Broken Ankle
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Broken Ankle
I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. I recently broke my ankle. It is a minor break, but it is currently in a boot, and will be for four weeks in total.
I bumped into a pilot friend of mine on the way to work this morning. He asked me if I'd informed the CAA because he vaguely remembered that with some long term injuries you're supposed to.
I've look on the CAA website and can't find anything covering this. Is my friend correct?
I bumped into a pilot friend of mine on the way to work this morning. He asked me if I'd informed the CAA because he vaguely remembered that with some long term injuries you're supposed to.
I've look on the CAA website and can't find anything covering this. Is my friend correct?
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If it were me, I'd say nowt, unless you happen to be a commercial pilot who needs to explain an absence from work.
There are too many stories about people who have innocently reported themselves to the CAA, only to find themselves grounded pending rigorous testing by the CAA medical staff - for months, and months and months.
There are too many stories about people who have innocently reported themselves to the CAA, only to find themselves grounded pending rigorous testing by the CAA medical staff - for months, and months and months.
Isn't the official requirement to inform the CAA in writing upon which the medical is suspended or does that depend upon the type of medical ?
I found that reinstating it meant getting the AME to sign me off to the CAA. This he couldn't do without sight of the consultant's report which was on my file as a hard copy letter at the GP but which couldn't be released to me or the AME because of data protection or professional confidence. The consultant couldn't release or copy it to me because it was an in confidence letter to his fellow professional.
Apart from the obvious approach to avoid this situation, it may be worth asking what the AME needs to sign off and getting it direct from the consultant before he discharges you.
I found that reinstating it meant getting the AME to sign me off to the CAA. This he couldn't do without sight of the consultant's report which was on my file as a hard copy letter at the GP but which couldn't be released to me or the AME because of data protection or professional confidence. The consultant couldn't release or copy it to me because it was an in confidence letter to his fellow professional.
Apart from the obvious approach to avoid this situation, it may be worth asking what the AME needs to sign off and getting it direct from the consultant before he discharges you.
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If it were me, I'd say nowt, unless you happen to be a commercial pilot who needs to explain an absence from work.
There are too many stories about people who have innocently reported themselves to the CAA, only to find themselves grounded pending rigorous testing by the CAA medical staff - for months, and months and months.
There are too many stories about people who have innocently reported themselves to the CAA, only to find themselves grounded pending rigorous testing by the CAA medical staff - for months, and months and months.
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With ref to access to med documents. After a small heart attack corrected with six tablets, my GP was reluctant to sign my NPPL declaration. The AME asked for the med notes. Consultant was prepared to send them only to GP. GP was prepared to hand a copy to me directly at the surgery to do with as I wished. Both the GP and Cardiac Consultant knew and had high regard for the local AME.
End result. AME gave me an unrestricted class 2 for one year plus LAPL med for two years.
End result. AME gave me an unrestricted class 2 for one year plus LAPL med for two years.
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Just to give you an update. I spoke to my AME and she advised me to book a follow up appointment with my surgeon, which I have done. She has also emailed me a template report that he will need to complete once he's discharged me. She will then need to look at it, and do a few tests and sign me off. In theory that's quite easy. However, it may not go that smoothly as these things tend not to.
For example, my appointment with the surgeon is currently booked for Thursday 4th August. Assuming he's happy to discharge me then I need to see my AME as soon as possible as I would like to fly the following week. (I have my plane booked for the 10th, 11th and 12th.)
This is where the problem arises. Firstly, even if the break is better (which is almost certainly will be), will my ankle actually be able to withstand the rigours of the rudder, and how long will my rehab take? The other (and probably more important) issue is that my AME is on holiday that week!
She has recommended someone else to me, but that person is miles away and has already indicated that she's busy. So, does anyone know of an AME based near Elstree that may be available on the 8th or 9th August?
