However, as an ex-Orthopaedic Secretary I know that NHS Staff are busy and currently morale is very low. People make mistakes.
18 months may seem a long while because your symptoms, appt.'s etc. are constantly on your mind, but in the bigger picture, it isn't long at all. I wonder what 'action' and why you feel you need to take any? but advice to you: don't take 'on' the NHS until you have at least spoken with the Consultant, because it will drain you of energy!
Surely it would have been quicker to have made an appt. with the Consultant to find out the whys and wherefores
…. maybe he didn't know until shortly before he went into Theatre? You may find that you have alienated the Surgeon by making an initial complaint without talking with him
. He may feel that he doesn't want you as a patient in future. Also, why shouldn't there be 1 Company who manufacturers implants
…….. why would that cause a global shortage? Manufacturing 'lines' can go wrong, there can be occasional delays in transportation: what ever the reason you are on the 'better' side of 'wrong' than having reached theatre etc.!
Going abroad brings with it a huge range of possible problems. Firstly finding a reputable Surgeon/Team. For which there will be NO redress with the Surgeon/Hosptial and the NHS will have to pick up the pieces
………
9 a.m. - what time did the Surgeon begin operating? Mine used to begin at 7.30 a.m. Maybe he opened the 'pack' containing the implant/s and discovered a problem. A problem which made him decide to cancel/postpone all types of similar surgeries. There then may have been phone calls made to find out if other Hospitals have 'spares', if other Consultants had discovered similar 'problems' …… [from the other side of the bed, I have spent hours chasing round 'stuff'
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