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Hospital apology for Leeds dad over delay in knee operation
Paul Simpson.
A dad has criticised the 15-month wait he has faced for a knee operation.
Paul Simpson is still waiting for knee reconstruction surgery after badly hurting his knee in November 2010.
Patients should wait no more than 18 weeks for treatment to start after being referred to hospital by their GP, according to Government targets.
Hospital bosses in Leeds have now apologised and blamed an “administrative error”.
Mr Simpson, who could no longer work following his injury, said: “I’m very annoyed. It has had a big impact.”
The 30-year-old from Halton Moor, Leeds, hurt his knee playing football and the following morning was in so much pain, he could not put his foot on the floor.
He went to the St George’s Centre in Middleton, Leeds, where he was given crutches and referred to a knee specialist.
Following an appointment at Leeds General Infirmary, he was sent for an MRI scan before Christmas 2010 which showed he had snapped two ligaments, ruptured his kneecap and torn cartilage.
“After the scan, the specialist said I definitely needed reconstructive surgery and it would be two to three months,” said Mr Simpson, dad to two-year-old Layton Simpson.However he has not heard anything since then.
Mr Simpson, who lives with his girlfriend Julie Crossley and her two-year-old daughter Macey Spurr, has rung his consultant’s office regularly as well as chasing it up through his own GP.
He has finally been given an outpatient appointment for next month, but still has no idea when his surgery will take place.
In the meantime he was unable to carry on his job as a door-to-door salesman and after seven months on disability benefits, was told he should find a job.
So far he has only been able to find odd days of work.
“I’ve had no explanation whatsoever for the delay. I have got a girlfriend and two kids to look after,” he said.
A spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals said: “A member of staff has now spoken to Mr Simpson and sincerely apologised that we did not follow up his outpatient appointment in February last year.
“Initial investigations suggest this was due to a regrettable administrative error. We are still looking in detail at this to be clear we fully understand.
“Since some time has now elapsed we need to see Mr Simpson again to reassess his condition and will then do everything possible to progress the necessary treatment as soon as possible.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
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paul quigley
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 01:48 AMdont worry mate because soon you will need to pay for every thing! it will soon be no money no service. that's why we need to save the nhs! we can't all afford to go private!!
tothepoint5
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 04:59 PMThe 18 week referral time limit was abolished as soon as the Tories took office as they knew with all the cuts they were about to impose the hospitals would never be able to keep to it. The 4 hour A+E maximum wait was also abolished.
tiff
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 03:20 PMThe Hospital should be made to pay for its incompetence. A 15 months wait is not on and the Hospital should be taken to task over it.
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