My mum received a letter telling her where to find the CT scanner and to report to the portacabin. The CT scanner was not clearly signposted but from a process of elimination (not the MRI scanner, which was very well signposted) we went to the portacabin next to the other mobile scanner. This was empty and had no wheelchair access.
After hanging around in the rain, and another patient turning up and being lost like ourselves, a member of staff walked past and we asked them for help in locating the waiting area. They had no idea but were very helpful and took us through a staff only access door into the Ladywell Unit and after asking other staff members took us to the EEG department and a waiting room there. Again no signs for this. My mum had been dropped off by patient transport 5 minutes before we arrived and they had found the department so thankfully she was warm and dry.
My mum then needed the toilet, as she was in a wheelchair we needed a disabled toilet. The one in the waiting room was inaccessible and the staff member did not know where one was. We made our way into the Ladywell reception, but again these toilets were not suitable. (Mum is very frail and needs wheelchair right next to toilet and grab rails.) I went to the reception desk where the member of staff was on their mobile phone and I had to get their attention. They did not know of a disabled toilet but checked in the Gynae department for one and told us there was one in Petter Ward and left us to our own devices. We went towards Petter Ward and thankfully came across a lovely nurse/nursing assistant who asked us if we needed help and actually took us to a suitable toilet.
When back in the waiting room the CT technician gave my mum a jug of fluid and told her to drink this and he would be back in an hour for her appointment. I explained that the letter said the appointment was for 2.30 and not 3.30 and we had patient transport booked for 3.30. Their answer was that was what was on the system. They said she would be ready by 4pm so I had to then call patient transport and rearrange. The letter is very ambiguous and should have stated that the arrival time was 2.30 and the appointment was for 3.30.
My mum is elderly and suffers from pressure sores and had left home for this appointment at 13.40 and did not get home until 17.00. If we had known the duration of time we would have prepared accordingly, bringing along cushions for her to sit on and pain relief. We would also have known how long she would have been away from home for and would have been able to prepare her for this.
Therefore, from start to finish I feel the whole thing was an utter debacle. This really needs looking at from many different aspects.
"I feel the whole thing was an utter debacle"
About: North Devon District Hospital / Outpatients North Devon District Hospital Outpatients Barnstaple EX31 4JB North Devon District Hospital / Radiology (X-ray) North Devon District Hospital Radiology (X-ray) Barnstaple EX31 4JB
Posted by Greenhouse76 (as ),
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