Impossible to ignore - Joint replacement waiting times

YvonneH
YvonneH Member Posts: 1,075
edited 17. Jun 2021, 08:21 in Living with arthritis

People with arthritis can't ignore their pain. Let's make sure the Government doesn’t, either.  Coronavirus has led to the widespread cancellation of planned surgery across the UK, with hundreds of thousands of people with arthritis waiting for joint replacement operations. They’ve been left struggling, in unbearable pain, without a date for surgery. 

People with arthritis need clear communication about when they can expect to be treated, advice and support for their pain, and assurances that surgery can restart safely.  

Sign our petition now. 

https://action.versusarthritis.org/page/63692/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=web

This is really easy. A template letter is already written and Versus Arthritis find your MP, or member of Wales, Scotland or N Ireland and you then click to send.

Thank you

Comments

  • Shell_H
    Shell_H Member Posts: 548
    edited 17. Jun 2021, 08:22

    I signed the petition, but didn't get a letter to send, it just added my name to the petition?

  • YvonneH
    YvonneH Member Posts: 1,075

    Thank you @Shell_H

    I think my email came a day or so later on, let me know if you do/don't get on withing a couple of days

    Thanks

    Yvonne x

  • Northernhippy
    Northernhippy Member Posts: 20

    Happy to sign this. My surgery has been cancelled three times, now the surgeon says he hopes to get one joint repaired before the end of the year!

  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764

    Unfortunately, this isn't just an orthopaedic thing. The BMA report increasing shortages of consultants with many due to retire

    "Without urgent policy intervention at Government level now, there will also be insufficient consultant staff available to the NHS in the future. This will have serious consequences for the quality of patient care. A wide range of medical specialties report significant workforce shortages at a time when population growth and demographic change is highly likely to place increasing demands on the healthcare system" https://www.bma.org.uk/media/3429/bma-consultant-workforce-shortages-and-solutions-oct-2020.pdf

    Plus, about 1/4 of surgeons are due to retire soon.

    To become a surgeon you'll need to complete:

    • a 5-year degree in medicine, recognised by the General Medical Council
    • a 2-year foundation programme of general training
    • 2 years of core surgical training in a hospital
    • up to 6 years of specialist training

    https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/surgeon.

     This is before we factor in anaesthetists, specialist theatre staff, physios, occupational therapists.

    I honestly don't know what the answer is but, apart from raising awareness which has already been raised, I don't think a 'wish list' will come close.

    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764

    P.S. I have signed the petition but, to me, the entire NHS / Social Care system needs re-organising.

    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • trepolpen
    trepolpen Member Posts: 504

    been waiting five years , wont opperate because there is so much wrong with myself !!! dont think signing will help

  • Licklelilly
    Licklelilly Member Posts: 29

    Paid for my hip op 4 weeks ago, I'm one of the lucky ones, it doesn't bear thinking about waiting longer than necessary in such debilitating pain, I'm very happy to sign this!

  • Brynmor
    Brynmor Member Posts: 1,755

    Wow! Over 36,000 signatures 😀

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,026

    That's great! Hope someone takes note!

  • DaveVW
    DaveVW Member Posts: 15
    edited 19. Jul 2021, 13:37

    Done!

  • JaniceCann
    JaniceCann Member Posts: 4

    ive signed and really hope it meets the target ,as a result of needing a Knee Transplant I’ve been waiting over 5 yrs ! Meds aren’t working with pain n on long term sick since Feb last year :(

  • airwave
    airwave Member Posts: 579

    I don’t feel happy about urging medical staff to do more than they can, putting pressure on all branches of medicine. I could happily ask for all of my joints to be replaced but is it feasible, or even likely? With widespread oa, it’s not. I doubt if I could cope with the extra pain and probable failure, you don’t always get what you wish for with surgery, as I’ve found out.

    We must be practical and learn to live with our conditions, we could spend our time wanting, wishing, hoping to have more than we do but would this help us to survive mentally? It would be an awfully big load on us to bear along with some disappointments.

    I have somewhere between 10 to twenty years left and I certainly don’t want to spend it waiting for the next appointment, surgery, convalescence, physio and eventual improvement before I do it all over again. I have a life to get on with!

    it’s a grin, honest!

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