"Lacking Communication"

I was a patient in IRH with Covid-19 symptoms around 4 weeks ago. 

The assessment area on the ground floor was outstanding, very careful though still managed to show care and acted quickly and professionally. The doctor who dealt with me had been drafted in from oncology but always appeared knowledgeable, compassionate and personable. 

Unfortunately I required to be admitted to J North  to await Covid results and to see if I required further tests. 

I was admitted to a 4 bedded room with no explanation about hygiene requirements regarding shared toilet. I was instructed not to leave the room and to buzz for any needs. 

There were 3 other patients in the room, one of which vomited copious amounts during the first 8 hours of my stay until they were moved to another room/ward as I overheard staff confirm they had tested positive during the patient being transferred. 

I had been dealing with Covid symptoms at home for 9 days and knew when I needed medication. When I asked for my paracetamol to control my temperature I was given oramorph instead and told it will help with my temperature but if I was still struggling in an hour to buzz and they would give me something else.

I buzzed an hour later as I could feel my temp was up and my heart was racing. An auxiliary nurse answered and said they would pass it on. An hour and a half later, with no paracetamol arriving, I buzzed again and another auxiliary nurse answered. I again asked for the paracetamol as I felt very unwell and I overheard a conversation shouted up the corridor that I wanted my paracetamol to which I overheard a nurse respond by saying we are doing the rounds and will get there when we can. 

I waited a further hour and buzzed again and asked for the nurse responsible for my care to attend, which they did and confirmed they were just getting my painkillers to which I replied by asking if they could do  my observations as I felt very unwell. The nurse informed me they would do them after seeing to another patient in a different room.

Note of interest - all obs and interactions took place in the room without equipment being washed between patients nor did the staff change their PPE between us query Covid patients. 

My observations were very abnormal after waiting 3 hours for the paracetamol and I ended up having further tests done based on my temp and pulse which could have been avoided had I been given paracetamol the first time I asked. 

I could go on and on about how basic hygiene was not adhered to and how care was lacking in multiple ways eg. No nurses introducing themselves nor explaining what medication I was just expected to swallow without explanation of what it was.  I was given an antibiotic which the prescribing instructions  clearly state should not be given within 2 hours of antacid medication 20 minutes after I was given my antacid medication which resulted in me feeling desperately unwell and caused me to vomit. 

I was asked to pack up my stuff as I needed to be moved, since I had tested positive for Covid 19 then a doctor told me not to pack as I was being discharged, then 10 mins later I was scolded by the nurse for not packing up as I needed to be moved to await my prescription.

Communication was severely lacking and abrupt from the nursing staff who I felt either avoided me or made me feel like a nuisance. It is also worth noting that another patient in the same room as me tested negative and was moved out of the room - based on the practices in IRH I sincerely hope that they are still alive because though they tested negative on admission and had been exposed to the virus IN HOSPITAL.

  

I have no doubt that working in healthcare is a challenge all the time and not just amidst Covid-19 but basic hygiene and infection control measures should be adhered to and should be the first point of interest when addressing the death toll in the area. It is very disheartening to have been in the ward and experienced such poor care.

When did we stop seeing people as people with basic needs and only see people as a virus that should be avoided. Very sad indeed and I will avoid any admission to this ward for the remainder of my lifetime.