Another expert ... another door closes

Mark is still at BRI and his condition continues to worsen.

Mr Timothy's team in Leeds has seen Marks CT Scan and MRI along with the Radiologists report, so has Mr Raza at Pinderfields. We have a copy of the report but as you can imagine there is language and phrases that we do not understand. What is clear is the way Marks problem is manifesting itself, has not been relayed to Mr Timothy.

An extract from the report by the radiologist under the heading 'Impression' ...

CSF density intra-medullary legion posterior to C7 and T1 vertebral body. Appearances are consistent with post-traumatic syrinx formation.

AC - Urgent Finding: Urgent clinical review is suggested in light of the radiological findings as detailed in this report.

Reported by DR A S Lowe

Consultant Radiologist

We have no idea if that clinical investigation has been carried out, it certainly has not been carried out with any input from Mark, which you would think would be fundamental to getting to the bottom of the problem.

Mr Timothy's team at Leeds has come back and said from what they see on the CT and MRI they don't want to see Mark as his position, in their view, is not of a critical nature. Their only suggestion was the implant of a pain blocker under the skin above his fixture is C4/5. The door has been firmly closed, they're not willing to discuss it any further even with Mark.

We had a visit from the consultant anesthetist this morning whose contribution was to change his drugs to manage the pain and see a psychologist. What's causing the pain is not his department, there's nothing more he can do.

Mr Taggart at BRI can do no more either, it's not his field of expertise.

As you can imagine we're becoming frustrated and concerned as no one seems willing to explore what's causing the problem, only cover it up with more pain medication. We're at a loss as to know what to do next.

I've emailed the Chief Exec at Spinal Injuries, who has been very supportive and has emailed Mr Raza at Pinderfields to try and get him more involved again. I've copied that email to our local MP and Melanie Sykes at the Times. The MP responded and asked if there was anything he could do to help, this was my reply ......

Dear Philip

Yes you can help, at the very least by asking questions as to why my husband is being failed by the NHS on a number of levels...

firstly that no-one is taking the situation regarding his problem seriously

secondly,why I have had to take crucial drugs in from home because they couldn't, wouldn't or had forgotten to order them from the hospital pharmacy

thirdly, that a spinally injured patient requires specific help with bowel management when they are bed bound, which requires a practice that has been outlawed everywhere other than spinal wards (I understand why it was outlawed, however, sometimes a common sense approach is surely required)

It has become very clear to me since my husband was admitted, that the care of the patient now comes a poor second to everyone protecting their back, from at a minimum a ticking off, at worse being sued.

Regards

I also copied that to Melanie Reed at the Times.

We will not give up trying to get Mark the help he needs and deserves, but every setback requires more and more energy to bounce back from.