– Everything gets so much better with Botox, but St. Olav does not have the capacity to give me the treatment I need. That’s what Anne-Margareth Hansen says. She has dystonia, which causes muscle contractions in the neck. For her, it means that the head is bent to one side, while the chin turns in the opposite direction. It is called torticollis. – The head constantly twists to the left. Sometimes I have to use my hands to keep my head still, and I often sit with my hand under my chin. The condition is constant without treatment. Injection with Botox. Affected muscles have a good effect for patients with dystonia. Photo: Lars Kristian Skjetne / news Needs Botox every three months She started botox treatment in 2000, and received a new injection every three months until 2013. This worked well, but in 2013 she got a new doctor, and it suddenly became difficult to get new appointment. – I had to call and nag, and was told to try later. I felt like I was just a nuisance, and gave up. Last year, the condition worsened and she started Botox again. Hansen is supposed to have treatment every three months, but since August last year this has not been followed up. This causes her to have great pain which makes the days difficult. Hege Christin Samdahl has chronic migraines and is among the patients at St. Olav who have long struggled to get good medical follow-up. Photo: Private – Not enough people – They say they don’t have enough people, and ask us to complain to the State Administrator. That’s what Hege Christin Samdahl says, who gets Botox injections for chronic migraines and tension headaches. In an interview with news in December last year, she talked about her fight for necessary treatment. At the time, they had capacity problems due to the introduction of the Health Platform at St. Olav. – It has only gotten worse now, says Samdahl. Her two daughters also need Botox treatment, but struggle to get an appointment. St. Olav’s hospital has had challenges with staffing at the Neuroclinic, but is now taking steps to strengthen the treatment capacity for patients with dystonia and headaches. Photo: Kallestad, Gorm / SCANPIX St. Olav apologizes St. Olav now admits that they have had challenges with staffing. – We would first like to apologize to patients who are waiting for treatment. This is not how we want it to be. That’s what Geir Bråthen, clinic manager at the Neuroklinikken, says. – We have had some challenges with staffing on the medical side when it comes to the treatment of dystonia, but in the future more doctor capacity will be freed up by nurses being able to receive training in some of the treatments we carry out. We have good experience with this. The hospital refers to a project where nurses were trained to give botox injections to patients with headaches. According to Bråthen, this has been positive, both for patients and staff. – However, sickness absence has created challenges with staffing, but just before the summer we carried out training for several nurses and doctors. Going forward, we will have a strengthened capacity in this area. It is well known to the Norwegian Dystonia Association that members struggle to get regular Botox treatment at the hospitals, says leader Johan Arnfinn Warvik. Photo: Private – Not prioritized For the Norwegian Dystonia Association, the challenges associated with getting regular botox treatment are well known. – I just spoke to someone who had the same challenge at Rikshospitalet. That’s what Johan Arnfinn Warvik, leader of the Norwegian Dystonia Association, says. – We who are affected by the diagnosis of dystonia are a relatively small group, approximately 3-4,000 diagnosed. This probably means that we are not given priority, but the suffering for the individual is incredibly great if there is no treatment. Warvik says that the most common form of treatment is injections into affected muscles with botulinum toxin (Botox). The duration of effect varies slightly, but usually for a maximum of three months. – If you then have to wait for months after this, the effect will disappear, and many will have to live with severe pain and incorrect positions, says Warvik. Anne-Margareth Hansen has to sit a lot with her hand under her chin to prevent her head from twisting. Photo: Privat Living with pain Anne-Margareth Hansen has lived with pain for many years. She depends on treatment to function in everyday life, and has been disabled since 2014. She has called St. Olav many times, the GP has sent a letter and her son recently sent an open letter to the management at St. Olav. After news took up the matter, she has been summoned to a new appointment in September, which she is happy about. – This has nevertheless gone on for far too long. Even though I got an appointment now, I am afraid that the same thing will happen in December when the next injection is to be given. And what about all the others in the same situation.
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Living with pain and waiting for Botox treatment – St. Olav admits challenges with staffing – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
