Recovery on hold: Catherine's long wait for physiotherapy

Catherine, 58, from Lancashire, is waiting for physiotherapy support to help recover from a serious injury – and waiting to get her life back on track.

Catherine took a fall in December, breaking her ankle in several places. She was blue-lighted in an ambulance to hospital, and rushed into surgery. She spent 18 days in the hospital before she could go home.

Catherine was fitted with a device to help her heal, but her mobility remains severely limited. She can’t go downstairs without help, and had to take a leave of absence from her new job.

But Catherine wasn’t referred to physiotherapy until two months after her accident. The appointment itself wasn’t scheduled until late May – three months after the referral, and five months after her injury. She says this is because there aren’t enough physiotherapists in the area, so people end up waiting a long time for care.

“The doctors have been very helpful. They know I’m waiting for a physio appointment, so they’ve told me about some YouTube videos that show some exercises I can do, and I’ve bought some extra equipment too,” Catherine explains.

However, Catherine says the long wait for physio is hampering the progress she can make. She says it’s vital that she has professional support to help her to – literally – get back on her feet.

“If I could just get more support, I’d have the confidence to move on to using crutches. I’d be able to dress myself, get downstairs and get to work. But because of the long wait for an appointment, I’m not getting the help I need, and I’m stuck in my house.

“I don’t blame anyone who’s working in the NHS, but someone really needs to look at the system and to fix the problems that are causing these long waits.”