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Originally Posted by Pie'n'mash  I understand your rant fully, I also see that this particular problem is on your wish list or more accurately; "things to do before you die". It is disgusting that she has been refused treatment, I think if any treatment can improve health for twenty years, even two years, there is no reason to refuse. What ever happened to doctors that wanted to make people better?
If she is on a cocktail of pills them I am assuming that this would cost more in the long term than actually giving her the operation? I say this as a recent debate on "presumed consent organ donation", used the argument that not only were there not enough organ donors but that it cost more money to medicate those that were waiting for a transplant rather than the transplant operation.
Also if she had the partial replacement, as it doesn't last as long couldn't it be true that she may have 3 costly operations in the 20 years? I can't see a difference in the cost of this particular operation so is it just the simple reason that it takes longer to recover from the full op, so therefore takes up too much time in a hospital bed and after care?
I'm sure you've seen this site: Knee replacement - What happens? - Types of knee repalacement
From what I can see it says the partial knee operation is less suitable for a young, active person. Wouldn't that mean that a young active person would receive a full operation then? |
You're spot on on every point, Pie. The irony is that it's perfectly obvious that the consultant also believes that the full treatment now would save money in the long run, and he's hinted that he's argued strongly in its favour but the bean counters can't see beyond this year's accounts. The fact that we have a two year old daughter and nine year old son who are being robbed of my wife's full care and that she has intentions of returning to lecturing in Psychology once our daughter is established in school does not seem relevant to them.
Anyway, we've banged out letters to our MP and everyone we can think of in the NHS who might make a differnece. It's the only recourse we have, and we know it won't make any difference.