Which Hospital has the best Neurosurgery Dept?

CantThinkOfOne_2

HI

I damaged my back in a car crash and ive been given the options of the following neurosurgery units.

Can anyone let me know which is the best one they have been to?

The Walton Centre. Liverpool
THE Royal Victory Infirmary Newcastle
The James Cook UNiverstity Hospital, South Tees
Royal Lancaster Infirmary
Royal Preston Hospital

Can anyone advise?

I just want the best i can get in the shortest time waiting.

:beer:

dmg24

It depends on how you measure 'best' - mortality rates, waiting lists? In my experience the best also have the longest waiting lists.

MrsManda

As dmg24 says it does depend on what you mean - neurosurgery is a hugely diverse field so if you're talking about best outcomes in terms of reduced patient bed days (i.e. quicker recovery), low repeat admissions (i.e. they get it right the first time) etc...
it is dependent on the type of treatment you want and often the consultant you see.

You can have a look at basic details such as waiting times and standardised mortality ratios for each hospital using the find and choose services section on the NHS website:https://www.nhs.uk

CantThinkOfOne_2

HMMM

I didnt think death rates would be brought into the question lol.

I was asking through others experience, ive been given a choice of 5 hospitals and was asking what others thought in their experience.

hermanmunster_3

I know Preston is a regional unit but not sure about Lancaster (maybe that its is the same consultants at both they just do outpatients at Lancaster).

A lot depends on where you live - I expect all the units are similar, but travel can be a pain.

C_Mababejive

I wonder if you are able to disclose the nature of the problem..

Is travelling abroad a possibility?

http://www.hsd.es/

CantThinkOfOne_2

sure its nothing personal lol.

I got crashed into by a muppet that couldnt drive his 10 ton truck.

Shot a disc out, squished my spinal nerve both lumbar area and the nerve that runs over the left bum cheek and ive also ended up with fluid in the pockets in the lumbar part of the spine.

Got mis-diagnosed by a big headed specialist who said i'd sprained my spine. Refused a second opinion by the insurance company and got paid out pitance.

I pushed for an MRI through my local GP who eventually relented and got proven right that i had damaged my spine.

holiday abroad.... paid for hmm

Oldernotwiser

Are any of those you're considering teaching hospitals?

MrsManda

I don't have any experience in any of the hospitals (ask about neurosurgery in the NW and further south and I'd be more useful ) but James Cook is a teaching hospital which is usually a good indicator of quality.

I've heard of the Walton Centre and it is a specialist neuro hospital so is likely be very good, and does list spinal injuries as a speciality on their website.

I think if I had the choice I'd choose one of these but I'd also factor in distance travelled as you may need to visit regularly and travelling is never fun when you're in pain plus it's nice to have family/friends close by so they can visit if you get stuck as an inpatient for awhile.

I hope you find relief soon

sunnyone

Im under the James Cook, they are a good hospital but if you dont have a blue badge there is no parking.

I have spinal damage/smashed pelvis due to a high speed car accident and my nerves in my these areas were very badly damaged, there is nothing else that can be done now but I still have appointments at least once every year to measure my demise as it were.

How long is it since your accident?

If its two years ago (or more) the nerves will be irrepairably damaged or at least they were in my case, they wanted to wait and let the boney injuries heal first and it was too late when they tried to repair/release the nerves, I havnt been able to walk unaided since the crash and I've been a full time wheelchair user for the past few years.

What do you want from the hospital?

CantThinkOfOne_2

Thanks for all your replies

@MrsManda

I live in the middle of the lake district so which ever way i look at it it takes me 1 1/2 hours before i reach a motorway to lancaster or liverpool or the main A road to Newcastle. Lovely area to live in a complete pain to get out of!

@Sunnyone

Sorry to hear of your position. I was injured May 2006 on the way to look at a wedding venue with my wife of all things! I was walking wounded and went to casulaty that night..

Id like some pain relief and a decent nights sleep. It seems to be getting worse at present and ive started with dizzy spells which i think they want to see if their related to my back. Took me 12 months to get an MRI from my GP's, i think they thought i was being fradulant which is something i never have been. Anyway the PROOF is there!! Ive moved GP's now as i moved at what do you know i get sent to see the right people on my first visit!!

what happened with your crash? did you get seen by the right people straight away?