The Hip 3

In the 70^th Anniversary Year of the foundation of the NHS, the hip attended an appointment with a musculoskeletal Extended Scope Practitioner at a nearby hospital.  On the day, news about the NHS was inescapable: we were told that the institution is the envy of the world yet, paradoxically, no other country appears to have copied out template.  Meantime, Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Front Bench sported outsize badges pledging their religious faith in Health Service.  I have very little relevant experience as a customer.

The hospital was easy to find and there was a large car park which was free to use.  The reception was light and airy and I was directed to Physiotherapy where I arrived 5 minutes early for my appointment.  Having ascertained my credentials, I was asked to take a seat and moments later I was summoned by my Extended Scope Practitioner.  My history was available. The consultation and examination were extremely through – I felt very much at ease and confident that all my signs symptoms, aspirations, and anxieties had been registered.  But another x-ray was necessary.  Pleasingly this was done immediately (though not before carefully checking my name address and date of birth) and I returned to the waiting room about 20 minutes later.  Within seconds I was re-summoned by my man and the consultation continued in light of the new evidence .  The bottom line is that the hip is severely degenerative and that choice on the way forward is mine!  It is here that I voice my only complaint.  I am probably too old-fashioned, but I expected a professional consultant to give me a professional recommendation – something like, “I’ve seen dozens of people like you and my recommendation to maximise the utility of the rest of your life is as follows.”  I was out of luck, perhaps a sign of the nervous legal atmosphere we seem to inhabit these days, but I was granted more time to make my decision.  I’m embarking on a couple of months of physiotherapy support followed by a further consultation to decide the way ahead.  Exactly one hour after arriving at reception I made my way back to the car.  Although I am slightly disappointed that the future is not yet settled, I am very satisfied with the consideration and efficiency with which I have been treated and somewhat buoyed by an increased confidence of an outcome.

I am accumulating relevant experience and so far, so good!