Should I be worried?

If it was thought more urgent you clearly would have been seen quicker. I appreciate you need reassurance more than anything really but there does not appear much that they can do about some injuries which seem to just need time to heal. Hope you felt better soon.

The few times we or the GC have broken anything we have always gone back the next day,with a follow up in a couple of weeks.

Sometimes I've found it necessary to be my own advocate with the NHS. I think this length of time to wait is too long. Make some 'phone calls. Perhaps start with speaking to your GP to see if they can do something to speed things up. Tell them you are in pain and worried.

Unlike Synonymous I don't believe in sitting back and believing the NHS always gets it right.

The usual length of time to wait is 2 weeks provided you had the correct treatment originally. This allows for swelling reduction and hopefully pain relief.

Three weeks does seem a little too long, especially as you have a back-slab which is only meant for initial support while there is swelling around the fracture. My understanding is that once the swelling has abated, the correct support needs to be put in place and this could happen from about the 5 day mark onwards - certainly within the first 2 weeks. If you have a walk-in clinic / A&E near you, it might be worth popping in and asking for a check so that a more appropriate support can be given if needed. In my view you have nothing to lose - I completely understand your concern that 'minor' as it is, you want to ensure that it heals properly / without the risk of longer term impediment.

Last year I broke my ankle and was not properly attended to in A&E - no cardiovascular checks done, numbness not investigated, sent on my way with a very sub-standard cast, no pain relief and no instructions for aftercare. I did lodge a formal complaint, but not before I had had to return to a different A&E on day 5 and they were appalled at the state of the cast and the lack of initial care. They said the original cast was in danger of doing further harm!

So - if you are concerned, I would get a second check.

When I broke my finger I was seen the next day in the fracture clinic.

I think they take the view now that you either heal yourself or die.

I would not let this lie. Hand injuries can be very problematical because of all the delicate bones. If you want to achieve a good functional result you need to be seen by someone other than the on-call A&E doc - you need someone who is expert in hands.

Thanks folks, I'm glad I'm not just being over neurotic in being concerned. The reassuring aspect is that the minor injuries unit who thought I might need to be seen straight away did send over my xrays electronically to be looked at by the hand specialist. It was that doctor who to told them to do the back slab and they would call me for an appt. I was told I'd hear within a week but if not to ring. I rang a couple of days early to make sure they had my mobile number, that's when I was told no chance before 9th March. So now the week is up I'll be ringing again tomorrow......apart from anything else my physio daughter will be on my case if I don't!

Goodo - sometimes we do need to jump up and down a bit (not with a broken ankle though . Take care and let us know how you get on. All agog now ...

Well, after a polite but very insistent interchange with the appointments dept. this morning they rang back later offering me an appointment for this Monday. That's 10 days earlier than they had available when I spoke to them earlier today. So persistence paid off, thanks for your support gransnetters!

If you have a walk-in clinic / A&E near you, it might be worth popping in and asking for a check so that a more appropriate support can be given if needed

Oh imperfect27, how I laughed(hollowly) at your kindly intentioned suggestion. NHS 111 told me yesterday that DH had to have an urgent appointment within the next 2 hours when I rang mid morning yesterday. We waited 3 + hours in the (walk in) Urgent Care Centre (despite him being "red-flagged") at our local hospital, followed by another 1 1/2 hours in A&E and yet another 11/2 for the anti-b's for him to bring home as an alternative to being admitted and hooked up to IV antibiotics.

It's the "popping in" that got me

I agree Alea one now "pops in" for 6 hours +.

Pollyparrot I was merely being factual.
Never did I, or would I, say that the NHS or anyone else always gets things right and anybody who actually knew me would be splitting their sides at the thought of my 'sitting back' never mind believing in doing that! So funny!

Synonymous You posted "If it was thought more urgent you clearly would have been seen quicker"

There's nothing factual about that, I can tell you that from personal experience.

You're hilarious

I broke my humerous and it was clearly visible on the Xray - although I went to the fracture clinic I did not have any cast at all - just a sling which I could take off to bathe etc. But the injury meant I could not really move the arm so needed assistance showering etc. It healed perfectly - and I only went to the fracture clinic monthly for about three months.

Alea
I did get seen straight away when .I went to my local A&E about my ankle - they referred me straight to the fracture clinic which was quiet at the time - must have been very fortunate!

Pollyparrot & a especially for you!

I would have thought you'd be at the # clinic the next day too so that you could be seen and have a proper plaster applied. However assuming the dr has seen your X-rays it must have been deemed ok for you to wait.
I hope all goes well!

Feet and hands need specialist care - lots of little bones and complicated joints. My broken foot (3 years ago) was misdiagnosed and I now have a serious walking problem caused by the joints having been disrupted by the fractures and impinging one upon the other when I walk. Take it from me - delay is not the way to go! I innocently believed all I was told to start with - I am wiser now.

Yes Luckygirl you are right. I'm sorry to hear you now have problems.

Yes, my broken foot is still playing me up (and more so lately) 53 years later. Misdiagnosed, plastered, unplastered, re-diagnosed. In the meantime it had set itself awkwardly and that is how it has stayed.

Don't delay!!

Thanks luckygirl and jalima, I feel much better knowing there's good reason for going with my gut feeling and getting my appt brought forward. Sorry you've both got on going difficulties

Jalima - that sounds so like what happened to me. They initially only diagnosed one of the fractures and when the plaster came off refused to believe that I was still in pain. When - by a tortuous route that I will not bore you with - they finally worked out that I had pulled the end off my heel bone they put me back in plaster for a further 8 weeks, which was totally the wrong thing to do and just served to set it all wrong.

By the time I saw a true foot specialist rather than a general orthopaedic bod it was too late. The only option now is to fuse all the bones in my foot together and the outcome would be uncertain and the recovery time long. So I have settled for the devil I know (but do not love).