"Broken Ankle care"

I was admitted to ward 11 on 20th June and discharged from ward 12 on 25th June. I would like to thank all staff that looked after me for the professional care I was provided. At all times all staff were polite, helpful and above all maintained my dignity. It was not possible to get better care than I was provided.

I needed surgery for a fracture to my ankle and had an ORIF.

I did encounter two problems.

1. From the very start of my admission I made it clear that the only person that could get me back home was my wife, we live in Newark an no other could come to pick me up. I also made it clear that she was incapable of doing this due to lack of confidence when driving. I was assured that this was not a problem as the hospital would sort transport out back to Newark, They named a transport company that provided the return service to Newark.

All fine, right up to discharge day, Up came a nurse and said how are you getting home, I explained the situation, no problem I will book you a Taxi ? Hospital transport not applicable in my case, " I was not eligible " What ! this was a cost to me of £45, The cost was not a problem when you think of the thousands of pound it must have cost to fix me up, The problem was the stress caused to my wife. I could have handled it better as I/we decided to book the taxi and involved my wife.

I think that from the start we should have been told that no return transport was available so to give me time to plan for discharge, Its a situation that needs clear explanation in future for other people in the same situation.

2. Again on day of discharge I'm sat on the bed ready to go home waiting for note from Doctor and one pack of pills, This is 10.30am gets to 2.30 pm in pops another nurse with my kit to go home and the bag she is holding is enormous, It turns out that I have to inject my self in the tummy area once a day for 6 weeks and she would be back at 6 am to show me how to do this, I had had this injection the day before my discharge, That would have been the time to show me what to do, not on day of discharge would it not ?

Any way after I complained and after consultation it was agreed she could show me the procedure at 3.00pm,(about) I have been a first aider at work for many years so this small self administered injection was not a problem to me. Now this was the only time it was made clear to me that this was what was needed on diss charge As previous all that was required was clear prior information to resolve the problem.

Any way got home in the end and all was well, Please I want you to know that I consider, that the care I was given by ward 11 and after opp. from ward 12 was nothing short of superb and I wish my unreserved thanks passed on to all.