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Lack of pain management and fulfillment of basic needs

Posted By lms123

"Lack of pain management and fulfillment of basic needs"

About: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Accident & Emergency Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Gastroenterology (Stomach and gut problems) Wards 8b, 8c &8d

(as a carer),

My partner was an in-patient at QEUH and, after being treated very well and very promptly in their A&E, we are both very disappointed with his care. He is in for a pancreatic flare up which causes severe pain and makes him unable to keep any food or fluids down. Despite this the doctors will not agree to give him sufficient pain management, which only makes him more unable to keep anything down. 

My partner has been hospitalized for his flare ups probably over 20 times in the last year and a half. He and I are both very well informed about this condition and how the medications he responds to well. The doctors will not listen to either of us and will only give him pain meds that we both know he does not react to at all and do not at all help the pain. Why give him medication now that is insufficient and will actively make him worse, requiring you to later overmedicate him due to your own initial negligence? The last time this happened in hospital and no one would listen to us he got so bad that they had to feed him through an NG tube and he had to be hospitalized for weeks. 

Additionally, my partner is Jain and the hospital has not been able to provide him with food that abides by his religious dietary restrictions. The nurse who served his dinner did not even know what the food was and when we asked him he just laughed and shrugged before walking out. Luckily I thought to bring him some snacks, but surely there is a duty of care for anyone who is inpatient that includes giving them food that meet their dietary needs and restrictions. No one has even given him any water yet despite our asking for hours and him being cleared to eat and drink hours ago. 

The care in A&E was phenomenal, but the care on the ward so far has been disgraceful and bordering on negligent. Very disappointing. 

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 months ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 02/11/2023 at 09:33
Published on Care Opinion at 09:33

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Ims123

Thank you for getting in touch. Firstly, I am glad that your partner was treated well and quickly in A&E. I am sorry to hear that you have been disappointed and left feeling un-listened to regarding your partner’s medication. I apologise for the upset and distress this has caused you both.

Regarding your partner’s dietary requirements, food and drinks are important part of getting better when people are in hospital. We provide a range of alternative menus to meet the needs of patients who may require a special diet for medical, cultural, religious or other reasons. The Catering Team within the hospital are happy to visit you to talk about your partner’s dietary requirements.

Please be assured that we take all feedback seriously. Your comments will be feedback to the team to improve the care and service we provide. If you would like to discuss this further can you please contact Laura Wilson, Lead Nurse on 0141 452 3934.

Please pass on my apologies to your partner.

Thank you

Nicole

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Response from Laura Wilson, Lead Nurse, Medicine, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 months ago
We are preparing to make a change
Laura Wilson
Lead Nurse, Medicine, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 16/11/2023 at 14:52
Published on Care Opinion at 16:29

Dear lms123

I wish to update you on our response to the feedback you kindly shared through Careopinion.

First of all in relation to your partner's pain control. I would like to sincerely apologise for your experience of not being listened to in regarding this. As you and your partner know, you are the experts living with the condition everyday.

In relation to the difficulties you had with catering, I have spoken to our Catering Manager as she has explained that when you posted through careopinion her team made attempts to locate your partner on the 8th floor but were unsuccessful. She would like to feedback that the catering management team would have spoken to your partner or yourself and taken you through the options that could be provided through their extensive menus.

From personal knowledge I understand that Jainist requirements would not always fit into a category such as vegan diet. So I would like to welcome your partner to make this known to our nursing teams when being admitted so that Catering Management can be contacted straight off and you shouldn't have to bring in food from home unless you choose to. I would also like to let you know that as Lead Nurse I will share this feedback for learning with our Senior Charge Nurses to improve our care for food, fluid, and nutrition needs.

I hope this reassures you that response has been taken from your feedback,

Laura

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