Oxford University Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust

Pregnant? You can get a free flu jab.
Ask your GP, pharmacist or midwife about it today #StayWellThisWinter

Free Public Talk: Stroke- don’t let the pressure get to you!
Tomorrow evening, we are hosting a FREE public talk at the John Radcliffe Hospital, organised by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre on the link between high blood pressure and stroke.
Neurology Consultant Dr Alastair Webb will explain how high blood pressure affects the brain, how to measure and diagnose high blood pressure and how this can help to prevent stroke and other vascular diseases.
... The talk will last for just under an hour.
There’s no need to book, just come along to the JR Academic Centre Lecture Theatre 1. Refreshments from 6.15 for a 6.30 start.
https://oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk/…/free-pub lic-talk-stroke-don…/
See More

Research into the quality of life of people after hip fractures, conducted at the John Radcliffe Hospital, was featured in the Inside Health programme on Radio 4 last night. It highlighted vital information that has never been routinely captured before. You can listen again here (from 12'29") https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0000ql z

Who's got the flu - can you spot them? #FluFighter #OUHflufighter #HelpUsHelpYou
Here is more on our staff flu vaccination programme 👇 http://socsi.in/8v2KG

If you have heart, lung or kidney disease, ask for your free flu jab #StayWellThisWinter
Click here for more information on flu 👉 http://socsi.in/KopTw

Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity helps children with chronic blood conditions at Oxford University Hospitals
Since April 2018, there has been a dedicated nurse for children suffering from non-cancerous blood disorders, such as Sickle Cell disease, Thalassaemia or other red cell conditions, based at Oxford Children’s Hospital.
Lesley McCarthy is a Roald Dahl nurse specialising in non-malignant haematology. Her role is to support the child and family throughout the ch...ild’s journey from diagnosis and through the transition into adult services. Children with symptoms (such as bruising easily or a low blood cells count) are referred to her via the Haematology consultant, but sometimes a referral comes from other sources such as via the Emergency Department, their GP or another hospital. https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/news/article.aspx? id=870
See More

Is your child aged 2 or 3? Ask your GP for the free flu nasal spray vaccination.
Click here for more information on flu 👉 http://socsi.in/dJyM0

Coming up next week at the JR - come and visit the team on Osler Chest Ward and find out what they can offer you!

Flu can cause serious complications for pregnant women and their unborn children.
The free flu jab offers the best protection. Ask your GP, pharmacist or midwife about it today #HelpUsHelpYou

A new test that accurately predicts that a pregnant woman will not develop pre-eclampsia within the following seven days has been given the go-ahead to be used as standard clinical practice at OUH.
OUH Consultant Obstetrician Dr Manu Vatish said: “We have shown that we can virtually eliminate all those patients who have no risk of developing pre-eclampsia, allowing us to focus our attention on those with an increased risk."
https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/news/article.aspx? id=866
... [image: J.K. Califf via Flickr]
See More

Here's Jacinta, Charlotte, and Emma in our new ITU family room. Opening today - tying in with #worldmentalhealthday - it allows families with babies on our neonatal unit a calm, peaceful space to get some quiet time. It also has a small kitchen with a microwave and kettle for families who might want something warm to eat, or simply a comforting cuppa.
We'll be telling you a bit more about this facility soon - watch this space!

People with long term health conditions should have the free flu jab.
Speak to your GP or pharmacist to check if you are eligible today #HelpUsHelpYou

We are looking for Business Support Administration Apprentices.
13 month employment contract, working towards Business Administration Level 2 Apprenticeship with the support of a local training provider.
This is a fantastic opportunity if you are looking to develop your skills in customer service, ICT and a variety of administrative tasks.
... Apply online via our website:
https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/work…/…/appren ticeships/default.aspx…
See More

The Ashfield Suite at the John Radcliffe Hospital helps care for women and families when they have lost a baby late in pregnancy or shortly after giving birth.
The Ashfield Fund, part of Oxford Hospitals Charity, supports the bereavement suites, by funding specialist counselling for families, and providing items such as hand and feet castings.
As a result, parents are able to spend a little more time with their baby and create lasting and tangible memories.
... But money is still needed to help buy bereavement items, which is why the team is appealing for the public's help as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9-15 October 2018.
https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/news/article.aspx? id=865
#BLAW2018
See More

"I am having my flu jab because it's vitally important to protect our patients, our colleagues and our own families."
Chief Nurse Sam Foster has had her jab, as we launch our annual staff vaccination programme.
👇
... http://socsi.in/wRVTz
#HelpUsHelpYou #OUHflufighter
See More

