Care Opinion

Text size

Theme

Language

Help with language translation
Help with reading or listening

Surgery or no surgery, that is the question?

Posted By Dan

"Surgery or no surgery, that is the question?"

About: Box Hill Hospital

(as the patient),

I was scheduled for surgery on my right shoulder (AC joint) at Box Hill. I arrived at the appointed time, was efficiently prepared for surgery and moved the pre-op area. There I spent the rest of the morning discussing with various surgeons whether surgery was the appropriate treatment for my injury. I was eventually sent home without surgery. What's going on? The day before, I attended my outpatients appointment with the Orthopaedic Specialist and he concluded from my injuries that surgery was required for a "best possible outcome". Why was there no communication between the orthopaedic specialist and the surgeon/s? Is this common practise? I sincerely hope not.

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Alan Lilly, Chief Executive, Eastern Health 9 years ago
Alan Lilly
Chief Executive,
Eastern Health

Submitted on 7/12/2015 at 8:34 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 8/12/2015 at 10:25 AM

picture of Alan Lilly

Dear Dan

Thank you for sharing your story on Patient Opinion. I understand your frustration with this having gone through the Outpatient Department process but as I am sure you would agree, always best to get the surgery you need and if the indications for that change, then this decision should always be reviewed. I can assure you that it is not common practice but we would always encourage a second review of the need for surgery if the surgeon feels that this would be helpful or even required.

I think it would be good to have a look at this in detail and if you are agreeable to this, I can arrange a review and a more detailed response to you. If you would like to do this, please email me at alan.lilly@easternhealth.org.au and I will happily arrange that for you. I will respect your decision either way. In the meantime, I hope that you are otherwise keeping well.

Kind regards and many thanks, Alan Lilly

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k