REPORT TO LOOK AT CRITISM OF ARTIFICIAL LIMB PROVISION
Report to look at criticism of artificial limb provision
by Anne Palmer
PEOPLE who lose limbs must be given the highest possible quality of artificial replacements, members of the Western Health and Social Services Council have said.
A review of the Northern Ireland regional prosthetics service is to be carried out this year, and Health Council members said it was overdue.
They said the experience of people who had lost limbs in the Omagh bombing were evidence of criticisms of the existing service.
The prosthetics service responsible for providing a comprehensive artificial limb fitting service to 1,200 amputee patients, has received negative feedback and criticism from users about the quality of the service provided by Musgrave Park Hospital, prompting a consumer study of needs.
At a meeting of the Health Council, the chief officer, Mr Stanley Millar, made the point that it was largely out of the experiences of the Omagh Bomb, that a considerable amount of criticism came. Young people deemed that they had received a very poor service.
Some teenagers, in particular, complained that the quality of limbs received here were inferior to what was available elsewhere. Mr Millar explained that some young people from Omagh had gone to America to obtain limbs that would be aesthetic
Especially concerned about the young people who were injured in the Omagh bomb, Mr Millar said: "Those people will carry an artificial limb for the next 60 years or more, so it is important that it is something those young people can wear with a sense of pride,"
"Heather Mills [the model who lost a leg in an accident] came to Omagh and worked with young people. She showed them the quality of limbs that were available, but unfortunately, they are not available in Northern Ireland.
"We've lost out here. It's important that people here have the opportunity to comment not only on limbs but on wheelchairs too," he added.
Another council member, Mrs Mavis Rolston expressed concern about the weight of prosthetics currently available, and said that many people had to bear the physical burden of a weighty limb.
She also highlighted the need for those undergoing chemotherapy, to have a good choice of wigs.
Mr Joe O'Brien, council member stressed that users of the service, should be given a wider choice of prosthesis.
Council members also requested that the service for replacement eyes should be included in the forthcoming study
Details of it were outlined by Mr Peter Caldwell, business manager of the Healthcare Directorate, with the Western Health and Social Services Board.
"In the Western Board, there was considerable criticism raised of the service by a number of people who lost limbs as a result of the Omagh bombing in August 1998," he said.
The council heard that concerns had been raised in relation to the extent to which the service had been able to keep up with recent developments in technology and in relation to the provision of information to amputees.
Negative feedback also highlighted the range of options for users and raised the issue of some prosthesis which were not the best fit for user's needs, explained Mr Caldwell.
Links between the regional centre and the Trusts were also raised as issues that concerned limb users, he said.
Users also criticised the servicing of some more recently developed prostheses.
A further study on the provision of equipment to older or disabled people by the audit Commission in England and Wales, identified the need for urgent action to take place in order to address issues and to improve standards.
"This in turn will lead to a fairer service being delivered to the consumer," said Mr Caldwell.
Full report
It is anticipated that a full report on the way forward will be produced by late Autumn. A project team is being established to oversee the detailed work associated with the study, explained the business manager.
He went on to explain that the study aimed to carry out a comprehensive review of the service users perceptions and experiences of the existing arrangements for service delivery and provision.
The comprehensive study into limb fitting services also aims to secure the views of users, recipients as well as referrers and carers, and physiotherapists about all sorts of issues which include quality, acceptability, availability and timeliness of the service.
Mr Caldwell revealed that the commissioners of the survey intended to engage relevant organisations representing the needs and views of users and carers.
From the results of the study, a quality framework for the future service delivery would be moulded, he explained.
"It has been agreed in principle that the proposed study will be taken forward in partnership arrangement between Boards and the four Health and Social Services Councils.
"This approach is seen as an important collaborative initiative which will identify any concerns or dissatisfaction that users express about the service," added Mr Caldwell.
It is anticipated that a project board representative of chief executives would oversee progress of the study and would review any interim reports and findings.
Upper and lower limb users would be surveyed in the study as well as recent amputees and long term users.
The study would take into account the gender, age and type of limb used.
Vital factors like waiting times, consultation, information and choice are to be examined in the report. In addition, the quality, standard and acceptability of the product provided will also be examined, explained Mr Caldwell.
On a practical level, the study will invite comments on the look of a prosthesis, assessing whether users think the fabric of them is too heavy.
One user highlighted the fact that an eight-week-long wait had taken place between the initial measurements and the final fitting. Western Health and Social Services Council members agreed that the wait in this case was much too long, since the user was a small child and in eight weeks, the child would have grown substantially.
Mr James O'Kane, council member drew attention to the problems experienced by many people, who had suffered the loss of limbs, as they waited for adaptations to their houses.
Mr O'Kane said that he knew people who had lost limbs and who were unable to answer the door of their houses.
"These people have to leave the key in the door, which is not always acceptable as members of the public can just walk in," he said.
He called for an emergency meeting to take place with the occupational therapists and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to draw attention to the plight of those awaiting adaptations to their homes.
"Those people are just left sitting, its a deplorable situation," he said.
