THE EFFECT OF THE N.H.S. ON THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE ELDERLY
I injured my leg during a couple of falls on 30th November 2017 and have spent eight days and then two days in Edinburgh Hospitals since, Despite some excellent remedial treatment, the NHS consultants have consistently declined to diagnose my condition, or to suggest further exercises or treatments. Three of them, at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary have indeed either been rude or flippant, and seem to be expressing an attitude like 'you're old. Go away!
Then, last Wednesday, an outstanding private physiotherapist in Stockbridge diagnosed me as suffering from, a still very painful, damaged upper tendon, together with problems with my lymphodema This condition had been entirely missed by the entire NHS, including my overworked GP who dismissed my pain as due to relatively insignificant damage to soft tissue in the knee. Today I learnt from another private physiotherapist with 20 years experience in the NHS, that i may need my Zimmerframe for life.
After much bureaucratic confusion, the NHS have finally granted me a specialist outpatient appointment for the elderly in a clinic in Leith in LATE FEBRUARY. My GP has now given herself credit for my private diagnosis,
I am appalled to think that this sort of thing may be happening more generally when the NHS decide whether or not to treat elderly people. This could have a substantial effect on the mental and physical health of the millions of elderly people who are unable to afford expensive private treatment at roughly £60 an hour,
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