My wife was admitted with severe pain to the Clinical assessment Unit in January.
What went well?
Despite being extremely busy, there was a calm atmosphere of staff doing their best while priorities were no doubt continually changing. Staff were polite and responsive to questions and most requests. Once a full clinical assessment was done things moved relatively quickly and smoothly.
What could be better?
As medical people ourselves, we are both aware of the current pressure on NHS acute clinical care facilities. There are in my mind 2 issues that could be reviewed:
1. When a patient has had severe pain, unresponsive to simple analgesia, for 12 hours before admission, another 6 hours before stronger medication is available is not acceptable and undermines patient/relative confidence. The idea that pain relief has to await a diagnosis is a dated concept; good analgesia assists diagnostic processes.
2. Any wait of 2 hours of more does require regular programmed updates for patients and accompanying family/friends. Clearly some thought needs to be put into how this might be achieved in a way that eases rather exacerbates the pressure under which staff are already working.
"An admission to the Clinical Assessment Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital"
About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Clinical assessment unit Forth Valley Royal Hospital Clinical assessment unit FK5 4WR
Posted by atlascx58 (as ),
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