I was recently referred back to Charing Cross Hospital to the Rheumatology department for a steroid injection in my left wrist, I’ve been there before and had excellent care from a lovely Consultant who has sadly left.
I was seen by a Registrar who I’d not met before, and for some reason my full notes were not available. So, I gave him a potted medical history; severe spinal arthritis, scoliosis of the spine, displaced vertebrae in my neck, only 50% use of my left arm and 40% Lung function – not smoking related. I showed him a list of my medication, which includes morphine patches for pain relief.
He then asked why I was using a wheelchair………………!!
Which left me rather speechless. I‘m not usually lost for words, but said something like; “Severe arthritis, on morphine, get very breathless, is that enough?”
I got a sort of grunt in reply.
Afterwards I felt really shocked. Was it too much to except that a senior Doctor would realise why I was using a wheelchair, without needing to ask?
Are my expectations too high?
Or is the NHS not recruiting Doctors of a high enough caliber?
Life from my Wheelchair 
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