'˜Bruise' was bone fracture

When Chris Harrison, 53, fell and hurt his right arm on January 2, he says he was told by doctors at Blackpool Victoria Hospital that he was simply bruised and did not need a bandage or cast.

He is now in talks with the Trust.

After struggling with wrist pain for nearly a month, Mr Harrison, who lives on Dickson Road, paid a visit to his GP.

He said: “They told me the hand was deformed.

“The pain got worse and I went back to the hospital and they said they would get me some painkillers.

“They did another X-ray and said there was no change but they asked me to come in the next day.

“When I did, the hand doctor looked at my X-ray and told me my wrist should have been put in plaster at the start
of January when I first went in.”

Mr Harrison had a cast put on his arm on January 19. Ten days later, he was told his wrist was fractured.

Now, he says the delay in treatment has had a long-term impact on his daily life.

He said: “I’m having to wear a support on my wrist because it’s so painful. I’m on a lot of painkillers and I’m going through physiotherapy.

“The pain is excruciating.

“It has really upset the start of my year.

“It happened in January and we’re now into March and still I’m in a lot of pain.

“It has had a bad impact on my life and is making me very depressed.

“I think it could have been avoided if they had picked up on it in the first place.”

He has lodged an official complaint with the hospital.

A Blackpool Victoria Hospital spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear that Mr Harrison has been unhappy with the treatment he received.

“The Trust has been liaising with Mr Harrison over this matter and dealt with his complaint through the appropriate channels.”