For example, my appointment with the surgeon is currently booked for Thursday 4th August. Assuming he's happy to discharge me then I need to see my AME as soon as possible as I would like to fly the following week. (I have my plane booked for the 10th, 11th and 12th.)
This is where the problem arises. Firstly, even if the break is better (which is almost certainly will be), will my ankle actually be able to withstand the rigours of the rudder, and how long will my rehab take? The other (and probably more important) issue is that my AME is on holiday that week!
She has recommended someone else to me, but that person is miles away and has already indicated that she's busy. So, does anyone know of an AME based near Elstree that may be available on the 8th or 9th August?
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out of interest more than anything, how much does the ame charge, for the follow up tests?
as for rudder rigours, well if your ankle cant handle that, how will you get to the airfield in the 1st place??
you may well need some physio. but personally, if you can drive a car with it you can fly a plane!
as for rudder rigours, well if your ankle cant handle that, how will you get to the airfield in the 1st place??
you may well need some physio. but personally, if you can drive a car with it you can fly a plane!
Sorry TimGriff6 and Crash one, but unless your experiences are from many years ago, you are being stonewalled. With very very few exceptions everyone has an absolute right to access to all of their medical records. There is no confidentiality against the patient in these cases. You may be asked to pay for photocopying, notes frequently get lost !!!, and the NHS may take their time, but any other response is quite simply illegal. And the doctor's regulator would make the CAA look like your maiden aunt.
Londonblue....I assume, as you had asked the question in the first place, you are relatively inexperienced.
Im afraid you are going to regret persuing this minor problem the way you have...sometimes its best keeping stum..as other experienced posters have indicated.
Im afraid you are going to regret persuing this minor problem the way you have...sometimes its best keeping stum..as other experienced posters have indicated.
londonblue,
I broke my ankle over 20 years ago and I have to confess that it didn't even occur to me to report it.
I was in a non-weight-bearing cast for eight weeks (bi-lateral fracture of the base of the tibia and spiral fracture of the fibula). I remember at the time, not being able to imagine putting any weight on it. After the cast was removed, I had another two-months of physio.
All of this was in the winter in Canada (I slipped on some ice) and my gliding club was shut down, so there was no chance of flying anyway.
However, as others have said, if you can walk comfortably and drive, I don't think flying will be an issue.
I broke my ankle over 20 years ago and I have to confess that it didn't even occur to me to report it.
I was in a non-weight-bearing cast for eight weeks (bi-lateral fracture of the base of the tibia and spiral fracture of the fibula). I remember at the time, not being able to imagine putting any weight on it. After the cast was removed, I had another two-months of physio.
All of this was in the winter in Canada (I slipped on some ice) and my gliding club was shut down, so there was no chance of flying anyway.
However, as others have said, if you can walk comfortably and drive, I don't think flying will be an issue.
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UV. You are correct, I'm very inexperienced in breaking bones and injuries in general! However, as naive as it might be, I would always prefer to do the right thing. The main reason is that I want to fly the week the boot is due to come off, and I'm 100% sure without even looking that my insurance would be invalidated should there be an issue.
IFT. This is a small avulsion fracture. It's nowhere near as bad as yours, and I'm pretty confident that once the surgeon discharges me my ankle will be up to flying, even if it does need a small amount of rehab. (My wife is a physio so I can get treatment every day...) Assuming I can get an appointment I think getting signed off by an AME will be pretty straight forward.
Camargue. The fracture is in my right leg. Even before it went in the boot I was able to drive (and did so...oops). My accelerator is far lighter than than the rudder, especially when doing my power checks and holding the plane on the breaks at full power. Just because I can drive, doesn't mean I can fly, even if I am confident of that...I just want to make 100% sure.
IFT. This is a small avulsion fracture. It's nowhere near as bad as yours, and I'm pretty confident that once the surgeon discharges me my ankle will be up to flying, even if it does need a small amount of rehab. (My wife is a physio so I can get treatment every day...) Assuming I can get an appointment I think getting signed off by an AME will be pretty straight forward.
