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Subject: Re: Waiting time...
Hi Paul,
The musculoskeletal department is good. They are the ones that look at you overall and decide whether you should see a physio or a consultant or have tests. They are the ones that got me my rheumotologist's appointment. When she examined me it was really clear I was in a bad state.You should get an appt fairly quickly as this is exactly what it is designed for - it is a kind of triage system. In theory, the urgently ill get sent to see a consultant/admitted etc. It shouldn't take another 6-12 weeks on top of that. They should be able to make urgent appt. I was wrongly referred to a first time arthritis clinic. My GP put a rocket under them and I got my urgent appointment (3 weeks - the longest 3 weeks of my life!) When you get your appointment, if it is not in two or three weeks kick up a huge fuss. Tell them you cannot cope. Re: Social Services. Ring your local Council Push very hard to get a telephone number if you council has a call centre as mine does. I had several goes. Some councils don't like you to speak to anyone unless you have a history with them, mine is like that (rubbish!)Ask fo Adult Social Services, emergency help needed. Someone should refer you to Occupational Therapy. Make sure you get the name and number of the person you speak to as my call was not logged and I waited a month to find out they hadn't done anything. If you get stuck, your local surgery might have a number. When you're put through, say you've got inflammatory arthritis, you won't know if it is Reactive for ages, and tell them you are walking with crutches etc, tell them everything. They thought mine was inflammatory arthritis even though I knew it wasn't because I was so severely incapacitated - like yourself. I don't think they can say straight away what sort of arthritis untless you test positive for RF (rheumatoid factor.) Everything else takes a while. I don't how badly you are coping at home or whether you live with anyone but there is a lot they can do. My mother's local council had an emergency service that was triggered by the GP and they would come in and offer various forms of help for up to six weeks. They are all different. Hope you get some dates tomorrow. Let me know how you get on and I'll help in any way I can. My experience last year was so bad I'm determined no-one else should suffer like I did.
xx
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