My husband was admitted to Ward 6 Heartlands Hospital with a clot to his left descending coronary artery and had an angiogram to fit a stent. The procedure isn't why I am writing this - it's the patient after-care that I am saddened and disgusted with.
I spent 3 hours watching my husband in agonising pain due to some problem with his shoulder. He had been so still during the procedure, he had endured cramp in his shoulder but did not want to complain or move as this may hamper the angiogram etc. His one shoulder joint looked twice the size of his other shoulder and is so painful he cannot lift his arm without supporting it with his opposite hand.
When I arrived post-op he had already been in this pain for one hour and was waiting for a doctor to come and look at him. I must have spoken with 7 members of staff whilst I was there to try and get my husband pain free. I spoke with a Sister, a Charge Nurse and numerous staff nurses before he was written up for Diazepam and Oramorph by a Registrar who stated the medication would make him drowsy. He was given 5 mgs of Diazepam but no Oraomorph and when I asked the Staff Nurse in charge of his bay why no Oramorph she said that Diazepam is Oramorph?? When I left the ward, my husband had received a further 5 mgs of Diazepam and some codeine and so I hoped that would be the end of his suffering.
He phoned me at home and was still in pain. I rang the ward and spoke to the Charge Nurse on duty who has informed me they were waiting for an Orthopaedic doctor to come and look at him. Why is it that so many staff in one hospital can show so much indifference, complacency and little or no compassion? The irony of my story is that PAIN CAUSES STRESS and that is the one thing my husband does not need right now!!
"Saddened by aftercare"
About: Heartlands Hospital / Cardiology Heartlands Hospital Cardiology Birmingham B15 2TH
Posted by Ghost Writer (as ),
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