Oxford Surgical Site Infection Study Day
Tuesday 20 November 2018 8.45am – 6.00pm Lecture Theatre 1, Academic Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital
... This study day is aimed at all medical, nursing and allied health professionals with an interest in Surgical Site Infections, to discuss all aspects of Surgical Site Infections, from definitions, to management and prevention strategies to future surveillance techniques.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oxford-sur gical-site-infecti…
See More

Well, I went to John Radcliffe Hospital when I was 14: I was in Oxford because I was attending a language course at Westminster College and one night I had what semed to be epilectical fit, but, fortunately, it was only anxiety! While I was in the hospital (I was in the Children's Ward) I met one of the best nurses ever: her name is Linda! Wow! I think she is a really really underrated nurse! Wow! Really really outstanding!

This time last year I had been sent home from the Royal Berkshire Hospital with one huge leg due to a knee-to-tummy button blood clot, a load of morphine and some heparin injections. I was waiting for a call from the hospital to say they had found a Consultant Interventional Radiologist qualified to operate on me.

Today I have had my latest ultrasound of the stents in my groin, and it all looks good! Sending thanks to the good old NHS, Dr Andy Wigham and the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The staff work incredibly hard under the pressure of limited space but continued to give � professionalism. AEU took great care of me and within an hour of admission I was on the correct meds to recovery and after an ECG, X-ray nebulisers every 30mins and intravenous antibiotics, I was discharged with medication. Great job they all do. Thank you.

The entire team in Intensive Care at the Churchill in Oxford deserve a medal! They're fantastic! Thankyou for all you've done for me, my family & of course my mum over the past 22 days! I'll never forget any of you! Onwards & upwards x

On Friday I walked in to the Emergency Assessment department at the JR. I had a swollen calf, some reddening and area of skin were sensitive to touch. Within half an hour I was having an ecg and blood tests. Within an hour a doctor told me there was a possibility that I had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I was given an anti-coagulant injection and referred for an ultra-sound scan. I was also given medication to cover the next 24 hours. Next morning I got a call from the Churchill Hospital and booked in for a scan at 2pm. The scan showed I had only Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT). Treatment - a six week course of tablets - would be provided by my GP. I went straight round to the surgery and got an emergency appointment for 5pm - I had the medication by 5:20.



Every administrator, nurse, doctor, technician and cleaner was efficient, courteous and genuinely friendly. I think, on the whole, most other patients were having the same experience.



Thank you NHS.



It didn't, and won't, cost me anything. We contribute and we benefit.

Nothing but praise across the group of hospitals from both myself & my husband. My husband was very ill last year & was rushed to JR where he underwent surgery within a couple of hours of being seen in ED. He was then in intensive care for a week & then Ward 7. We have since had to attend The Churchill & HGH Banbury, where he is having various follow up appointments which thankfully are much less now. The staff have all been wonderful & we certainly can’t thank them enough & that goes across the board.

Last night my partner was discharged from ward 6b after a 2 night stay in hospital. The care he received was nothing short of awesome. Nurses Barbara and Noel were fantastic as we're all the others. They made such a difficult and worrying time easier and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I don't think nurses get the appreciation they deserve and this has experience has highlighted that to me. Thank you for all your hard work, everyday, with everyone. X

I will never be able to thank the emergency dept enough for the care and compassion they showed my family. From the receptionist, to the consultants, to the paramedics, and the nurses. Despite the pressures of such a busy department, our care was outstanding. My dad was regularly assessed by nurses, seen by a registrar and two consultants all who took the time and genuinely cared. The paramedics who had first brought him in came back to see him several times during the day to see how he was.

We all understand the pressures and difficulties our NHS service has, but its workers are truly incredible people and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I had my first appointment at the Oxford Spinal Surgery Unit at Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre yesterday and saw the triage physiotherapist. She was excellent. She listened, addressed my questions, gave evidence-based information, and explained the choices open to me clearly and without trying to lead me to a particular choice. I felt I had the time to ask all the questions I wanted and received trustworthy information.



From first going to my GP with a problem and getting an MRI to being referred and seen in Spinal Unit has been quick and easy. What a superb and efficient service.

I felt poorly on Thursday, developed abdominal pain, called 111 on Friday at 7:30. Called GP at 8:00 and was seen at 9:20 and referred to the Surgical Emergency Unit Triage. I was there by 10:30, diagnosed with appendicitis, in theatre by 17:00, back on the ward at 20:30, and discharged at 16:00 Saturday.

