This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?

"Advising patients would allay building frustration"

About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Acute assessment unit

(as the patient),

In feb 2020 I attended on my GP's advice advising urgency to attend the above hospital on a suspect blood clot in  my right leg possibly travelling to my lungs sending me with his advisory letter to hand in.

On arriving at the assessment area I was ushered into a cubicle where details were confirmed, blood samples taken which felt very efficient. I was then ushered to a general waiting area at 4:00pm and I assumed to a wait more experience "IE" doctor follow up after blood had been tested.

During this wait I found information from other waiting people how long everyone had already been waiting, some since 10 am, some had been advised no beds available etc. so I joined the others to await what was to happen to me. Finally at approximately 10pm a doctor started to assess my leg and question my general health and then eventually I was advised I was to be admitted to a ward  for scans the following day  at 2am.

A bed was found for me in the day surgery centre hurrah! ! . From then  on the  nursing staff were wonderful advising and  communicating when porters would be arriving to take me for all my scans  , after which my results were communicated by a senior doctor advising  no  clots had been found and she advised a further scan on my leg just to be sure excellent so far she said if no issues were found I could be discharged with  anti biotics this was at approx. 2pm  .

So we waited and nurses advised I was to be discharged that day. eventually at 8. 15pm a doctor appeared after being chased by nursing staff  at my frustration to be eventually allowed to go home so at 9. 30 me and my wife who had come at 3pm to drive me home were we able to leave with my discharge notes..

Delay to advising patients what is happening would Allay building frustration when having to wait not Knowing reasons why they are waiting so interminally long looking at what appears to be chaos in front of them..? ? 

Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Donna Clark, Clinical Manager, Medical, FVRH 4 years ago
Donna Clark
Clinical Manager, Medical,
FVRH
Submitted on 29/02/2020 at 19:29
Published on Care Opinion at 19:29


I sincerely hope you are feeling better and would like to take this opportunity to apologise for your negative experience within the acute assessment area. I am disappointed to learn of the poor/lack of communication given to you during your time in the unit. I would also like to apologise for your wait for a bed. It is reassuring that your stay improved once you were allocated a bed with the Day surgery ward. Once again I am deeply sorry to learn of your difficulties at the start of your hospital journey. As a team we are very grateful for your feedback as this is invaluable to us and will allow us to evaluate how we work and communicate with our patients during their initial assessment period.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k