Have had 7 operations on my hand and been on antibiotics since October. Staff on trauma, in theartre and hand clinic have been amazing. Had my finger amputated to stop spread of infection. Infection finally identified and further surgery. Treatment to be IV antibiotics 3 times a day. I am completely mobile and self caring. Consultants plan for me to go home with meds administered by Acute Care at Home. They do not do 3 visits a day and so no community or primary care services will do this. I am therefore an inpatient on trauma 2 at RCHT, where I am blocking a bed.
My bed has been fitted into the middle of the ward in front of a fire exit. It has no privacy for either myself or those in the other beds on the ward. There is nowhere to sit, no light over the bed and no equipment in case of an emergency.
This is very unsafe, not just as a patient but for staff as the space for them to work is so restricted.
This is my 3rd admission in 3 months. Each time I have been in the same bed on the same ward so this is not looking like a temporary measure.
The acute care I have received has been great and the staff amazing, but the facilities and the conditions the staff are expected to work in are terrible. They should not be firefighting and dealing with crisis intervention all the time.
The hospital in under so much pressure which management seem to pass on to the staff. The approach needs to change and some joint working with primary care and community services needs to be a priority.
I have been in and out of hospital on numerous occasions. I have never seen it this bad, patients being moved around wards all night long in order to try to create space, including some very poorly patients being transferred to the discharge lounge when they are clearly not going to be fit to discharge, often with the families even being consulted or informed.
The safeguarding issues alone are unbelievable.
"Lack of community resources, bed blocking and unsafe bed space"
About: Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) / Trauma and orthopaedics Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) Trauma and orthopaedics TR1 3LJ
Posted by Fingersaga (as ),
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