I'm beyond impressed, the care was excellent, superb, from the FY1 who seemed experienced beyond her years, the amazing nursing staff who held this poor wimp's hand at every stage, the surgeon and anaesthetist who talked me through what would happen.

There simply are no words to express my gratitude, only my heartfelt thanks.

I came to the JR from Sheffield and I suggest anyone who could even start to write a bad review on this hospital, to go to the northern general first.I went to a&e and from then on I was treated with sympathy and respect.This is without doubt a glowing example of what the NHS can be.I would like to say a massive thank you to the doctors,surgeons,nurses and domestic staff ,you are all an out and out credit to your professions.After my experience I would quite happily pay an extra £5 per week from my Bus Driver wages, to help fund a pay rise for these totally committed professionals .Adams trauma ward you are Amazing!!! John Radcliffe, you are outstanding.

Amazing Neuro Myelitis Optica service at the JR. So in depth and well organised! A real relief for family members and patients to be seen by experts that look at the entire picture and put quality of life first. Thank you so much!!

The staff are top notch, overworked and underpaid, but they still find time to say hi and keep you smiling. The bureaucracy and management is questionable, difficult with all the funding cuts I know, but some of the procedures seem unnecessarily lengthy, complicated and inflexible. 5* for the staff though.

I really wanted to give a higher rating. Initially I was full of praise after my admission with what seems to be been flu on Sunday.



Monday someone appeared and talked about looking to get me back home. Nothing else happened. I continued to be treated. As I felt really ill I assumed they changed their minds. Being suddenly moved to isolation worried me. It happened with no explanation. Eventually a nurse explained it was because I was infectious but there had been nowhere to put me but on the ward. Fair enough, but I was really worried.



Tuesday was a strange contrast to the previous days. Is it right for a member of staff to show a patient a box of pills and ask "is this your medication?" I had no clue. Surely checking the notes is the correct procedure.



Then whatever makes the two thermometers on EAU work was lost for both of them. I'm not a nurse, but surely an emergency department needs to be able to do basic patient obs?



Finally a woman appeared and said doctors were going to review with an idea to sending me home. I explained I had no transport till later in the day. My son could look after me but does not drive. I had no money for a taxi. The woman assured me that she could arrange transport.



I was happy to go thinking there would be a lift home. I actually felt very unwell, but did understand there was not a lot more they could help me with.



The nurse arrived to take me to a chair. This is when I was told there was no transport. No way was the hospital giving me transport. I ended up in tears in the waiting room I live in Yarnton. It is two buses. Hard enough without flu. I also have to walk from the stop.



My son kindly came to the hospital. He does not drive. Anyone who could pick me up was unavailable for hours.



My limited income does not stretch to unexpected taxi fares and had I had the correct information I would have been able to explain it was better for me to leave later. In the end a taxi was the only option.



If I had been given the correct information I could have explained the timing. I would have been able to arrange a lift home.



What about people like me who live alone and far from the hospital with nobody to support them at all?



Apparently unless you are rich enough to be able to afford a taxi you get on a bus or two with an infectious illness to get yourself home.



On Monday they talked about a nurse calling in. No mention of it Tuesday.



Oh and my son had to chase up the medication. The meds make me feel odd. Another reason for not wanting to get two buses and walk home alone. How many people has this happened to?



And why was the transport offered in the first place meaning I did not have time to make any arrangements.



Patients in the waiting area commented on the way staff spoke to me....



It is a shame. Until yesterday I would have given 5 stars.

I have to say the parking was awful- i waited 20 minutes to find a parking space.

I asked the receptionist in the paediatric outpatient department if there was a wait and she was unsure- i have a son who is autistic and already stressed - i had to ask her three times to find out before she would agree. This is not good customer care! She did not greet me at reception for several minutes as she was sorting out her files on the reception desk and the other two members of staff didnt seem to be working ? Just discussing their lunch breaks. Just a friendly “one minute” would have sufficed.

The registrar was however lovely and was very thorough and delightful to my stressed son.

Better customer care training for reception staff? Maybe an off day?

I know its stressful but a smile and courtesy is free.

Registrar saved the day and earned 5 stars- Reception 0 so 3 given overall

NHS and their 'bright ideas'... who decided that it would be a fabulous idea to paint the pavement with the green paint to show the path to the emergency department???



I was on my way into the department to meet my sister, but while walking down the hill on the paint (because it covers the whole pavement) I went flying and ended up skinning my knee. It doesn't help that it's been raining, so the paint is even more slippery.



