Park View Surgery

I have big problems with my knees these days. Park View surgery in Milnthorpe arranged steroid injections in both my knees but they haven’t really helped. On my last visit, the doctor organised a referral to a pain management course at Kendal Leisure Centre. I was willing to try anything. After two weeks of hearing nothing, I rang the surgery and they gave me the phone number of the Wellness Hub. I spoke to someone who said I was on the list and not to worry as someone would be in touch. No one ever was. Today, the same person phoned me to say the course had already started this week and the organisers had put me down as not turning up. Someone called Simon Thompson had told her that all participants had been contacted ten days ago. Well, I certainly hadn’t been contacted. I phoned Simon Thompson at Kendal Leisure Centre but got no reply all morning. I had left an ansafone message. So, someone called Danii called at 1.20pm. She said she had phoned and emailed me several times ten days ago. I challenged her on this and asked her to confirm what contact details she had for me and when exactly she belived she had spoken to me. She repeated the telephone number of the Wellness Hub and gave me my email with one letter missing. She said the sheet she was reading from was ‘all printed on top of itself’ and she couldn’t see things clearly. I continued to challenge her and she apologised but said she had really no idea answer for me as to why I didn't get her email and phone calls. She invited me to the course sessions next week and will send me their dates and times by email. I have missed two sessions this week apparently. Now, this may all seem a small issue but: a) NHS monies have been paid out for this course. The money is being wasted. Patients are being failed. b) My GP will not take me seriously if records put me down as ‘did not attend’. c) Private partners do not take their responsibilities seriously. They just want the money. This may not be a ‘life and death’ issue but other situations may be. They will always try to ‘pass the buck’. d) This is the only help I am being offered with regard to my very unstable knees and I have had this problem for a long time now. I have told the surgery and MBHT of my experience.