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My brother in laws care is a shambles

Posted By madpen

"My brother in laws care is a shambles"

About: Colchester General Hospital / General surgery

(as a relative),

Colchester hospital, I wouldn't go there, my brother in law is there now and has been there for five days. In this time his bowl has stopped working due to surgery two weeks earlier, he has an ileus, for 5 days they have kept him nill by mouth. Due to his constant vomiting now he has a nasal tube for the last three days.

Three days ago they said he needed a picc line for t. P. N. each day he is on the list and it will be done today, and each day, it seems they cannot fit him in today. It has come to light they have been lying as they have no specialist to do it, we ask each day to see doctors, as he is 34 but has the mental age of 10, and does not understand what they say to him. We can’t seem to get a doctor to speak to us; I feel this hospital could be reported for lack of care.

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Responses

Response from Paul Searle, Head of Communications, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust 10 years ago
We have made a change
Paul Searle
Head of Communications,
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 30/09/2013 at 14:17
Published on Care Opinion at 14:43

This story was first reported to us on 23 September via NHS Choices and our response can be seen on that website.

The Matron - Lynda Kitching - was trying to resolve the issues highlighted and following the comments on NHS Choices she spoke with the patient’s mum the next afternoon. I thought that the issues had been resolved now?

Later that day she emailed all ward sisters reminding them about our policy for patients with learning disabilities, which states:

“On admission the nurse will begin a holistic assessment of the patient, identifying how those needs are currently being met in the community. It is essential that the family and/or the main carer (service provider) participate in this process. The nurse will ask the service provider for a copy of the personal profile of the individual. Such profiles may come in a variety of formats. The carer/family must be asked to complete the profile. This should occur within 24 hours of admission and, if not, the speciality matron must be informed.”

She has asked that they ensure there is a printed copy of this policy for staff to read this week and share this at your team meetings.

If there are still issues relating to this patient's care, please email me as soon as possible.

Finally, we have Matrons on duty 24 hours a day, and they can be contacted night and day via our switchboard on 01206 747474.

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Update posted by madpen (a relative)

today he is worse, now in incontinence pants, having another op to get rid of gas and fluid in his stomach, and my need further removal of gut, and a colostomy, had a patient on his bed most of the other night, each time he was awoken by this man staring at him, scared him to death, we will be making an official complaint, as he’s been treated with no care, dignity, or respect. In our opinion the hospital has failed him and the family

Response from Paul Searle, Head of Communications, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust 10 years ago
Paul Searle
Head of Communications,
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 01/10/2013 at 16:54
Published on Care Opinion at 17:04

I have spoken twice today with Matron Lynda Kitching. She assures me that discussions and conversations have been ongoing with the next of kin - the patient's mother.

As next of kin, his mother agreed last week that if she was unhappy in any way that she'd speak with Jocelyn (the ward sister) or Matron Lynda.

That offer remains and the next of kin is encouraged to speak with Jocelyn or Lynda about any aspect of the patient's care.

Matron has just been down to the ward and has spoken again with the patient's mother to check everything is OK. I understand the main issue is that the bedside TVs are not working at present - a situation affecting the entire hospital. Engineers have been called. Any patients that have purchased viewing cards will be entitled to full refund.

Meanwhile, Matron Lynda has said that the patient's consultant (Mr Peacock) is meeting the patient's mother on Friday - if you would like to arrange to come in at the same time, please do so.

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