"Being Abandoned"

The trauma team saved my life after a driver lost control and pinned me against a house wall with a front wheel between my legs.

My injuries were extensive and it took 4 specialist teams over 13 hours to complete the operation to save my life. But I was left with life changing injuries and an uncertain future. 

After a few weeks I was moved, against my will to the RAH in Paisley.

Within 24 hrs of my arrival I had an issue that required some pain relief and it took 8 hrs for the appropriate medication to be given. 

I had been fitted with a supra Pubic Catheter as part of the life saving measures, but this seemed to present huge problems as on many occasions this would not drain into the night bag but instead back fill into my bladder causing major discomfort and pain.

This was again to cause major concern when after pain and discomfort in my penis, I actually passed a small quantity of urine. I immediately requested help from the nurse and Doctor as I needed to understand what was happening.

In simple terms, given my injuries and prognosis, this was a major event and an urgent meeting from a urologist would have seemed a logical step. Sadly I was denied this request, instead being offered guesswork from people without the same level of training and expertise. 

My concerns were compounded when, later that day, I passed 200ml of urine through my penis despite still having the catheter in place. Eventually I received a visit from a HANS nurse at 10pm who then spoke to a urologist for advice before returning to me at 11pm (9.5 hrs after the event) with an explanation which didn’t quite add up. 

At a review by one of the surgeons who saved my life, I was told they were fully invested in my progress and recovery. If this indeed is the case would they not expect such a major event to be notified to the appropriate specialist, especially as I had been told that I may have the catheter for the rest of my life as they could not guarantee they would be able to reverse the procedure?

Whilst I am sure the Doctors and Nurses within this unit were doing their best within the constraints and limitations put on them. I am afraid that it fell far short of what myself and my family were promised and this sub standard care has had a detrimental effect on the mental health and wellbeing of both myself and my family. 

After such heroic efforts by specialist teams to save my life, sadly I now feel abandoned with my future prognosis very much uncertain.