Living in pain and in limbo
Jessica Wauchop
GISBORNE Hospital denies problems with orthopaedic surgery waiting lists, despite at least one woman waiting in pain for months for knee surgery.
However, Tairawhiti District Health chief executive Jim Green says the unexpected absence of an orthopaedic surgeon and the effects of the swine flu epidemic have delayed some surgeries.
A Gisborne woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was told in April she would have surgery for a total knee replacement in two months but was still waiting for a confirmed operation date last week.
It is the third complaint made to The Gisborne Herald about the length of waiting times for orthopaedic surgeries at Gisborne Hospital.
The absence of one orthopaedic surgeon meant patients were being moved between surgeons and reassessed, Mr Green said.
“We have scheduled additional surgery time to make up for this situation. We in no way want to see people waiting longer than necessary for surgery.”
There were a number of factors that contributed to some people waiting longer than others for their surgery, he said.
Some patients required intense work-ups, due to existing problems, and the majority of patients also needed anaesthetic assessments to determine whether they were fit for surgery.
“Patients are also requiring care in the intensive care unit in the immediate post-operative period. As this surgery is elective, patients with an acute illness take priority.”
However, the woman said she was not given a reason for her extended wait.
“I was told by the surgeon I would have my surgery within two months. That was in early April, so I took that to mean surgery in June,” the woman said.
“Then I got a letter from the hospital saying I would have it within four months but after five months I was still waiting. When I rang the hospital they said there was no date yet and I would ‘just have to wait’ . . . those were their words.”
The woman is taking anti-inflammatory tablets twice a day, as well as extra pain relief. She feels let-down by the hospital.
“I can’t walk properly. I have been on an elbow crutch for the past 10 months.
“To be quite honest, I haven’t got a very good quality of life at the moment. It has got to the point that I envy people who are able to walk normally.
“The hospital tells you these times for when you will get surgery and you build yourself up for it, only for it not to happen.
“I want them to keep their word. When they say you will receive treatment in four months, I want that to happen . . . I think I have the right to feel like this.”
The woman said she was worried she would have to wait until next year for her surgery because the hospital was stopping many elective surgeries for six weeks over Christmas and New Year.
Mr Green said elective surgeries were further delayed as beds in ICU were constrained earlier in the year during the influenza H1N1 epidemic.
“This will have delayed surgery for some people needing this level of care post-operatively. However, this could not have been anticipated at the time of letters going out.
“Also of note is the fact that last year we superseded our targets for elective surgeries, which was of great benefit to the community. In fact, an additional 21 patients received surgery under the joint initiative than was planned.”
While there would be a reduction in services for six weeks, starting in the week before Christmas, some elective surgery would be carried out during this time and joint replacements were “a case in point”, said Mr Green.
“We do want to remind people that, if their condition does deteriorate, their GP is the best point for them to be reassessed and the GP can follow up with our clinical team with new information.”
A Ministry of Health website detailing the process for people receiving elective surgeries such as hip and knee replacements, says “all patients given a commitment to treatment should receive it within six months”.
“The goal is to ensure no patients with this status remain untreated after six months,” the website says.