My husband was admitted to hospital for treatment-care -an operation-UCLH.
Brief report ;
Booked for 7am-operation 1-2 pm
No good /meds etc
Op performed -Dr excellent no complaints.
Day 1:few hrs post op:
Only for ‘free fluids’-st his bedside -cheese ,oats, butter :? Free fluids
Appears ok.
Day 2:8pm-begs me to help him wash -not enough staff to assist
Still on ‘free fluids ‘
Looking tired , weak pale& hungry .
Pain management ??
Day 3:2&3pm :-Distressed call at work -husband tearful , been vomiting most of morning -doesnt know what’s wrong ., is scared .
NB: He’s in hospital & terrified instead of confident in staff.
4-430pm Call hospital -told they unsure where the nurse is but will ‘check’
State they know he’s been vomiting but for x-ray at 530pm
6pm -I arrive -he returns from x-ray
6-7pm :Dr attends after I make request on update -speaks to him rapidly & in technical /medical jargon .
Husband confused -but keeps quiet .
They ask if he has any questions -how can he ask any questions if he has not understood?
I advise Dr that her patient has Aphasia as a result of x3 strokes .
She says she’s aware .
So ..:why is she communicating like she would to a person without Aphasia?
6630-830pm :sit in toilet with husband vomiting.
Ask nurse if they need to record fluid output /loss etc .
He says ..’oh yes’.-looks surprised.
7-8 pm :Husband in pain , feeling weak but unable to rest /sleep because of strong hiccups and more vomiting that is NOT being recorded -
Estimated 500mls-1L.
WHERE IS FLUID BALANCE CHART ?
He dehydrated !
I’ve given up trying to keep tabs on fluid loss .
I approach nurse -suggest IV line if he’s dehydrated & cannot keep anything in.
She states:she’s busy .
I try to be understanding & patient.
NG tube attempt it fails -they give up .
Give him pain relief.
Still NO IV fluids -yet confirmation of dehydration,
Observations done : BP:140/94. & again 140/98
Pulse :101 Font see her chart this or inform nurse .
I advise nurse & ask if he is receiving his usual meds for BP .
She doesn’t know !
States no meds ‘written up.’
Nurse comes across to give pain relief -does patient check .
Ask husband his name -( ID)husband starts giving DOB-he’s confused .
Nurse gives instruction using medical term -husband looks confused .
I tell nurse his Aphasic -she states was NOT advised on handover .
Husband continues vomiting -no monitoring of this still .
He’s crying and doesn’t want me to leave. Says he’ll walk out .
He’s afraid he’ll die with this level of care and no one to speak fir him if I’m not around.
I speak to nurse again about IV & request Dr .
She’s states she & Dr busy .
10-1030pm :I’m exhausted.
IV fluids put up i.e . hanging on drip stand -but not in -waiting .??
Request again -IV connected but alarm signals -ignored for 10min.
Nurse returns -states pump battery not charged.
Clean husband & vomit .
Trying to calm /reassure him that he will not die at hands of NHS staff .
After observing this conduct by staff -difficult to convince him let alone myself.
I’m afraid to leave him as they ignore his calls.
11pm :Want to go home.Nurses have disappeared .Lights out -husband in chair -needs help to get back to bed .
Am I extra , unpaid staff -compensating for staff shortage?
Are they ignoring him because I am there to do their work ?
I check his CPAP machine -he says he didn’t sleep night before & tried to rest during day but CPAP was ‘noisy ‘.
CPAP ‘noisy ‘ because was dry & empty.
Staff had NOT filled with water -so how was he breathing /dry air ?? Further problems x2days now .
No one checked CPAP machine .
11pm -1110 : Frustrated and angry -no nurses around x2patients request them .
I call complaint number that is near bedside -rings out .
I send message -no response .
Call the other number -get answer -explain my concerns .
Assured he will be checked on by Dr.
So..another day today ..let’s see .
Our NHS -never seen such atrocious demonstration of unprofessionalism , incompetence AND
holistic continuity of care .
How can one receive ‘adequate ‘ basic care if there’s NO COMMUNICATION with the medical team or people Nursing /Caring the patient .
Is it not sad that a patient is scared they may be dying or at risk of same yet want to ESCAPE from the institution that is supposed to protect and care for him?
6-11pm vomiting bile , looks exhausted , tearful , strong hiccups and in pain.
Day 3:
