Meet the unlucky Conwy bus driver whose dog condemned him to SIX WEEKS of hell

Bus driver Graeme Strand-Stewart could well be North Wales’ unluckiest man.

His woes began when he injured his right leg after tripping over his dog, plunging him into seven weeks of hell.

After falling over his Staffordshire bull terrier, Nancy, Graeme, 46, went to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd with a sore right knee.

There doctors he had not broken anything and sent him home.

But just four days later the leg gave way in a shop and he ended up back in hospital with a broken knee in plaster.

And as if that wasn’t bad enough eight days later his left leg packed in and he eventually ended up on the surgeon’s operating table.

Graeme, from Llandudno Junction says he suffered a catalogue of delays because of poor communication – and a 36 hour wait on an A&E trolley – and now wants answers from health chiefs.

He said: “I just think the way I have been treated is disgusting.

“I want an apology and answers to why there is such poor communication.

“It’s had a massive effect on the family.”

On Tuesday this week, more than six weeks after tripping over the dog on March 17, he had an operation on his left leg.

He says those injuries happened when he was sent home without being x-rayed, after doctors told him his right kneecap was not broken.

According to Graeme he had suffered a double fracture to his right kneecap.

His left leg, on which he became reliant, then gave way.

“I had a three inch gap between my left thigh and lower leg, the ligaments were torn and it swelled up like a balloon,” he said.

“They gave me a brace but it just didn’t work.

“I was in hospital last weekend and I was put on nil by mouth three days in succession because staff thought I was being operated on but no one came.

“I was in the urology ward because there were no beds in orthopaedics and I was relying on messages being passed.

“In the end I was told I could go home by the surgeon on Sunday May 7. I went home the day after and my leg gave way again when I got up to go to the toilet.

“I have been in constant agony.”

His family called the Welsh Ambulance Service and Graeme said he begged paramedics to take him to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

He was admitted on Monday this week and was operated on yesterday.

Referring to the Bangor hospital, Graeme said: “This hospital – they have treated me that good it feels like you’re in a four-star hotel.

“It’s absolutely brilliant.”

He has complained to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board .

A spokeswoman said: ”We received a complaint on May 8 2017 from Mrs Strand-Stewart, which is being looked at through our concerns process.”

Timeline According To Graeme :

Friday March 17 – Trips over Nancy the dog at home in Llandudno Junction

Saturday March 18 – Attends A&E at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd unable to walk. Doctor tells him his right kneecap is not broken, sent home without X-ray and told to re-attend on Wednesday March 22

On way to hospital on March 22 he stops at a shop and leg gives way, rupturing his thigh and patella muscles on his left leg. He is taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd via ambulance but leg was “too swollen” to be x-rayed and sent home again

April 24 goes to fracture clinic, told he will be operated on next day and asked to stay over. Because his wife was unwell he goes home with her and attends on April 25

April 25 attends and right leg is put in plaster and a splint

April 26 sent home and told left leg ruptured muscles will “heal themselves”

May 3 his left leg gives way again and is taken to hospital by ambulance. Left on Trolley for 36 hours in A&E and seen by surgeon on May 4

May 4 admitted to Urology because no beds in orthopaedics. Told he would be operated on May 5

May 5 put on nil by mouth until word comes he will not be operated on at 4.30pm

May 6 again put on nil by mouth by nurses who expect him to be operated on until again word arrives the operation has been cancelled

May 7 again put on nil by mouth but surgeon gives word he is happy for Mr Strand-Stewart to go home and come back on Wednesday May 10

May 8 he is discharged from Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. On arriving home he collapses again and an ambulance is called. This time he refuses to go to Glan Clwyd and is taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd