Is the NHS under this much pressure?
Discussion
My 76 year-old mother in law slipped on wet leaves on Tuesday evening last week, fell on her arm and has a clean break through her humerus and her elbow joint has shattered.
She was taken to A&E at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, then discharged to return for an emergency operation. She was asked to call daily at 06:00 to see if she could go in.
On Saturday morning, she was told that she could go in at 07:00. She was told that it could be a long day and that she would be nil by mouth all day, so she got up at 02:30 for something to eat. She attended hospital as requested 07:00, but her husband could not stay with her due to COVID measures. She was kept on the ward all day, nil by mouth, until 16:30 when they gave her some food because they had called off the operation.
The explanation they gave her was that a 7-year old boy had come in with more serious problems than hers.
They then sent her home to call daily for a repeat visit, saying that she was now no.1 on the emergency surgery list and would be attended to today.
This morning, 02:30, she got for something to eat. She then called 06:00 and apparently there have been emergencies overnight, so they cannot see her. They have told her that she has now been bumped off the emergency list and is now on a routine surgery list.
I am quite concerned for my mother in law. She is rather frail and in pain. She is worried about the damage that is being done as a result of the injury not being attended to promptly. I would like to be able to help her, but I really don't know what to do. I am not at all sure that this sort of surgery can be done privately, can it?
Is the NHS REALLY under so much pressure that it needs to treat people like this?
She was taken to A&E at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, then discharged to return for an emergency operation. She was asked to call daily at 06:00 to see if she could go in.
On Saturday morning, she was told that she could go in at 07:00. She was told that it could be a long day and that she would be nil by mouth all day, so she got up at 02:30 for something to eat. She attended hospital as requested 07:00, but her husband could not stay with her due to COVID measures. She was kept on the ward all day, nil by mouth, until 16:30 when they gave her some food because they had called off the operation.
The explanation they gave her was that a 7-year old boy had come in with more serious problems than hers.
They then sent her home to call daily for a repeat visit, saying that she was now no.1 on the emergency surgery list and would be attended to today.
This morning, 02:30, she got for something to eat. She then called 06:00 and apparently there have been emergencies overnight, so they cannot see her. They have told her that she has now been bumped off the emergency list and is now on a routine surgery list.
I am quite concerned for my mother in law. She is rather frail and in pain. She is worried about the damage that is being done as a result of the injury not being attended to promptly. I would like to be able to help her, but I really don't know what to do. I am not at all sure that this sort of surgery can be done privately, can it?
Is the NHS REALLY under so much pressure that it needs to treat people like this?
If it helps the exact same thing happened to me 10 years ago.
I was on the ward for 4 days waiting for an ankle surgery op which got cancelled everyday due to someone else getting last minute priority or was deemed more urgent.
I had to be nil by mouth as well for those 4 days until they told me about the cancellation which was normally late afternoon.
Ring around some private hospitals and see if they can fit you in.
I was on the ward for 4 days waiting for an ankle surgery op which got cancelled everyday due to someone else getting last minute priority or was deemed more urgent.
I had to be nil by mouth as well for those 4 days until they told me about the cancellation which was normally late afternoon.
Ring around some private hospitals and see if they can fit you in.
Radec said:
If it helps the exact same thing happened to me 10 years ago.
I was on the ward for 4 days waiting for an ankle surgery op which got cancelled everyday due to someone else getting last minute priority or was deemed more urgent.
I had to be nil by mouth as well for those 4 days until they told me about the cancellation which was normally late afternoon.
Ring around some private hospitals and see if they can fit you in.
Can private hospitals do that sort of stuff, or does it come under primary care?I was on the ward for 4 days waiting for an ankle surgery op which got cancelled everyday due to someone else getting last minute priority or was deemed more urgent.
I had to be nil by mouth as well for those 4 days until they told me about the cancellation which was normally late afternoon.
Ring around some private hospitals and see if they can fit you in.
Pretty standard trauma patient management.
DoH prioritises fractured hip care and once those and the limb abs life threatening emergencies are completed you will usually find that most of the day has gone.
