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The experience in recovery could have been improved.

Posted By Mumfress

"The experience in recovery could have been improved."

About: Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (Edinburgh) / Paediatric surgery

(as a parent/guardian),

My young son had surgery at RHCYP last week.

The staff were very friendly and explained everything to me in a simple way. 

It was a very simple surgery that went well, but he reacted badly to the anaesthesia so came round very aggressive and upset (not normal for him, which I understand).

I found it hard being left alone to deal with that (especially when we were moved in to a single room and had the door shut behind us). 
I also believe the ‘play specialist’ would have been more helpful at that stage rather than the stage they ‘helped’ during the anaesthesia being introduced. Or even having a little more distraction techniques or ideas to calm him. Even if I had been told he may behave like this, I would have been more mentally prepared.

I was also very worried as I had been told the surgery would last 40 mins and it ended up being a lot longer and no-one came to speak to me or assured me things were ok, so I was left literally pacing the room.

I was also told conflicting things from the surgeon vs the nurse about his recovery - keep the wound dry for 3 days Vs bath him the next day. Recovery off sports for 3 weeks vs 6 weeks etc.. So I’m just going to have to judge it and wing it myself.

All in all, the building is great, the staff were wonderful and the surgery went well, but the communication and experience in recovery could have been improved. 

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Responses

Response from Louise Davies, Patient Experience Officer, Patient Experience Team, NHS Lothian 7 months ago
Louise Davies
Patient Experience Officer, Patient Experience Team,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 08/09/2023 at 17:02
Published on Care Opinion at 17:02

picture of Louise Davies

Dear Mumfress

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us via Care Opinion. I am pleased to hear that your son’s surgery went well, and that you found the staff and building to be so great, but am really sorry that your experience in recovery was poor.

You have provided some really valuable feedback and identified some areas where improvements could definitely be made. I have shared this with the Clinical Management Team for the department who will be able to respond further.

I hope the rest of your son’s recovery goes well.

Best wishes

Louise

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Response from Margaret McEwan, Play Services Co-Ordinator, Play Services, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People 7 months ago
Margaret McEwan
Play Services Co-Ordinator, Play Services,
Royal Hospital for Children and Young People

Submitted on 15/09/2023 at 12:48
Published on Care Opinion at 13:11

Dear Mumfress,

Thank you for sharing your story and I am sorry that you did not get the input from the play team that we would normally offer. There are play team members based in the main ward area until 4.30 every day so I apologise that they did not come and see you again after surgery as normally all patients would be offered post-operative play, including helping when a patient is distressed after having procedures carried out.

I hope that you will be reassured to hear that I have discussed this with the play team in the ward and we will try to ensure that all those patients coming back from theatre before 4.30 are seen by a member of the play team. It may not always be possible to see every patient as there are often theatre lists still running and the play team have to accompany them to theatre but I have specifically asked that the play team are informed if a patient comes back distressed so that they can visit that patient and their family to see what help can be provided.

Kind Regards

Margaret McEwan

Play Services Co-Ordinator

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Update posted by Mumfress (a parent/guardian)

Thank you Margaret, I think that would be a great compromise, going for children that are distressed. I can honestly say that was the most difficult 90mins of my parenting life so far. So a little more support would have been helpful.

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