"Receiving my results"

After having a recent Gastroscopy at Good Hope hospital, Sutton Coldfield I was duly shown to the recovery area awaiting my paperwork and to discuss my results with a nurse.

In a private room the nurse duly checked my details from the front sheet of my paperwork before imparting the results. I was then discharged with my paperwork.

On my return home I looked through my paperwork and was shocked to discover that the Results Report was for another patient.

I immediately contacted the relevant department who apologised profusely and explained that they were dealing with a revised computer system which caused the error/oversight.

I raced back to the hospital in absolute panic to collect my own results fearing that they would be different to those already given, and wondering if the ‘other patient’ had also been given my details by mistake. The panic and anxiety was immense. On reaching the hospital I had to wait before seeing the recovery nurse who dealt with me, which only extended the anxiety. On seeing them they once again apologised profusely and went through my own results with me. I am happy to conclude that they were not as feared but the whole experience left me emotionally drained and caused me to suffer an overnight migraine as a result. Had I not noticed the error I could have undoubtedly made lifestyle changes unnecessarily.

I would like to think that this episode has now been shared amongst relevant staff in all ‘results’ departments and a lesson has been learned whereby all pages of paperwork are thoroughly checked for the same patient details before being stapled together and any results imparted to the patient. The outcome could easily have been that the wrong patient was given devastating news, leading to possible legal action being taken.