Re: Inguinal Hernia Repair Repair Repeatedly Delayed
My Surgical Experience (Part 1)
Arrived 0645
Booked in at 0715
0800 - Called to Nurse for Admin Check
0900 - Called to Surgeon for Procedure Check
0930 - Called to Anaesthetist for Procedure Check
1030 - Called to Nurse for Preparation - Strip, Dress in Gown and Stockings - Back and Bum Check
1100 - Passed to Anaesthetist and Nurse - Pre-op Procedure
1130 - Passed to Theatre - Operation
1230 - Recovery Ward (Very noisy with incessant staff idle chat)
1330 - Rest Ward - No Overnight Ward available so transported on Temporary bed to Day Surgery Ward with no overnight facilities - no TV, Radio, Food, Drink, Shower - Ward did have WC with Handbasin and was quiet
1400 - An Overnight bed was found for me, brought into the ward and I moved myself onto it
1430 - I was brought coffee and biscuits but offered no medication
1500 - The room had up to 7 patients, of whom 3, including myself, were to be kept overnight - the other 2 were still on Temporary beds - patient C1 was immobilised by an edpidural injection and had a leg in plaster after surgery, patient C2 had, apparently, been "stored" in a corridor after having his appendix removed
It soon became evident that, besides the lack of facilities, there were insufficient staff - checks on the recovering patients by nurses were sporadic and eventually non-existent
Patients C1 and C2 were given sandwiches and drinks but then left to their own devices
1700 - I was offered "Ella's" Sausage and Mash" (no alternative) from a passing food trolley - Patients C1 and C2 were offered nothing but received visitors
1800 - Only patients C1 and C2 with myself were left on a silent ward - a couple of "observations" were made by nurses but no medication, food or drinks were offered
2000 Patient C1 began to complain of urine build-up in his bladder - No-one responded to his buzzer so, being able to hobble, I went to the ward desk to ask for help - I was told that a response would be forthcoming "in a minute" - It took much longer, by which time patient C1 was in visible distress - Eventually, assistance was forthcoming but no solution was found
2200 - Night Shift arrived - Several staff and an assistant - They were immediately responsive to our needs - Observations were taken, medication provided, sandwiches and drinks were supplied - An Overnight bed was brought in for patient C2 - A "team" attended patient C1 and eventually he was, succesfully, fitted with a catheter which soon relieved his distress, releasing well over a litre of urine - While that was happening, other members of staff located and moved in an Overnight bed for him, so that by midnight, patient C1 was settled and smiling