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Care Opinion

Mishandling of my partner' case

Posted By Parkinson's Carere

"Mishandling of my partner' case"

About: Altnagelvin Area Hospital / Cardiology Causeway Hospital / Coronary Care/Medical Monitoring Unit Royal Victoria Hospital / Cardiac surgery

(as a carer),

My partner in his sixties was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease in his forties.

In October  2021 he under went Deep Brian Stimulation surgery carried out in Queens College Hospital London, as a result has a neurotransmitter fitted on the left side of chest. After a period severe angina, and unsuccessful stents in March 2023, he was admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital in June 2023 for heart stents.  The operation was unable to be completed again and that evening he was transferred to Causeway cardiology to await a decision on his treatment.

Over the course of the next few days, it was decided that the best option was open heart surgery in the RVH.  He remained in the Causeway hospital until he was transferred to the RVH  pending surgery the next day. 

On the evening of the surgery the consultant cardiologist spoke to my partner explaining that they did not wish to proceed with the open heart surgery as he already had a neurotransmitter. In their opinion, there was too high a risk involved in proceeding with this surgery.  The operation was therefore cancelled. 

We have been told that Causeway hospital had made RVH fully aware of my partner's previous procedures and that he had a neuro transmitter on the left side of chest. At no stage was there communication with Neurology City Hospital Belfast, which would have been vital to understand what processes could have been used during the procedure recommended.

My partner remained in the RVH for a few more days before being transferred to the Causeway Hospital to await decisions on way to proceed.  The following week he was to be transferred  for procedure in Altnagelvin Hosptial the following day. This was cancelled.  He was to be  transferred again for for procedure the following day, this was cancelled.  He was eventually transferred for stents and discharged later that day with referral back to RVH for complex PCI.

Therefore, 5 weeks later he was discharged, having had no neurological physio therapy, no exercise which are vital for him to maintain his Parkinsons Diesese. This was followed up by receiving a cancellation for August in the RVH for complex PCI carried out and discharge home.

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Responses

Response from Donna Hanna, Clinical Services Manager, Causeway & Dermatology, Northern Health and Social Care Trust 8 months ago
Donna Hanna
Clinical Services Manager, Causeway & Dermatology,
Northern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 30/08/2023 at 12:34
Published on Care Opinion at 15:44

Dear Parkinson Carere

My name is Donna Hanna and I am Clinical Services Manager in Causeway Hospital

I am sorry to read about the poor experience regarding the care your husband received.

I appreciate the distress and impact that this would have had on your husband and on you as his carer.

If you would like to contact me I would be be happy to discuss the issues with you and your husband and investigate the care delivered during his stay in Causeway.

I hope your husband is now recovering.

I can be contacted at donna.hanna@northerntrust.hscni.net

Regards

Donna

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Response from Michelle Scott, Patient Client Experience Lead, Primary Care and Older Person, Western Health and Social Care Trust 7 months ago
Michelle Scott
Patient Client Experience Lead, Primary Care and Older Person,
Western Health and Social Care Trust

I am the gatekeeper of Care Opinion and 10,000 voices quality improvement initiative for the Western Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 04/09/2023 at 16:22
Published on Care Opinion at 16:22

picture of Michelle Scott

Hello Parkinson's Carere

My name is Michelle Scott Patient Client Experience Lead for the Western Trust. thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. I have spoken with cardiology consultants regarding your feedback. Please see below response.

My Name is Dr Sinead Hughes consultant cardiologist. Thank you for sharing your story with us and for giving me the opportunity to respond. I am sorry to hear of your partners long stay within hospital. Without knowing more information about your specific individual case, I can only apologise for the delay in your partner's procedure and hopefully explain perhaps why procedures can be cancelled and / or even rescheduled within the Western Trust. We provide angiograms and emergency stenting for patients who suffer heart attacks in N.Ireland including the western part of NI and Donegal. We have a limited number of beds and slots in the cath lab and therefore have to treat patients based on clinical need. It is unfortunate that this leads to delays for some inpatients here and in other hospitals. It can also lead to delays for outpatients as well. We do try our best to limit this where we can but due to the urgent nature of some patient transfers, we have to prioritise care for the sickest patients. I wish you and your partner the very best and thank you again for sharing your story

I hope this response has been of some help in explaining the experience you have had recently within the health service. if you would like to discuss further, please feel free to contact me on 028 71345171 Ext. 214486. Mobile: 07833402847

kind regards

Michelle Scott

Patient Client Experience Lead

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Response from Richard Dixon, Operational Manager Complaints and Liscenses, Complaints, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust 7 months ago
Richard Dixon
Operational Manager Complaints and Liscenses, Complaints,
Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

Submitted on 04/09/2023 at 17:28
Published on Care Opinion on 05/09/2023 at 08:12

Hello Parkinson's Carere

My name is Richard Dixon and I am the Operational Manager for Complaints and Licences at the Belfast HSC Trust. I am sorry to hear about the difficult experience you and your partner have had in waiting for surgery. I can see that colleagues in the Western HSC Trust and the Northern HSC Trust have been in contact with you and I trust that has been of help and assistance to you.

If there is anything you would like to discuss further regarding your partner's care in the Royal Victoria Hospital then please contact the Complaints Department at complaints@belfasttrust.hscni.net and we will assist in whatever way we can.

Sincerely

Richard

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