"Neurology unit failings."

From my experience of the EDGH Neurology Unit I believe it to be a disaster area.

They do not follow up on appointment requests from other units at the EDGH and do not reply to letters.

My wife is currently being treated at the EDGH for Parkinson’s, (by part of the neurology unit) Bullous Pemphigoid and has a Pacemaker. We are quite satisfied with the services these three units provide.

2nd

November 2016. She suffered a fall and was taken by to EDGH.

A CT scan showed a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage and a Left Maxillary Sinus Commutated Fracture. She was verbally told that there would be a Neurological follow up.

She was then taken to SAU, Conquest Hospital where she spent the night.

After neurological observations, she was discharged from the Conquest and was advised of a Maxfax outpatient appointment.

At the Maxfax review she was told that the review notes would be copied to EDGH Neurology requesting a neurological review as there was concern that the

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage had not been followed up. With no result.

At the December Parkinson’s Nurse Clinic review, the review notes were copied to the

Neurological Registrar with a request to see her ASAP.

This request was followed up by the Parkinson’s Nurse a number of times. With no result.

In February, my wife wrote to Neurological Registrar asking if she was on the appointment schedule. She has never had a reply.

In February, my wife was discharged from the Cardiology department. She had had a Pacemaker fitted and they could find nothing else to investigate that would account for her Collapses, Blackouts and Chest Pain and Breathlessness when walking.

The review notes were copied to Neurology Services with a request for a review.

On Thursday in late March 1000hrs.

Starting to despair at this point I contacted the Patient Advice and Liaison Service and spoke to a very helpful staff member.

Explained how my wife not been given a Neurology appointment at the EDGH in spite of the fact that four different disciplines had requested one.

Walked them through the list of Neurological requests from November 2016.

They agreed that this had gone on for long time and that they would look into it.

Within four hours my wife received a phone call to advise her that a neurological appointment had been arranged for her on the following Monday.

Full Marks for the help of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service