"My wife's experience"

We attended Dr Gray’s A&E on a Friday at 17:20.

Nurse assessment around 18:45. Bloods taken.

At 21:00 asked situation. Were told that the surgical team had gone home and hadn’t told anybody. They apologised for our long wait. 

The waiting room was starting to get busy now with ambulances and other walk-ins.

At 21:20 we went home for my wife to rest.

On the Monday, we were back at A&E at 08:45. My wife was very unwell with loud growling noises coming from her stomach.

Sent to the Surgical Ambulatory Clinic (SAC)

At 09:10 nurse appeared - told to go back to A&E - as no room available in SAC. Explained situation to nurse who was trying to help us - they made a phone call to consultant.

At 09:35 Junior doctor arrived, told us no slot in the clinic but that they and their consultant will see us in A&E.

At 09:50  my wife was wheeled back to A&E by a nurse (Hazel), who was the only person so far to help us. She had done a lot of co-ordination and chasing on our behalf - seemed genuinely concerned.

At 09: 55 Hazel returned to tell us we were now on the system.

However,

10:50 bump. 2h 05m and counting.

Total time waiting to see doctor - 6h 35m

11:20 Bump. 2h 35m

At 11:25 seen by triage nurse who knew nothing about history- asked us why we had turned up at A and E that morning! 

Bloods taken. Story retold.

My wife requested something comfortable to lie flat on, to make her comfortable. She was in a great deal of pain The triage  nurse refused to help, saying they did not have anything available. 

Asked whether we would be seeing surgical doctor- the triage nurse said yes but there would be quite a wait- actually we already had been waiting much longer than we should.

It didn’t feel as if anyone cared or wanted to help us.

We found ourselves a more comfortable mobile chair with an adjustable leg rest ourselves

11:50: 3h 05m. Astonishing. You could not make it up

12:20: 3hr 35m. Bump

At 12:45, we were seen by doctor. Will prescribe some pain relief and once they get a good look at test results will decide on what scans/follow up needed.

Apparently, Friday's samples showed inflammation markers. They will see what situation is with latest tests. In corridor inside A&E (moved on from reception) outside Plaster 2.

At 13:26, Nurse Hazel came to find us to make sure my wife was progressing through the system and had seen a doctor.

13:50: 5hr 05m. Bump

14:10 doctor tells us CT scan + cannula

14:12 nurse arranging for cannula and will then take away for the CT scan.

14:50 Bump. 6hr05m. Abandoned again. No communication.

At 15:00  I asked nurse to look into cannula. They said my wife was expected a while ago for the CT scan. They said they'd arrange for a cannula.

At 15:05 nurse hazel came to see how we were doing- explained situation to her. She promised to look into it - asked if I’d had any lunch

15:24 cannula in and my wife is taken off for CT scan

15: 40 my wife back from CT scan and in A&E ward seating area

16:20: 7h 35m. Nurse checked up on my wife, asked if she was feeling any pain, said they would see what they can do in a while…when they got a chance.

16:39: Nurse takes my wife’s stats and gives her oromorph for pain. Says they will see if they can arrange food/drink for us in a while.

16:50 We’ve been here for 8hr 05m

17:00: doctor on rounds - says they have found a narrowing and a possible obstruction. My wife  may have to be admitted and monitored but they need to talk to the consultant first. She may need surgical intervention but when and where TBD after they've has a chance to talk with their consultant.

The nurse says it’s quite a large obstruction and they are going to move my wife to ward 6.

They keep her in the SRU bed in the end.

On the Tuesday, they were going to operate at 08:00. I arrived at 10:00 and my wife was still there - told operation would be at 12:00 and they moved her to HDU.

Left at 12:00

Called 16:00 - was told she was taken from HDU at 14:00 - no news - told to call at 19:00.

19:00 still no news - told that she was taken later than planned. They promised to phone me as soon as she was back in HDU.

20:30 - still no news- a family friend took me to hospital

21:00 my wife back in HDU - allowed to see her

22:00 Leave for home

On the Wednesday, my wife complained of severe pain / spasms near wound site - was provided with on demand painkillers (opioid based). This seemed to deal with the spasms, nurses thought they were caused by tissue/muscular trauma from wound.

On the Thursday, 05:00 telephone call from HDU. They want me to speak to my wife as she got up and unplugged herself from equipment and is sitting on bed. They say it would be a good idea to go in and that I would be a calming influence,

I arrived and found my wife very disoriented- nurse says she most likely has post operation delirium.

Visited twice through day - my wife very disoriented and confused. Left her at 22:00

On the Friday, 07:00 phone call from my wife from HDU.

07:30 arrived at HDU to find my wife sitting on bed in Room 1 totally unplugged (inc catheter). She was very confused and disoriented and did not believe she was in HDU in hospital.

Eventually a junior doctor managed to persuade my wife to allow them to put a cannula in place so they could give her antibiotics and paracetamol for pain.

My wife’s delirium improved markedly through the day. 

I spent whole night on the Friday in Room 2 with her being given paracetamol, antibiotics and fluids through cannula. Left at 09:30. My wife very lucid and no delirium present

On the Saturday, transferred to Ward 6. Normal recovery.