"I have found the majority of the ..."

What I liked

I have found the majority of the staff to be very professional, efficient and caring. Unfortunately, it only takes a few individual mistakes to realize the division of labour system employed where patients are randomly assigned different doctors and nurses each visit leads to a culture of no vestige interest and buck passing.

What could be improved

A&E treatment April 2009 was efficient. I was diagnosed with a finger fracture and I was booked in for an operation the very next day. That operation was subsequently cancelled aftrer a reveiw but the condition worsened in the temporary A&E cast. Had an operation the following week. I arrived for the operation at 7:30am, my only contact with members of staff was signing consent forms for the nurse and anesthetist. At no time did a doctor visit me to explain the procedure. I was left unattended in a room for over 4 hours waiting to be called. This didn't bother me but I do hope they show more care to elderly patients, especially in the weakened Pre-Op state, of having no food or water for a considerable amount of time. My problems began at out-patients following the operation. The initial doctor only examined the X-Ray to establish the success of the operation. I was then duly sent onto the Nurse to have my operation bandages removed. I commented to the nurse at the time, that I didn’t like the look of the lesions left. I was advised that this was normal, as she flippantly said “How many broken fingers have you seen?” “One as compared to hundreds”. She then asked if I was allergic to plasters before placing a small Elastoplast across the surgical wound and just covering the exposed pins that were protruding from my skin; this was flapping about moments after, I left the Hospital. My interphalangeal joint was later found to be infected. It’s now August 2009 and I have hardly any movement in the joint and still have a large open cut that continually seeps pus and blood. I have been through courses of antibiotics to no avail. I just get the impression that damage has been done and no one seems to have any idea on how to treat it now.I feel I am now just an embarrassment and inconvenience to them and I should just go off and accept the debilitating condition of my hand.

Anything else?

For those with Finger\Hand related issues in the North West London area, I would recommend you get a GP referral to the NHS Mount Vernon Hand Therapy Unit. I have had discussions with patients and have seen the results of their hand treatment and it appears far superior to that of Northwick Park’s general trauma centre.

Also another tip: When lying on operating theatre bed under local anesthetic, it’s probably best not to look closely, at the appalling state of the ceiling. It’s obvious the cleaners and surgeons don’t appear to!!