Mr O'Kane asked that the issue of adaptations be added as an integral part of the study on the service.
by Anne Palmer
PEOPLE who lose limbs must be given the highest possible quality of artificial replacements, members of the Western Health and Social Services Council have said.
A review of the Northern Ireland regional prosthetics service is to be carried out this year, and Health Council members said it was overdue.
They said the experience of people who had lost limbs in the Omagh bombing were evidence of criticisms of the existing service.
The prosthetics service responsible for providing a comprehensive artificial limb fitting service to 1,200 amputee patients, has received negative feedback and criticism from users about the quality of the service provided by Musgrave Park Hospital, prompting a consumer study of needs.
At a meeting of the Health Council, the chief officer, Mr Stanley Millar, made the point that it was largely out of the experiences of the Omagh Bomb, that a considerable amount of criticism came. Young people deemed that they had received a very poor service.
Some teenagers, in particular, complained that the quality of limbs received here were inferior to what was available elsewhere. Mr Millar explained that some young people from Omagh had gone to America to obtain limbs that would be aesthetic
Especially concerned about the young people who were injured in the Omagh bomb, Mr Millar said: "Those people will carry an artificial limb for the next 60 years or more, so it is important that it is something those young people can wear with a sense of pride,"
"Heather Mills [the model who lost a leg in an accident] came to Omagh and worked with young people. She showed them the quality of limbs that were available, but unfortunately, they are not available in Northern Ireland.
"We've lost out here. It's important that people here have the opportunity to comment not only on limbs but on wheelchairs too," he added.
Another council member, Mrs Mavis Rolston expressed concern about the weight of prosthetics currently available, and said that many people had to bear the physical burden of a weighty limb.
She also highlighted the need for those undergoing chemotherapy, to have a good choice of wigs.
Mr Joe O'Brien, council member stressed that users of the service, should be given a wider choice of prosthesis.
Council members also requested that the service for replacement eyes should be included in the forthcoming study
Details of it were outlined by Mr Peter Caldwell, business manager of the Healthcare Directorate, with the Western Health and Social Services Board.
"In the Western Board, there was considerable criticism raised of the service by a number of people who lost limbs as a result of the Omagh bombing in August 1998," he said.
The council heard that concerns had been raised in relation to the extent to which the service had been able to keep up with recent developments in technology and in relation to the provision of information to amputees.
Negative feedback also highlighted the range of options for users and raised the issue of some prosthesis which were not the best fit for user's needs, explained Mr Caldwell.
Links between the regional centre and the Trusts were also raised as issues that concerned limb users, he said.
Users also criticised the servicing of some more recently developed prostheses.
A further study on the provision of equipment to older or disabled people by the audit Commission in England and Wales, identified the need for urgent action to take place in order to address issues and to improve standards.
"This in turn will lead to a fairer service being delivered to the consumer," said Mr Caldwell.
Full report
It is anticipated that a full report on the way forward will be produced by late Autumn. A project team is being established to oversee the detailed work associated with the study, explained the business manager.
He went on to explain that the study aimed to carry out a comprehensive review of the service users perceptions and experiences of the existing arrangements for service delivery and provision.
The comprehensive study into limb fitting services also aims to secure the views of users, recipients as well as referrers and carers, and physiotherapists about all sorts of issues which include quality, acceptability, availability and timeliness of the service.
Mr Caldwell revealed that the commissioners of the survey intended to engage relevant organisations representing the needs and views of users and carers.
From the results of the study, a quality framework for the future service delivery would be moulded, he explained.
"It has been agreed in principle that the proposed study will be taken forward in partnership arrangement between Boards and the four Health and Social Services Councils.
"This approach is seen as an important collaborative initiative which will identify any concerns or dissatisfaction that users express about the service," added Mr Caldwell.
It is anticipated that a project board representative of chief executives would oversee progress of the study and would review any interim reports and findings.
Upper and lower limb users would be surveyed in the study as well as recent amputees and long term users.
The study would take into account the gender, age and type of limb used.
Vital factors like waiting times, consultation, information and choice are to be examined in the report. In addition, the quality, standard and acceptability of the product provided will also be examined, explained Mr Caldwell.
On a practical level, the study will invite comments on the look of a prosthesis, assessing whether users think the fabric of them is too heavy.
One user highlighted the fact that an eight-week-long wait had taken place between the initial measurements and the final fitting. Western Health and Social Services Council members agreed that the wait in this case was much too long, since the user was a small child and in eight weeks, the child would have grown substantially.
Mr James O'Kane, council member drew attention to the problems experienced by many people, who had suffered the loss of limbs, as they waited for adaptations to their houses.
Mr O'Kane said that he knew people who had lost limbs and who were unable to answer the door of their houses.
"These people have to leave the key in the door, which is not always acceptable as members of the public can just walk in," he said.
He called for an emergency meeting to take place with the occupational therapists and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to draw attention to the plight of those awaiting adaptations to their homes.
"Those people are just left sitting, its a deplorable situation," he said.
Mr O'Kane asked that the issue of adaptations be added as an integral part of the study on the service.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1452
Published Date: 15-Jun-00
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