Yet more wasted money in my opinion..

I moved to Oxfordshire from Derbyshire in January this year and am on methotrexate for auto immune issues. The Derbyshire NHS were absolutely first class service and it made me wonder why all the bad press on the NHS, but now I know exactly why. My consultant in Derbyshire who saw me regularly assured me that I would be seen as usual by Oxfordshire in January when my next appointment was due...... Nope after lots of contact and being told too busy my appointment was postponed until April!! Then in April when I saw two consultants in the Churchill in the end, it all looked promising them saying to take a steo back as I was an unusual case and they would get my biopsies from Derby and review. They gave me an SOS appointment and told me that if any symptoms appear I.e the blisters I get all over my hands and joints to come straight back so they could see as they wasn't present that day.

I then got a letter to say they doubted my diagnosis from Derby and I could stop my methotrexate if I wish, which I did. No clear instructions or support with the folic acid and regular blood tests.



2 weeks after stopping the methotrexate, my blisters started reappearing in my veins in my hands, so I did as the consultant said and called to get in with my sos appointment.

This was at the start of July. I was given an appointment eventually when I described the symptoms and told the secretary that the consultant required to see me if the symptoms came back, just for 2 days later for it to be cancelled.



The letter said that they would contact me again.... Never bothered. Now 6th August and I'm still trying to sort out with the Churchill about being seen as the blisters have made another appearance as they come and go, but getting nowhere.... SOS appointment my......!



What's the point in the consultant saying that they want to see the symptoms and giving you an alleged emergency appointment if you can't actually ever get in!!



In the 8 months I've been here I've been seen once, taken off my drugs, with a lack of aftsr support and struggling with my painful symptoms and abandoned.



If I rang for an sos in Derbyshire I would be seen within a matter of days...... Months here and nothing!!!!



Horrendous experience so far!

I have just had the worst service of my life. The consultant's attitude made it clear she felt I was wasting her time, she did not let me explain the issues properly, kept cutting me off, was not interested in hearing the whole history that dates back 5 years, she admitted that my GP had not sent my blood tests and had not looked at my history, 10 minutes and I was out with a diagnosis that basically said I had nothing...

At the present time my husband is in Horton Hospital with his Parkinson's out of control, probably due to medication, and I cannot get attention from a

Neurologist to take a look at him. John is constantly drowsy or asleep.



This is an emergency. I expect to lose a wonderful husband if 40 years - and it isn't the nursing staff fault who r doing their best. It's the NHS system

Well, I went to John Radcliffe Hospital when I was 14: I was in Oxford because I was attending a language course at Westminster College and one night I had what semed to be epilectical fit, but, fortunately, it was only anxiety! While I was in the hospital (I was in the Children's Ward) I met one of the best nurses ever: her name is Linda! Wow! I think she is a really really underrated nurse! Wow! Really really outstanding!

This time last year I had been sent home from the Royal Berkshire Hospital with one huge leg due to a knee-to-tummy button blood clot, a load of morphine and some heparin injections. I was waiting for a call from the hospital to say they had found a Consultant Interventional Radiologist qualified to operate on me.

Today I have had my latest ultrasound of the stents in my groin, and it all looks good! Sending thanks to the good old NHS, Dr Andy Wigham and the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The staff work incredibly hard under the pressure of limited space but continued to give � professionalism. AEU took great care of me and within an hour of admission I was on the correct meds to recovery and after an ECG, X-ray nebulisers every 30mins and intravenous antibiotics, I was discharged with medication. Great job they all do. Thank you.

The entire team in Intensive Care at the Churchill in Oxford deserve a medal! They're fantastic! Thankyou for all you've done for me, my family & of course my mum over the past 22 days! I'll never forget any of you! Onwards & upwards x

On Friday I walked in to the Emergency Assessment department at the JR. I had a swollen calf, some reddening and area of skin were sensitive to touch. Within half an hour I was having an ecg and blood tests. Within an hour a doctor told me there was a possibility that I had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I was given an anti-coagulant injection and referred for an ultra-sound scan. I was also given medication to cover the next 24 hours. Next morning I got a call from the Churchill Hospital and booked in for a scan at 2pm. The scan showed I had only Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT). Treatment - a six week course of tablets - would be provided by my GP. I went straight round to the surgery and got an emergency appointment for 5pm - I had the medication by 5:20.



Every administrator, nurse, doctor, technician and cleaner was efficient, courteous and genuinely friendly. I think, on the whole, most other patients were having the same experience.