You will be lucky to find a private hospital willing to take on the management of a complex elbow injury
DoH prioritises fractured hip care and once those and the limb abs life threatening emergencies are completed you will usually find that most of the day has gone.
You will be lucky to find a private hospital willing to take on the management of a complex elbow injury
ucb said:
Pretty standard trauma patient management.
DoH prioritises fractured hip care and once those and the limb abs life threatening emergencies are completed you will usually find that most of the day has gone.
You will be lucky to find a private hospital willing to take on the management of a complex elbow injury
I will tell her that it is her fault and that she should have broken her hip! Is there anyone that could be moaned at in order to get her seen?DoH prioritises fractured hip care and once those and the limb abs life threatening emergencies are completed you will usually find that most of the day has gone.
You will be lucky to find a private hospital willing to take on the management of a complex elbow injury
That was my feeling ref private treatment.
ucb said:
There may be a trauma coordinator who has an overview of the patients waiting and operating slots.
Or try PALS but they won’t be able to expedite her care particularly
PALS locally appears to consist of an answering machine that never gets listened to and letters don't get answered. I tried to contact them a few years ago.Or try PALS but they won’t be able to expedite her care particularly
I will see whether my father in law is minded to badger the trauma coordinator.
Welshbeef said:
My thoughts too - go private if you have the means. We know for years and years to come this is going to be a nightmare.
Not sure, but don’t private hospitals rely on Nhs hospitals for complex surgery or anything that needs iCU backup?Which was one reason private hospitals were not that much help with COVID as it was critical care that was the bottleneck?
Welshbeef said:
Does she have the correct medication - for pain. The correct brace to hold in correct position and is someone popping in to see her daily be it neighbour friend family etc (to keep her motivation up)
Apparently yes.I've just spoken to her. I have suggested that she and my FIL politely but firmly ask to speak to someone in management. She is, however, concerned that the response may be vindictive.
Louis Balfour said:
Radec said:
If it helps the exact same thing happened to me 10 years ago.
I was on the ward for 4 days waiting for an ankle surgery op which got cancelled everyday due to someone else getting last minute priority or was deemed more urgent.
I had to be nil by mouth as well for those 4 days until they told me about the cancellation which was normally late afternoon.
Ring around some private hospitals and see if they can fit you in.
Can private hospitals do that sort of stuff, or does it come under primary care?I was on the ward for 4 days waiting for an ankle surgery op which got cancelled everyday due to someone else getting last minute priority or was deemed more urgent.
I had to be nil by mouth as well for those 4 days until they told me about the cancellation which was normally late afternoon.
Ring around some private hospitals and see if they can fit you in.
Try calling a Nuffield and seeing what they say although I'm expecting it to cost like £7k upwards
loskie said:
Have you contacted your MP?
I work for a govt department and when Ministers ask questions my senior managers s
t their pants. It's quite pathetic and funny at the same time. Same for press enquiries.
I may suggest that my MIL does that. However our MP is not all that easy to get hold of and then, in my experience, quite ineffectual.I work for a govt department and when Ministers ask questions my senior managers s
t their pants. It's quite pathetic and funny at the same time. Same for press enquiries.Radec said:
If it helps the exact same thing happened to me 10 years ago.
Yes, this isn't anything new. Watch BBC2's 'Hospital' series. There's always not enough nurses, doctors and beds. But loads of staff around and you wonder what they're all doing.What I find a bit alarming is when there's a discssion about how to deal with whatever issue the patient has they always opt for the quickest and simplest option, regardless of whether that would be best for the patient. If they can fob someone off then they do.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Sunday 11th July 12:50
Sheepshanks said:
Radec said:
If it helps the exact same thing happened to me 10 years ago.
Yes, this isn't anything new. Watch BBC2's 'Hospital' series. There's always not enough nurses, doctors and beds. But loads of staff around and you wonder what they're all doing.What I find a bit alarming is when there's a discssion about how to deal with whatever issue the patient has they always for for the quickest and simplest option, regardless of whether that would be best for the patient. If they can fob someone off then they do.
Most of the QMC surgeons also work at the Park private Nottingham hospital if you haven’t contacted these already.
https://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/hospitals/bmi-the-...
https://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/hospitals/bmi-the-...
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