"DRI - Urology - self catheterisation needs more explanation and help"

I escorted my father to D.R.I. Urology today. His appointment was for 10:30, we were early. A sister called him in and he was examined with a view to removing his catheter and seeing if he could urinate by himself. A doctor also examined him.

It was decided to remove the catheter and see if he could function by himself. He was told to go and have a drink and a walk around and return in an hour and a half. This we did. When we returned the waiting room was almost full. The Sister who had seen us before saw us waiting in the corridor and acknowledged that we were waiting for her. This was at 12:12.

During the course of calling other patients in from the waiting room the sister acknowledged my father again saying that she would be with him in a minute. Two hours later and we had to go back in the corridor where the sister finally acknowledged us again and indicated that she had forgotten about my father. She also got his name wrong and picked up the wrong file.

After the second examination the catheter had to be re-inserted. He has to return in 3 weeks. The sister said that if he can't function by himself anymore then she will show him how to catheter himself.

My father is 75, has rheumatoid arthritis, this she knows, how does she expect him to catheter himself everytime he wants to go to the toilet? He can barely hold a cup! I myself work from 08:30 - 17:00 Monday to Friday. Both of us would not feel confident in carrying out this procedure.

In addition to this, no one at any point has told either of us how his condition has come about. Nor have they provided any other alternatives such as surgery rather than condemning him to the rest of his life with a tube in him.

I think that staff should consider what is best for the patient more and consider how to rectify and cure the problem rather than just taking remedial action.

I was so nervous and worried about what was going to happen to my father I developed acid reflux (a condition which I suffer from). Imagine how he was feeling? If there are alternatives to having a tube sticking out of him then I think DRI has a duty to explore these and not just settle for the easiest option for them.

I think we are both scared of what is going to happen to him and we just want answers thats all.