Nice-grandfather, 84, took personal life after ‘dropping hope’ in receiving immediate remedy for continual ache after NHS knee operation

A pensioner took his personal life after dropping ‘hope’ of receiving immediate remedy for continual ache he suffered following an NHS knee operation.

Nice-grandfather Julian Pryer, 84, was in fixed agony after the process and was determined to alleviate the ache.

He took a deadly overdose of prescription remedy days after being advised he must wait not less than eight months earlier than being handled on the native ache clinic.

Psychological well being providers additionally refused to see him, regardless of a referral from his GP, as a result of his issues had been bodily.

Particulars of the retired rail employee’s despair emerged at an inquest the place a coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide.

After the listening to, his daughter Cheryl mentioned: ‘It was very irritating to see the ache he was in 24/7. It modified his character fully and he wasn’t like my dad anymore.

‘Earlier than this, he cherished to journey overseas and was very unbiased.

‘All he actually wanted was hope and the system did not give him any. There must be a extra holistic method to care.’

Mr Pryer had a full substitute of his proper knee at Norfolk and Norwich College Hospital (NNUH) in January final 12 months, Norfolk Coroner’s Court docket heard yesterday.

The process was deemed to have been successful however within the months that adopted he lived in fixed ache.

He had common contact together with his GP, who made referrals to the orthopaedic workforce at NNUH.

Scans revealed Mr Pryer had suffered a big tear in his quads – the group of muscle mass on the entrance of the thigh – in addition to spinal issues.

He was seen by workers on the hospital’s ache clinic however was advised it could be effectively into the next 12 months earlier than he may hope for any remedy.

Round this time, Mr Pryer’s GP referred him to psychological well being providers after his daughter reported he had revealed he was contemplating taking an overdose.

However Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Basis Belief declined the referral after assessing him, explaining it was his bodily ache that was on the root of his psychological well being points.

Dr Hans de Vrijer, of Brundall Medical Observe, which is three miles from Mr Pryer’s Lingwood residence, advised the inquest in Norwich: ‘It seems that an absence of a holistic method in secondary care left him in a scenario the place he felt hopeless.’

Mr Pryer was discovered lifeless at his home on August 14, days after being advised of the eight-month wait to be seen on the ache clinic.

He left a suicide observe explaining his causes to his household.

Mr Pryer, the one son amongst eight siblings, was born in India. He went on to have three kids, in addition to 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Previous to the knee operation he led an energetic life, with common journey abroad to go to household and attending providers at Norwich’s Roman Catholic cathedral.

NNUH continues to have prolonged ready lists for sufferers needing remedy for continual ache, the inquest was advised.

Katherine Dyer, lead nurse of the ache administration workforce, admitted some sufferers waited almost two years to be seen.

‘Nationally, there may be an unprecedented stage of demand and our referral charge continues to extend,’ she mentioned.

NNUH chief govt Professor Lesley Dwyer mentioned: ‘We’re very sorry to anybody ready longer than anticipated for investigations and remedy.

‘We frequently assessment our ready lists and we’re prioritising most cancers, probably the most pressing and longest-waiting sufferers. Our groups are working arduous to cut back waits by finishing up further exercise.

A spokesperson for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Basis Belief, mentioned: ‘We want to share our honest and heartfelt condolences to Julian’s household at this very tough time.

‘Our ideas stay with Julian’s household, and we want to reassure them that following his unhappy loss of life we’ve carried out a security assessment to establish any enhancements in care wanted. 

‘This investigation confirmed that our evaluation made on the time was applicable, concluding that probably the most appropriate help for Julian was to handle the underlying concern affecting his psychological well being by in search of help to handle his bodily ache.’

‘We’re dedicated to working with households, carers, service customers and companions on our enchancment and transformation journey to supply safer, kinder and higher care. Subsequently, we’d encourage Julian’s household to get in contact if they’ve any additional questions or if we will help them in every other method.’