"Patient ambulance to Derriford"

 I had sustained a fracture to my right lower leg, which was repaired in an open reduction tib/fib at Derriford Hospital in May.

I was hospitalised for 7 days. My right leg and foot were in a temporary support bandage and plaster, non-weight-bearing and I needed to return for a more permanent plaster. This was going to be a painful procedure, involving the removal of stitches and manipulation my foot to a permanent position. This was left at halfway, since the staff would not inflict more pain than I was already in and I will have to return at the end of the month for a second attempt.

I had requested transport by ambulance to Derriford Hospital Fracture Clinic for an appointment. Two Ambulance crew arrived. Initially they seemed to be more concerned that the lift took them all the way to the top floor, commenting with some annoyance on arrival. They continued talking about it on the way down to the Foyer. I was getting worried about their competence when they failed to gauge the width of the front door to be wide enough for the wheelchair and proceeded rattling with the stays of the other half of the front door without success.

On my arrival inside the Ambulance the Crew discussed that they had to pick up another patient and were worried that they did not have sufficient seatbelts and other equipment to secure 2 wheelchairs behind each other and decided that I should move into the first of the 3 front facing seats. As they hurried me I asked them to take a moment so that we could decide how to accomplish this. At this point they ascertained that my right foot was non-weight bearing. However, they did not move or make plans to assist me. They stood by as I pulled myself up on the rail surrounding the side door. The wheelchair was not moved out of the way. I fell to the floor, hitting my chest on the way down. The crew tried to pull me up straight away, even though I was winded – they would not give me time to regain composure or breath.

On my return trip with another ambulance crew the wheelchair was moved into a position where neither arm nor footrest could interfere with the adjacent seat into which I was moved with 2 persons assisting me from front and side. The pain to my right side of my chest was being ignored. I was lifted back into the wheelchair and they proceeded tying the chair up and drove on to pick the next patient. They unloaded the second patient at the REI and delivered me to the Fracture Clinic, complaining about the ambulance parking space in front of Derriford. At no point did they enquire about the obvious pain I was suffering nor mention my fall or an incident report that they would instigate – but literally dumped me in the fracture clinic waiting area, where I needed to ask them for assistance to rest my foot. They then proceeded to the next patient waiting to be picked up.

When my daughter arrived I told her what had happened and about the pain I was experiencing. She went to ask for a senior staff to start proceedings. I was examined by the attending Fracture Clinic Consultant. He told me that : a fractured Rib would not necessarily show up on an X-ray, that a bruise would be more painful than a fractured rib, and that I could expect at least 7 days of acute pain. I had an x-ray taken of my chest, indicating that my Lungs were not punctured. The charge nurse filed an incident report that evening.

Whereas I had 2 functioning arms and one leg - growing stronger from supporting my limited mobility, I was able to move around safely with a frame and was gaining some independence. I now have one arm and one leg, am unable to balance to use the Zimmer frame which I was able to use effectively to steady me, am not able to breath properly and experience severe stabbing pain with every move. I am now totally immobile and dependent for every action or even to shift my position to relieve pain and discomfort.