"My admission and treatment"

I developed an abscess on my sternum which had been treated by my GP practice with antibiotics from mid December. I returned to my GP a week later as the painful red swelling on my sternum was now 4 times larger than it started, was more painful requiring regular analgesia and the surrounding skin becoming more red. The GP descion was to refer me to the surgeons but not imediately. I did question this but he did not seem to think it was necessary to be seen ASAP. The folowing day the symptoms continued to get worse. I contacted NHS 24 when I got home from work and was given an appointment for later that evening to be seen by a GP who referred me on to the surgeons and I admitted to the receiving unit in DGRI. The surroundings were very impressive ( single room, en-suite and Flat screen TV!) My allocated nurse could have been nicer and is one of the most positive and memorable experiences of the admission due to her expertise and kindness. 

I was reviewed by the surgeon who instantly diagnosed an abscess which needed drained quickly and most likely caused by a sebaceous cyst which had been small and dormant in my chest for a long time. He advised that it needed surgical intervention. We agreed that he would treat me under local anaesthetic and lance the abscess that evening. The procedure went painfully well and he then suggested I stay overnight and be discharged the next day. I was subsequently transferred to a surgical ward an hour or so later. 

All the staff I met were very pleasant but it was amazing how many people didn’t introduce themselves or state their name went they met me.

The room I was transferred to was also extremely comfortable.

I was discharged the following afternoon with the appropriate medications and dressing for the District Nurse to visit the next day and renew the dressing.

Unfortunately the DN did not arrive. There was a phone call to my landline at approximately 3:30pm. I did not get to the phone in time to answer and the caller didn’t leave a message and as it was an 0800 number ( which I suspect was an NHS number) I couldn’t return the call.

I therefore had to redress the wound myself which I was able to do as I am a nurse. The dressing supplies were minimal and there were no sterile scissors or dressing pack but I was able to improvise and  it was manageable though tricky and unpleasant packing my own surgical wound.

I plan to contact my GP surgery tomorrow as instructed by the ward staff for the dressing to be reviewed and renewed again.

Overall it was a hugely positive experience it’s just disappointing it was a bit disjointed at times. 

I do wonder though had I not been as proactive or assertive in my own treatment that it would have been the same for another patient?