Mum’s anger over hospital op delays (From Worcester News)

Mum’s anger over hospital op delays

1:40pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Tarik Al Rasheed

WE’RE NOT HAPPY: Maria Evans, right, with daughter Laura King. 1113267501

A BUSY mother-of-three whose leg has been stuck in plaster since last June was left furious after her long-awaited operation was cancelled at the last minute.

Maria Evans broke her right fibia when she fell from a loft at home nine months ago and has been in constant pain and unable to walk ever since.

As well as the discomfort, the 42-year-old has been left unable to properly look after her 15-year-old daughter, who is autistic and requires personal care.

At first, doctors were hoping the injury would heal naturally but when this did not happen they decided that surgery was the best option.

Mrs Evans went into Worcestershire Royal Hos-pital for a pre-operation appointment and says she was told she would have her surgery before Christ-mas.

But as the hospital struggled with outbreaks of the winter sickness and vomiting bug, that did not happen and she was instead left hanging on until last Wednesday, March 6, for a surgery date.

When the day arrived and she had not heard anything she was concerned and phoned the hospital – only to be told there was no space for her.

“I was more than a bit miffed because they didn’t even ring me to say that it was cancelled,” she said. “I hadn’t taken any painkillers or had anything to eat or drink since the night before and my husband had taken time off work especially be-cause as far as we knew I was going to have the surgery.

“I think it is really bad. They don’t take into consideration the consequences it has. As a mum being incapacitated for so long has had a real impact on me but when you speak to them it is like talking to a robot. “They really don’t seem to care.”

Mrs Evans, of Rushwick, near Worcester, said when she called the hospital no one was able to give her a new date for her operation. But since she contacted your Worcester News she has been given a date of April 10. A spokesman for the hospital offered “sincere apologies” to Mrs Evans.

“We realise how distressing and difficult this must have been for her,” she said. “We do not like cancelling planned operations but sometimes have to do so. When this happens we always give priority to patients requiring urgent or emergency surgery.”

She said that norovirus and a seasonal rise in the severity of illnesses were putting county hospitals under severe pressure.

“Every attempt is being made to keep cancellations to a minimum in the light of these pressures,” she said.