Camargue. The fracture is in my right leg. Even before it went in the boot I was able to drive (and did so...oops). My accelerator is far lighter than than the rudder, especially when doing my power checks and holding the plane on the breaks at full power. Just because I can drive, doesn't mean I can fly, even if I am confident of that...I just want to make 100% sure.
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Sorry TimGriff6 and Crash one, but unless your experiences are from many years ago, you are being stonewalled. With very very few exceptions everyone has an absolute right to access to all of their medical records. There is no confidentiality against the patient in these cases. You may be asked to pay for photocopying, notes frequently get lost !!!, and the NHS may take their time, but any other response is quite simply illegal. And the doctor's regulator would make the CAA look like your maiden aunt.
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Stonewalling from the NHS over records is not unknown.
Scenario: after investigation by the NHS, we got a diagnosis as to what was wrong with the child. The only treatment offers from the NHS were horrendous, so it was time to dust off the private insurance.
So we asked the NHS to send all the results of the tests, scans, etc, to the private doctor. "Nope, the NHS did that work, if you want go private you go private the whole hog, and pay for all the tests to be done again privately."
So after a bit of research we did the access to medical records bit, and they gave the stuff to us, and we passed it to the private consultant. Weird that they completely refused to send it direct, and didn't offer to give it to us instead until we came back later and used the right magic legal words.
Scenario: after investigation by the NHS, we got a diagnosis as to what was wrong with the child. The only treatment offers from the NHS were horrendous, so it was time to dust off the private insurance.
So we asked the NHS to send all the results of the tests, scans, etc, to the private doctor. "Nope, the NHS did that work, if you want go private you go private the whole hog, and pay for all the tests to be done again privately."
So after a bit of research we did the access to medical records bit, and they gave the stuff to us, and we passed it to the private consultant. Weird that they completely refused to send it direct, and didn't offer to give it to us instead until we came back later and used the right magic legal words.
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I thought I'd give you all a further update. I had my appointment with the surgeon on the 4th August, and had booked an appointment with another AME for the Monday after (8th August).
The surgeon was happy to discharge me, and agreed to send me a letter following the CAA format that I could take to the AME. On the Monday morning I hadn't received the letter so I rang the surgeon's secretary. She explained it was ready, but she hadn't sent it because she didn't have my email address. I gave her the details, and within a few minutes I'd received the letter.
I then forwarded that on to the AME (as per his request) so that he could have a look before my appointment. The appointment went off without a hitch, and the AME signed me off.
There was, however, one minor spanner in the works. The surgeon said I could fly from the 18th onwards, which ruled out the week I had booked off work to fly (10th, 11th and 12th) and the AME wouldn't overrule him as his experience is obviously greater.
As annoying as that was, it has also to be said that however good my ankle felt, it certainly wasn't 100% so it was probably sensible not to fly anyway. If the AME would have signed me off there and then rather than saying wait until the 18th I would probably have questioned my own fitness to fly anyway...
The surgeon was happy to discharge me, and agreed to send me a letter following the CAA format that I could take to the AME. On the Monday morning I hadn't received the letter so I rang the surgeon's secretary. She explained it was ready, but she hadn't sent it because she didn't have my email address. I gave her the details, and within a few minutes I'd received the letter.
I then forwarded that on to the AME (as per his request) so that he could have a look before my appointment. The appointment went off without a hitch, and the AME signed me off.
There was, however, one minor spanner in the works. The surgeon said I could fly from the 18th onwards, which ruled out the week I had booked off work to fly (10th, 11th and 12th) and the AME wouldn't overrule him as his experience is obviously greater.
As annoying as that was, it has also to be said that however good my ankle felt, it certainly wasn't 100% so it was probably sensible not to fly anyway. If the AME would have signed me off there and then rather than saying wait until the 18th I would probably have questioned my own fitness to fly anyway...
