"Complete Chaos in A & E"

It’s not often I complain about the NHS but the experience I have had at Croydon Hospital at the last week has put my health at risk, been extremely stressful and exposed the complete chaos going on at A &E at the moment.

I am now relieved to have my care transferred to St Georges. I have read the many comments by patients here and I feel it is inadequate to direct them to PALS which is in itself a bureaucratic and laborious process with no clear outcome.

There should be clear disciplinary measures, an opportunity for face to face meetings with patients and the responsible clinician(s), staff sent on training courses, a written statement provided to patients of the resolutions and improvements made.

PALS in my experience has become a convenient way to kick the problem down the road.

I suffered a double pelvic fracture in France and was transported back to the UK via ambulance. I saw my GP when I got back who attempted to refer me to the Fracture Clinic and the Medical Team at Croydon Hospital.

The Fracture Clinic told my OG they don’t deal with fracture of the public rami (part of Pelvis) and the Medical registrar stated they did not need to see me as I was cleared in France – they did not review my notes or speak to me to substantiate this.

Exasperated my GP referred me to A &E as no other option available.

On arrival at A &E I was sent for x-ray and returned to A & E to see a consultant.

They viewed my x-rays which they said they weren't particularly interested in and told me I should be walking around as much as possible, and that in their view I shouldn’t bother taking daily heparin injections.

They said they had referred me to the fracture clinic and would get an appointment shortly.

I got an appointment with the fracture clinic a couple of days later. On seeing the orthopaedic consultant they were horrified that I had not received a thorough examination in A & E , that he had no CT scan to view and no notes.

They said that the staff were in their words ‘idiots’ that they had put me at risk and I was immediately fast tracked back to A & E and told under no circumstances was I to put any weight on my right leg (the affected side).

I was sent back to A &E and given an urgent top to toe examination , full blood tests etc.

I was told I may have to be admitted.

Six hours later I was allowed to go home and told I should rest, not put any weight on my leg and given more heparin drugs.

I was told that taking these drugs was essential to stop blood clots etc (directly at odds with the advice from the first A &E consultant I saw.) After a very stressful and scary experience I am now going to St Georges and me and my family vow never to go to Croydon hospital again.

Unfortunately this is just one of several bad experiences my family and friends have had at the hospital.