Thank you NHS.



It didn't, and won't, cost me anything. We contribute and we benefit.

Nothing but praise across the group of hospitals from both myself & my husband. My husband was very ill last year & was rushed to JR where he underwent surgery within a couple of hours of being seen in ED. He was then in intensive care for a week & then Ward 7. We have since had to attend The Churchill & HGH Banbury, where he is having various follow up appointments which thankfully are much less now. The staff have all been wonderful & we certainly can’t thank them enough & that goes across the board.

Last night my partner was discharged from ward 6b after a 2 night stay in hospital. The care he received was nothing short of awesome. Nurses Barbara and Noel were fantastic as we're all the others. They made such a difficult and worrying time easier and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I don't think nurses get the appreciation they deserve and this has experience has highlighted that to me. Thank you for all your hard work, everyday, with everyone. X

I will never be able to thank the emergency dept enough for the care and compassion they showed my family. From the receptionist, to the consultants, to the paramedics, and the nurses. Despite the pressures of such a busy department, our care was outstanding. My dad was regularly assessed by nurses, seen by a registrar and two consultants all who took the time and genuinely cared. The paramedics who had first brought him in came back to see him several times during the day to see how he was.

We all understand the pressures and difficulties our NHS service has, but its workers are truly incredible people and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I had my first appointment at the Oxford Spinal Surgery Unit at Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre yesterday and saw the triage physiotherapist. She was excellent. She listened, addressed my questions, gave evidence-based information, and explained the choices open to me clearly and without trying to lead me to a particular choice. I felt I had the time to ask all the questions I wanted and received trustworthy information.



From first going to my GP with a problem and getting an MRI to being referred and seen in Spinal Unit has been quick and easy. What a superb and efficient service.

I felt poorly on Thursday, developed abdominal pain, called 111 on Friday at 7:30. Called GP at 8:00 and was seen at 9:20 and referred to the Surgical Emergency Unit Triage. I was there by 10:30, diagnosed with appendicitis, in theatre by 17:00, back on the ward at 20:30, and discharged at 16:00 Saturday.

I'm beyond impressed, the care was excellent, superb, from the FY1 who seemed experienced beyond her years, the amazing nursing staff who held this poor wimp's hand at every stage, the surgeon and anaesthetist who talked me through what would happen.

There simply are no words to express my gratitude, only my heartfelt thanks.

I came to the JR from Sheffield and I suggest anyone who could even start to write a bad review on this hospital, to go to the northern general first.I went to a&e and from then on I was treated with sympathy and respect.This is without doubt a glowing example of what the NHS can be.I would like to say a massive thank you to the doctors,surgeons,nurses and domestic staff ,you are all an out and out credit to your professions.After my experience I would quite happily pay an extra £5 per week from my Bus Driver wages, to help fund a pay rise for these totally committed professionals .Adams trauma ward you are Amazing!!! John Radcliffe, you are outstanding.

Amazing Neuro Myelitis Optica service at the JR. So in depth and well organised! A real relief for family members and patients to be seen by experts that look at the entire picture and put quality of life first. Thank you so much!!

The staff are top notch, overworked and underpaid, but they still find time to say hi and keep you smiling. The bureaucracy and management is questionable, difficult with all the funding cuts I know, but some of the procedures seem unnecessarily lengthy, complicated and inflexible. 5* for the staff though.

I really wanted to give a higher rating. Initially I was full of praise after my admission with what seems to be been flu on Sunday.



Monday someone appeared and talked about looking to get me back home. Nothing else happened. I continued to be treated. As I felt really ill I assumed they changed their minds. Being suddenly moved to isolation worried me. It happened with no explanation. Eventually a nurse explained it was because I was infectious but there had been nowhere to put me but on the ward. Fair enough, but I was really worried.



Tuesday was a strange contrast to the previous days. Is it right for a member of staff to show a patient a box of pills and ask "is this your medication?" I had no clue. Surely checking the notes is the correct procedure.



Then whatever makes the two thermometers on EAU work was lost for both of them. I'm not a nurse, but surely an emergency department needs to be able to do basic patient obs?



Finally a woman appeared and said doctors were going to review with an idea to sending me home. I explained I had no transport till later in the day. My son could look after me but does not drive. I had no money for a taxi. The woman assured me that she could arrange transport.



I was happy to go thinking there would be a lift home. I actually felt very unwell, but did understand there was not a lot more they could help me with.



The nurse arrived to take me to a chair. This is when I was told there was no transport. No way was the hospital giving me transport. I ended up in tears in the waiting room I live in Yarnton. It is two buses. Hard enough without flu. I also have to walk from the stop.



