So much for the nhs heroes eh!
Please let us know how you get on
Good luck and lets hope you can get it sorted

 

[MackayRSA]

Where is your pain, and where did they x-ray? I know how my x-ray department would react to a patient stating the source of their pain as different to the x-ray request, and I can guarantee we would be chasing up whoever requested that x-ray.

 

[tom308w]

it wont get any better the doctors want this to be the norm.they are having a party at the minute

 

[bluesako]

well ive been on lock down, done some minor diy this last 4 months, noticed gutters sagging and a couple of leaks, ok i thought i,ll get the ladders out, that was the first mistake, the second was climbing them, now im 68 and earned a living using ladders but not climbed them in 25 years, so im up top on the ladders and i thought, hey you silly old git what are you doing, i climbed down and rang a great lad who does roof and gutter work, 2 hours later new gutters and a new downspout done, money well spent, and im not going to the a&e so have a think before you start these jobs and big pat i hope you get sorted atb bs

 

[cyberstag]

Farming friend of mine had his forearm smashed back in November whilst belly clipping a cow in a crush (compulsory before sending to abattoir) Both bones were steel plated; one healed but the second steel plate broke during work.
Consequently the bone ends are flapping about and have been for months. He recently shore his 800 ewes while in this state and the hospital are not interested in giving him a date for surgery. Clap for the health workers? Dream on.

 

[sh1kar]

I had a burst appendix early April. Staggered into a and e and insisted was seen. Long story short. Morphine. CT scan Yep burst. Operated on that night. Thrown out next day with hotline no and loads meds. All good now. Was actually a great service. Go back and insist on X-ray
S

 

[BigPat]

Eventually got to see a Doctor who re checked everything and came to the conclusion that I have crushed and torn the ligaments and made a mess of the muscles and veins etc between/around the bones leading to some internal bleeding. Hence the increasing levels of pain and swelling. Strapped up, medicated and in a splint now and wow what a difference! Managed to sleep last night and with the area immobilised and pain relief working things are so much better.