A REDDITCH doctor has attacked the Alexandra Hospital after waiting more than 15 weeks for surgery after breaking her shoulder.

Dr Julie Harvey broke her shoulder on May 2 after falling from a horse at Solihull Riding Club.

She was told in A&E the next day that is was not broken and sent home in agony.

But a week later she returned to the hospital and staff changed their minds and admitted it was broken.

It was later found that she needed her shoulder pinned as the piece of bone has broken away and the tendon is attached to it.

Since then Dr Harvey, in intense pain, has been in and out of the hospital multiple times, has had to endure physio, and even paid £490 for two private scans.

Eventually she was given a date for the surgery, on August 24, but it was cancelled at the last minute.

"I went into the Alex on Aug 24 for the operation and left my husband and son to go on holiday without me as I could not turn down surgery being in so much pain and unable to use my right arm," she said.

"I sat on ward 16 from 11am until 4.30, been prepped and ready to go to surgery at any minute then it was just cancelled and I was told it will be at least four to six weeks before they can get me in again.

"I was devastated and the surgeon was fuming."

Dr Harvey has been given a new date, September 13, but says the hospital cannot guarantee it will go ahead until she is actually in theatre.

The psychologist, said: "I can’t wash or dress properly, I can’t sleep or even lie down. I am in constant pain.

"My husband is a T9 paraplegic so struggling to help me and my son is autistic with learning difficulties."

"I work for myself and am currently unable to work and losing contracts and money because of this."

Before the accident the 49-year-old went to the gym three times a week and rode horses daily.

Now she is unable to dress or wash herself and can’t even brush her hair or put make up on.

She added: "The pain is overwhelming. The last 15 weeks and 3 days have severely affected and continue to affect my physical and mental health alongside my financial situation.

"I'm unable to lie down or sleep. I've been sitting in a chair all night.

"I feel very low, I’ve changed, my mental health is suffering, I feel like a different person. I've been prescribed heavy sleeping pills and opiates for pain relief but I need anti-depressants, I can’t cope."

A spokesperson from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “This is now subject to a formal complaint and so we cannot comment further other than to apologise to Dr Harvey, if her treatment did not match her expectations or our aspiration of providing excellent and timely care.”