“My whole life has been put on hold," says hip patient

Michael Keegan

A man from Littleborough said his life has been put on hold – because a hip operation he desperately needs has been cancelled twice.

Michael Keegan, 58, of Ealees Road, told Rochdale Online he is “fed up” of the situation at Rochdale Infirmary which has seen his hip replacement operation cancelled twice at the last minute.

Mr Keegan started with a knee complaint about 12 months ago, the cause of the problem was found to be his hip.

An appointment for hip surgery was scheduled for October but was cancelled just days before because of concerns over Mr Keegan’s heart beat.

Mr Keegan’s GP wrote to the hospital following close monitoring of his heart to say there was no reason the surgery couldn’t take place.

The new date was set for yesterday (Monday 31 January 2011) but last Thursday Mr Keegan was informed that the appointment was cancelled again – this time because the anaesthetist needed to speak with the doctor at the hospital.

“I was gobsmacked,” said Mr Keegan, “My whole life has been put on hold. I am in pain 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Mr Keegan said the treatment he has received is “scandalous.”

Mr Keegan works at Fothergill’s and said he can’t afford to be off work but when he is there he has had to ask for help from the other staff to fulfil his duties.

“I feel embarrassed not to be able to do my job.

“It is so frustrating.

I work shifts and twice now the shifts have been changed to suit me and had to be changed back again.”

Mr Keegan used to play and coach rugby league and go to the gym three times a week but he hasn’t been able to do any of those things.

Mr Keegan got engaged at Christmas and wants to get on with wedding plans and go back to every day life, “My quality of life has just gone down hill,” he said.

Mr Keegan said that nobody is talking to each other at the hospital.

“I went to see what was happening on Friday, the nurses were so kind, they were brilliant and they said I needed to complain.”

Mr Keegan says he wonders if the staff are making excuses so the surgery doesn’t go ahead.

He added: “Nobody has explained anything to me. It is total chaos. I don’t want to have to go through this again.

“You don’t realise how bad things are until you go through it yourself.

“They don’t care about the ordinary working man, I have worked all my life and paid my dues, and now I am getting older I expect the care I need – I can’t believe it in this day and age.

“I feel sorry for the people that are really ill. At least I can still walk.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

At the time of publication Mr Keegan has been offered a new appointment date for March. Mr Keegan wonders if contacting the media is the reason for the new appointment. He said: “It is funny that I have been contacted now.”

Councillor Jean Ashworth, Chairwoman of Rochdale Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “How the Trust can say that people aren’t suffering beggars belief. They aren’t just suffering physically, but mentally as well. People in this borough are suffering for being ill and it is going to get worse.”

A spokesperson for the Pennine Acute Hospital Trust was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.