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Sent home with a broken back

Posted By Lisa573

"Sent home with a broken back"

About: Craigavon Area Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a relative),

My mother was recently brought to Craigavon Area hospital by ambulance with severe back pain. She was triaged and given 2 paracetamol, triage nurse repeatedly asked her was she in pain anywhere else , stomach , tops of legs etc , my mum replied no and assured the triage nurse several times that the pain was in her back, this was also relayed to the urgent care team who organised an ambulance for her.

My mum was eventually X-rayed and told she had an obstruction in the bowel and she would need a manual evacuation, she was told that this was causing the back pain. After the procedure she was given laxido to take at home so as the build up would not reoccur, my mum continued to tell them that she was still in pain in her back , she was told it would take a few days to settle as there had been so much pressure on her back due to the constipation.

My mum was taken home and remained at home in agony , taking the pain relief that was prescribed to her. Three days later she was in so much pain we had no choice but to take her back to the hospital, she was x-rayed once again and told she has a broken back .

I am beyond infuriated and I would like answers as to why my mother -  who is in her late 70s -  went to A&E with severe back pain, was seen by a doctor, and discharged to go home with a broken back .

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Responses

Response from Stacey Hardy, Lead Nurse CAH Emergency Department, DHH Emergency Department and STH Minors Injuries Unit, Medicine and Unscheduled Care Directorate, Southern Health and Social Services Trust 4 months ago
Stacey Hardy
Lead Nurse CAH Emergency Department, DHH Emergency Department and STH Minors Injuries Unit, Medicine and Unscheduled Care Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Services Trust

Submitted on 10/12/2024 at 18:29
Published on Care Opinion at 18:29

Thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience of the Emergency department at Craigavon Area Hospital. It is impossible for me to review your mums presentation to the department as I don't have her details.

The initial ED doctor will have carried out his assessment on your mother with the information he was provided with. The ED doctor confirmed on x-rays that your mother had a bowel obstruction and appropriate treatment was given for this.

I am very sorry to hear that your mothers back pain continued and when she represented to the department and was seen by another doctor she was found to have a fracture in her back.

Given that there was no fall or indication to suspect a fracture in the back the initial doctor wouldn't have routinely x-rayed a patient with back pain with no trauma. Given that your mother was found to have an obstruction this would have been a contributing factor to back pain.

I hope your mother is recovering well.

Stacey

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Lisa573 (a relative)

Good morning,

I appreciate your reply.

I understand that there was no trauma or fall indicated at any time, however given the fact that my mother consistently told any member of staff that she came in contact with that the pain was in her back, she didn't present with a dissented stomach, no pains indicated from the stomach or bowels, she reiterated on numerous occasions that the pain was in her back, I'm not disputing the fact that there was a bowel obstruction, that was identified and dealt with accordingly, my issue is that after the first x-ray a family member was specifically told that there was no break or fracture to the back, whilst my mother was still complaining about back pain.

I would like to be able to find out exactly what area was xrayed on the initial visit to the emergency department as I find it extremely hard to believe that she happened to break her back within such a short space of time and with limited mobility.

Update posted by Lisa573 (a relative)

I am still waiting for a response to my question, what area was xrayed when my mother had consistently complained of back pain on the initial visit to A&E department at Craigavon area hospital?

Many thanks

Update posted by Lisa573 (a relative)

Can someone inform me how I can obtain my mother's medical records, specifically the x-rays taken of my mother December 2024?

I am asking here before requesting a solicitor to obtain them legally.

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