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Kidney infection

Posted By Adamsdad

"Kidney infection"

About: St John's Hospital / General Medicine

(as the patient),

I was admitted to St John's MAU on Friday c. 11:30 by ambulance from my GP practice (not blue-light.....).  

A doctor came to see me around 2:30.

I got bloods done after 3;30.

Doctor returned after 5pm to tell me that I was to get IV fluids and co-trimoxazole.

I then got IV fluids.  These were then STOPPED as the doctor had changed their mind.  

I eventually got IV antibiotics around 8:30.  A full 9 hours after admission.  I then was awoken for a to go for a chest x-ray at 21:40.  Wasn't a problem - but why couldn't it have been done during the day?

My consultant finally saw me on Saturday after 11:30.

Throughout my stay, I was given too low a dose of a medication that I take daily - and had to pretty much beg for another.  I was given paracetemol even though I didn't need them.  All they had to do was ask.

I never saw any doctor from the team caring for me again until 12:30 on Monday after being moved to a room late on Saturday evening which wasn't very warm and didn't have a window.

I was discharged after 5 on Monday evening.  Having read my letter, it states I self discharged - which was a lie.  It also stated that I felt neglected.

I was given 6 1/2 day's worth of antibiotics.

When I checked up I found I was on the full dosage.  This should have been halved to reflect my reduced renal function.

I spoke to a GP about this overdose - and she was more interested in me going for a pointless follow up blood test than the error.

I have CKD stage 4 - and no renal consultant.  I have been trying to resolve this matter and have come up against a brick wall.

I am not prepared to make a formal complaint to NHS Lothian.  Because it makes absolutely no difference.  The carpet is already bulging.  

.  

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Responses

Response from Jeannette Morrison, Head of Patient Experience, NHS Lothian 5 years ago
Jeannette Morrison
Head of Patient Experience,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 04/12/2018 at 09:01
Published on Care Opinion at 09:34

Dear Adamsdad,

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us following your recent admission to St John's Hospital.

I am very sorry to read your of your experiences as it does sound as though your care was not as we would want for our patients.

I note that you don't want to make a complaint but please be reassured that l have shared your feedback with the senior team at St John's Hospital and have asked them to share this with the clinical team and we do value all feedback.

If you change your mind or if you wish to speak to me directly, please contact the Patient Experience Team:

Email - feedback@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Telephone - 0131 536 3370

I do hope you are now feeling better and once again please can l apologise for your experiences.

Kind regards

Jeannette

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

Update posted by Adamsdad (the patient)

Thanks Jeanette.

Unfortunately, I feel that complaints aren't dealt with in a manner that they should be. Have had a couple of minor issues recently that should could have been dealt with by a 5 minute phone call that ended up taking weeks - and pages long letters where most of it was criticising me for demanding answers. "NHS Lothian forbids us to respond to patients by email" - well pick up the phone then! Because it's simply not happened.

Mistakes or issues seem to be just swept under the carpet. This has caused a total breakdown in my relationship with renal - who are refusing to deal with me directly now. And I am not prepared to accept this any more.

Update posted by Adamsdad (the patient)

To make matters worse, I am being told that I have to go to a new renal consultant if I wish to deal with renal. And this particular consultant is "non-negotiable".

This would mean having to travel to RIE rather than St Johns.

The letter I got relating to this is disgraceful.

Response from Jeannette Morrison, Head of Patient Experience, NHS Lothian 5 years ago
Jeannette Morrison
Head of Patient Experience,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 20/12/2018 at 16:41
Published on Care Opinion at 17:13

Dear Adamsdad

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us again via Care Opinion. I am sorry that you are unhappy following the letter that you received however I can only imagine that the Renal Team will not have taken the decision to transfer you to a different consultant lightly. It is our organisational policy not to use email to correspond with patients and l can appreciate that this is a frustration for you. I am sorry not to be more helpful at this time.

Kind regards

Jeannette

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

Update posted by Adamsdad (the patient)

Well, there has been no explanation to justify this decision. They are refusing to do this. If there's a problem with me and my former consultant - then I think we should at least try and resolve it. And, especially after my last hospital stay, I would not be difficult to deal with in that regard.

All the renal team have done is make things worse.

At a time when I need consistency and continuity - I am not getting it.

I have a couple of letters from my former consultant stressing this.

I have had some issues recently with my healthcare - and, to be honest, I am sure none would have been issues if I had dealt with the people in the individual areas who know me best.

I don't see that as the best way to go - I see it as the only way to go.

I have made mistakes too - but, I would hope I have learned from them.

Update posted by Adamsdad (the patient)

I have had ongoing issues with renal at NHS Lothian for several months. There has been no genuine attempt to resolve these issues. I have stage 4 CKD - and no renal consultant nor support for my GP practice.

I have just contacted NHS Lothian to be told my complaint is "closed". This is ridiculous.

I have requested to speak to the renal team to resolve any issues - ignored.

Dealing with renal at NHS Lanarkshire has been mentioned - now that I have agreed to it, silence.

Nobody is being any help whatsoever to resolve the situation.

Yes, I have requested that anyone looking after me cannot request information from renal at NHS Lothian - but, with the silence from NHS Lothian, the onus for that duty of care goes back to them. I am just sick of it.

The attitude is disgusting.

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