My son kindly came to the hospital. He does not drive. Anyone who could pick me up was unavailable for hours.



My limited income does not stretch to unexpected taxi fares and had I had the correct information I would have been able to explain it was better for me to leave later. In the end a taxi was the only option.



If I had been given the correct information I could have explained the timing. I would have been able to arrange a lift home.



What about people like me who live alone and far from the hospital with nobody to support them at all?



Apparently unless you are rich enough to be able to afford a taxi you get on a bus or two with an infectious illness to get yourself home.



On Monday they talked about a nurse calling in. No mention of it Tuesday.



Oh and my son had to chase up the medication. The meds make me feel odd. Another reason for not wanting to get two buses and walk home alone. How many people has this happened to?



And why was the transport offered in the first place meaning I did not have time to make any arrangements.



Patients in the waiting area commented on the way staff spoke to me....



It is a shame. Until yesterday I would have given 5 stars.

I have to say the parking was awful- i waited 20 minutes to find a parking space.

I asked the receptionist in the paediatric outpatient department if there was a wait and she was unsure- i have a son who is autistic and already stressed - i had to ask her three times to find out before she would agree. This is not good customer care! She did not greet me at reception for several minutes as she was sorting out her files on the reception desk and the other two members of staff didnt seem to be working ? Just discussing their lunch breaks. Just a friendly “one minute” would have sufficed.

The registrar was however lovely and was very thorough and delightful to my stressed son.

Better customer care training for reception staff? Maybe an off day?

I know its stressful but a smile and courtesy is free.

Registrar saved the day and earned 5 stars- Reception 0 so 3 given overall

NHS and their 'bright ideas'... who decided that it would be a fabulous idea to paint the pavement with the green paint to show the path to the emergency department???



I was on my way into the department to meet my sister, but while walking down the hill on the paint (because it covers the whole pavement) I went flying and ended up skinning my knee. It doesn't help that it's been raining, so the paint is even more slippery.



Yet more wasted money in my opinion..

I moved to Oxfordshire from Derbyshire in January this year and am on methotrexate for auto immune issues. The Derbyshire NHS were absolutely first class service and it made me wonder why all the bad press on the NHS, but now I know exactly why. My consultant in Derbyshire who saw me regularly assured me that I would be seen as usual by Oxfordshire in January when my next appointment was due...... Nope after lots of contact and being told too busy my appointment was postponed until April!! Then in April when I saw two consultants in the Churchill in the end, it all looked promising them saying to take a steo back as I was an unusual case and they would get my biopsies from Derby and review. They gave me an SOS appointment and told me that if any symptoms appear I.e the blisters I get all over my hands and joints to come straight back so they could see as they wasn't present that day.

I then got a letter to say they doubted my diagnosis from Derby and I could stop my methotrexate if I wish, which I did. No clear instructions or support with the folic acid and regular blood tests.



2 weeks after stopping the methotrexate, my blisters started reappearing in my veins in my hands, so I did as the consultant said and called to get in with my sos appointment.

This was at the start of July. I was given an appointment eventually when I described the symptoms and told the secretary that the consultant required to see me if the symptoms came back, just for 2 days later for it to be cancelled.



The letter said that they would contact me again.... Never bothered. Now 6th August and I'm still trying to sort out with the Churchill about being seen as the blisters have made another appearance as they come and go, but getting nowhere.... SOS appointment my......!



What's the point in the consultant saying that they want to see the symptoms and giving you an alleged emergency appointment if you can't actually ever get in!!



In the 8 months I've been here I've been seen once, taken off my drugs, with a lack of aftsr support and struggling with my painful symptoms and abandoned.



If I rang for an sos in Derbyshire I would be seen within a matter of days...... Months here and nothing!!!!



Horrendous experience so far!

I have just had the worst service of my life. The consultant's attitude made it clear she felt I was wasting her time, she did not let me explain the issues properly, kept cutting me off, was not interested in hearing the whole history that dates back 5 years, she admitted that my GP had not sent my blood tests and had not looked at my history, 10 minutes and I was out with a diagnosis that basically said I had nothing...

At the present time my husband is in Horton Hospital with his Parkinson's out of control, probably due to medication, and I cannot get attention from a

Neurologist to take a look at him. John is constantly drowsy or asleep.



This is an emergency. I expect to lose a wonderful husband if 40 years - and it isn't the nursing staff fault who r doing their best. It's the NHS system