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Experience in Ward 23

Story from nhs.uk

"Experience in Ward 23"

About: Leicester General Hospital

Since my last review I have been admitted for a laser prostate operation which commenced on admission day in Ward 20. After recovery I was moved to ward 23, that was a Friday evening. during Saturday I learnt that ward 23 closes at the weekend to be reopened on a Monday. Saturday followed a fairly normal routine and was told the large 3way catheter would be removed early Sunday morning, which in fact it was, Sunday was noticeable for a lack of staff and movement of patients home or to other wards. The ward seemed to be run by a staff nurse who did an immense job getting people moved and looking after patients at the same time, after an hour or two I was in pain after failing to pass urine and so he said I would have to be recatheterised, which he did attempt but failed and said I would need a doctor with camera and guide wire, so I had to wait quite a long time more still in pain until finally the doctor arrived. Then I was told as I was bleeding I could not go home and would be transferred to ward 26. I think I was the last person left on ward 23. It seems to me and awful waste of labour and resources closing a ward which was only by now only for a few hours. Roy Tatman, Markfield.

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Responses

Response from Leicester General Hospital 9 years ago
Leicester General Hospital

Submitted on 16/07/2014 at 15:21
Published on nhs.uk on 17/07/2014 at 04:00

Dear Roy, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We have been in touch with the ward sister Julie, who has explained the way ward 23 works as follows. "Ward 23 has intentionally been set up as a 23 hour ward. Patients will arrive from theatre and if the discharge paperwork has been completed in theatre, they will be discharge the following morning. If patients require a medical review or the discharge paperwork needs to be completed by the ward, they then stay longer. The ward is planned to close every Saturday afternoon and then open again on a Monday morning. This closure is to ensure we have all 15 beds available for the planned elective theatre list that coming week. If the ward stays open over the weekend, there is a risk that emergency patients would take the beds, resulting in cancellation of elective procedures. This method has been proven to benefit patients and the hospital in the reduction of cancellations on the day and reduction of delays in theatre while patients are waiting for beds. Every Saturday, our staff work very hard to get everyone who can go home discharged; however those patients who do need to stay in hospital are then placed on another surgical ward until they are ready to go home." I hope this is a clear explanation of how the ward usually works and we apologise if this was not explained to you during your stay. If you would like any further information, or would like a copy of the welcome or discharge leaflets for the ward, please contact communications@uhl-tr.nhs.uk Best wishes Laura Mort Communications Officer Leicester’s Hospitals

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