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"A&E and Ward J27"

About: St James's University Hospital

I am the wife and 24/7 carer for my blind (totally) & palliative care husband - he was taken to A & E via ambulance who I would love to give my thanks too for their total empathy of my husbands disability!

In A & E not only did they keep calling my husband by his middle name (of which he has never used in his 65years) but I had to keep reminding them that he couldn't sit up due to his bp falling if he did, that he was palliative care with oesophageal cancer.....I could go on but it was the total lack of empathy for his lack of sight that annoyed me. I know how busy they are and I have so much respect for the staff but please NHS teach your staff that not being able to see if very frightening in itself but when you are very ill and frightened a bit of empathy goes a long way...............the same goes for the staff on ward J27, a few 'got it' but most just couldn't understand why I kept saying 'please can you say who you are & what you are going to do before touching him!'.....but it went in one ear and out of the other. My husband went in with internal bleeding, dropping bp and heart rate, so very traumatic for me and his family, we could really do without having to fight for basic 'dignity and empathy' on top of normal anguish....a little training in this area could go a long way!!! There were many other problems on the ward but not that I can write here.

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Responses

Response from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 5 years ago
Submitted on 17/07/2018 at 15:34
Published on Care Opinion at 15:35


Thank you for taking the time to write to us regarding the experience you and your husband had whilst using our Accident and Emergency service and Ward 27. I was very sorry to read you felt the staff were not empathetic to your husband’s disability. I apologise that we did not deliver the care that met your expectations.

I have passed your concerns on to the Accident and Emergency and Ward 27 matrons for information but it would be very helpful and beneficial for our services and the care of future patients if you would discuss these issues further with the Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS); this would also allow us to look into the matters you have raised in further detail.

Please call our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0113 2066261 or alternatively email patientexperience.leedsth@nhs.net

With kind regards

Rosie Senior Nurse

Patient Experience

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