An Enniskillen man who dislocated his shoulder during a boxing match in 2019 could have to wait until 2028 to see a consultant about the injury.

Killian Thompson was taking part in a white-collar boxing match in November, 2019 when he was struck on his right shoulder, which became dislocated.

Since then he has been referred on several occasions – in 2020 and 2021 – to be seen by someone in the Western Trust’s Musculoskeletal Service.

However, nothing ever happened and in June of this year, he complained to the Western Trust about his experience regarding his treatment and care at the Orthopaedic Service.

He received an email back from the Trust’s Chief Executive, Neil Guckian, apologising for any distress this has caused him.

An apology was also given in the letter for the excess waiting time for patients to attend the upper limb out-patient service.

However, immediately after the apology, which was received in July, Killian was informed that the current waiting time for a routine appointment in the upper limb service is 271.8 weeks – more than five years.

Killian is at the end of his tether with the wait as the injury continues to cause him constant pain, and he fears his shoulder could dislocate at the slightest movement.

He claimed he has been in to hospital about 10 times with the shoulder dislocating, but in total, he said it has come out of its socket 23 times. He has learned to put it back into place.

“They are not doing anything to help me,” said an exasperated Killian.

When he saw there could be another five years to wait to be seen, Killian continued: “I wasn’t happy one bit.

“I rang the doctor and was telling him I got the letter, and he said that he would refer me again, but it’s the same stuff the whole time. ‘We’ll refer you’, and I hear nothing back.”

The shoulder has popped out while he has been asleep, at work. He has even stopped a lot of physical activities, including boxing, because of it. And the pain from the dislocations is something he would not wish on anyone.

One time he was closing a car door at his job and he felt it go. The most recent time he fell and broke his fall with his arms, which led to a dislocation and his arm in a sling for a few days after.

He does not want the injury to hinder his everyday life. “I’m turning 21 next month. I’m still young.

“I want to be out and doing stuff – and I can’t even go swimming without this dislocating.

“I always used to go out and play football, and go to the gym with my mate. I can’t do that now.”

The waiting time is a stark reminder of the pressures on the health service.

One of Killian’s friends, who also dislocated their shoulder, forked out thousands of pounds to go for private care because they were not going to wait. Killian does not have the luxury of doing this.

But he wants to get seen as quickly as possible, and he has been in contact with politicians looking for help.

Killian claimed one party did not want to hear about the issue, while he is still waiting to hear back from another party his father contacted.

But without a functioning government and a Health Minister in place, Killian does not know if this route for help will achieve anything.

The letter advised Killian that it was not possible to tell him where and when he would be seen. Since that letter, on the Western Trust’s website, the waiting time from referral to seeing a consultant for an upper limb appointment has increased to 275.9 weeks.

So, for the foreseeable, he has to get on with life and the pain as best he can.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It’s like pins and needles, but 10 times worse.

“And with my shoulder, I don’t just get it in the shoulder – I get it in the chest, I get it down my arms and my bicep. It’s all over. I get it down my back and up my neck sometimes,” he added.