With healthcare, you’re never sure if their services will be accessible. They’re supposed to be. But sometimes, they’re not. And some places, like Moorfields, are getting better.
I’ve been having issues with my left knee for a few years. It clicks, and crunches, and makes odd noises. It can be stiff, and painful, and even buckle when I’m crossing a road. Sometimes there’s a reason, like walking too far or cold weather. But not always.
In December, with that week of snow, it was agony. Like someone was stabbing me, in the knees. It hurt to walk. It didn’t shift much, over Christmas. I’m not sure if falling in the dark in January helped, but that was more due to sight loss than joints. But it may have knocked it, and afterwards it was worse. So I decided to do something about it.
After several monthly phone calls, I finally got a physio appointment, in person. I was a little nervous, not knowing what to expect, or if it would be accessible. But I had no need to be.
Both times, I have had excellent sighted guiding, to the reception and where I needed. My physio doctor, a lady called Alice, even led me to the room, and to the way out, which was really helpful.
And in the sessions, she was friendly and approachable, reducing my anxiety and letting my words flow as I got comfortable. She even let me take my shoes off, and liked my socks. I’m not very good at wearing shoes. Something about the feel makes my feet itchy, and I need to take them off to be comfortable, a sensory input my brain struggles with.
I mentioned my failing retinas, and it was no problem, accepted and understood. Alice just rolled with it, and was happy to describe the tests she was doing, where to sit or stand, and what movements I could try. At the end, she even asked for my preferences, for sending information to me, with a list of exercises.
That doesn’t usually happen. Usually, doctors insist on sending you small print letters, which you have to magnify, no mention or thought of other formats. Or, in Moorfields case, they do one letter in large print, and then never do that again. Although, the Low Vision Clinic has got better about sending appointments via email. So it was wonderful, to be asked, to receive the information I needed in a format I requested (an email).
The exercises came in a new app, which I was delighted to see worked very well with my accessibility features, large fonts and colour contrasts no issue, and I’ve been working through them. And it has got better, a little less painful, and tests today reported it has got stronger.
It has been an amazingly accessible experience, and I’m looking forward to going again.
