A grandmother who has waited more than five years for a hip replacement operation had her long-awaited surgery cancelled at short notice. Joan Brown was due to go under the knife at Glasgow Royal Infirmary last Monday morning.
The 60-year-old is in constant pain from both hips and her right knee, and has to take morphine tablets twice a day. Her appointment was finally arranged after the family highlighted her long wait in the Sunday Mail.
But the hospital called four days before surgery to say there were concerns over her morphine intake, which they wanted to reduce before they went ahead. Joan said no such concerns were raised when she went for her pre-operation consultations in February and April.
And campaigners claim it highlights a much bigger issue with operations being cancelled amid long waiting lists on Scotland’s NHS. The mum of six, from Parkhead, Glasgow, said: “I’m gutted. The hospital phoned me on the Thursday afternoon to say the surgery had been cancelled and said it was due to my medication.
"But I don’t believe them. Why leave it so late? They have known from the beginning what medication I was on. I feel like I’m back to square one.”
Joan was first referred to a hip specialist for surgery in December 2017 by her GP but only given a date last month. After the operation cancellation on May 11, Joan has begun reducing her morphine intake.
But no one from the hospital has told her how much she much reduce it by or for how long, and they were also unable to give her a new date for surgery. In the last three years, Joan has rarely left home and her son Scott had to give up work to become her full-time carer. She needs help each day with dressing, washing and cooking and has fallen down the stairs several times at home.
Jackie Baillie, of Scottish Labour, said: “With one in seven people stuck on waiting lists and hardworking NHS staff under extreme pressure, it is not surprising that waiting times are still far too long and people like Ms Brown are left languishing in pain. The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Michael Matheson, needs to act fast.”
Campaigner Sean Clerkin, who took up Joan’s case, said: “The sudden cancellation of Joan Brown’s hip replacement operation after waiting more than five years for this surgery is cruel and unacceptable. The NHS in Scotland has badly failed this lady as she is now housebound and in a wheelchair at the age of 60.“
The Sunday Mail first told the story about Joan’s five-year wait for surgery in January. Following our intervention, officials said initial surgery on her left hip would take place on May 15.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “All patients will take part in a pre-op assessment to ensure suitability for upcoming surgery. If they are not deemed suitable at the current time, the surgery should be deferred.
“We understand this will be disappointing but it is our priority to ensure patient safety while in the care of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.”
The Scottish Government said: “We continue to work closely with NHS Boards to maximise capacity and reduce the length of time people are waiting for appointments and treatment.”
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