Apologies if this isn't the right forum. Just wanted to see if others have gone through the experience I am at the moment. Or others might be able to offer thoughts and advice.
I am/was awaiting surgery for knee arthroscopy to fix a medial tear and to remove a medial cyst. Gone threw all the normal procedures to date over the past year, GP appointments, Xrays, MRI and lastly a Pre Op & at no point did my local health trust let me know any negative around this type of Op. Considering its after the Pre-Op I received a letter last week informing me funding has been declined for the op. I am appealing the decision as even though for a medial tear funding isn't available a medial cyst is. Morally and possibly ethically I feel the decision is unjust as certainly this information should of been informed to me sooner in the whole process and especially not after the Pre Op stage .
Not sure if this forum is UK based or worldwide but I would be interested to hear others take on this especially anyone UK based and had experiences like this with the NHS.
For the record not bashing the NHS they do a fantastic job but on this occasion I do feel slightly let down by the way things have gone......cheers
My advice is to contact your MP immediately and ask them to take it up as a parliamentary complaint.
I always though it funded all ops in uk? So you have to pay to get it done? Seems odd that it’s not covered , not like it’s cosmetic surgery, good luck
thanks for the reply both.
MP has been contacted, amazingly got a response from his PA inside 24hours, probably won't do any good but you never know.
Sadly those days where all "routine" operations in this country are funded. Medial Tears without signs of osteoarthritis in the Bristol and North Somerset region I have been told don't meet the criteria of the Clinical Commissioning Group who fund operations in this region, By simply have the words "knee anatomy" on my notes which went from the consultant to this group to get the money, it is to broad and not specific enough regard less that Medial Cyst which I also have are funded. It is a mine field which will increasingly become normality in the NHS system.
Thou I can have private surgery in exactly the same hospital as my NHS based op for the turn of £2695 quid.....
have a good day both, cheers
maybe get your specialist to be more specific to get it done, its only going to get worse in uk, here in Australia if i lived in a big city i wouldn't bother with private, but where I live the wait times are too much so pay for private health cover, for me has been worth it has had two knees and heart surgery done, good luck because my first knee was the result of a torn meniscus that led to replacement, and if you limp you willet arthritis anyway sooner!!
Sadly the days of cuts to NHS funding is making them take what is classed as a routine op, off of the horizon. My area will not do arthroscopies now, as they say there is not proof that they are of any benefit! Having had torn meniscuses a number of times and had some removed, I know the pain you must be in. They can ask for the money to be approved for the op again but it would have to be having a great effect on your everyday life to overturn it. Good luck