"Newly diagnosed cancer care"

As a cancer patient newly diagnosed,  my consultant said urgent scans would be done within 2/3 weeks. Other staff then informed me that 1 scan would be 5 weeks. When I got upset, the nurse said they were doing their best. Said I was upset but felt I had to raise concerns through more formal channels, which I did via PALs in writing. Said in that communication that I had copied it to consultant secretary and would do so also to my MP. Within an hour the scan was expedited to the 2/3 week timescale. 

Although I was relieved that my urgent cancer scan (to check for stage 4 cancer as the diagnosis of primary had been confirmed) - it made me wonder massively why I'd had to query my rights and not suffer in fearful silence.

I also then checked care quality commission at trust which the latest report rated the imaging department as needing improvement or inadequate (can't recall which now). So I hoped that complacency amongst staff in that department or backlogs were not being ignored, but reported as incidents or near misses, which hospital trusts are supposed to do.

As a former nurse, I was fully aware of the sheer exhaustion of daily shifts and the never ending pressures. But I feel very strongly that staff must work together and report overwhelming or unrealistic workloads to their line manager, who in turn should report these problems. 

I have now received excellent care and treatment since my chemo began and I hope and expect this standard to continue. 

I posted a very good review about my treatment in emergency care during a weekend day. I was in awe of all staff as the department seemed to be bursting at the seams with patients. 

I would be more than willing to support the trust with lobbying government ministers to ensure funding and support is maintained by our government in power. 

A main concern that day was a urine infection.

They checked my vital obs 3 times, took blood sample once & recorded my medical history 3 times.

I provided them with 2 urine samples, requesting containers myself. I said after both samples that my urine was smelly.

Last person I saw was a consultant after abdomen x rays. They reassured me my blood samples did not show signs of infection. I asked about my urine reiterating pain on my back near renal area in middle of night. They said I could have pulled a muscle. I asked if my urine sample had been tested and they said it would be tested in a lab.

I am not sure but believe a simple 3 second dipstick test in hospital sluice where dirty specimens like phlegm or urine are disposed of would have indicated an infection.

But lab testing meant that I remained in a lot of discomfort for another I think it was 24 hours and I rang my GP to advise them then I needed antibiotics for a urine infection. I told them the name that the hospital nurse had said and they said they would send prescription to my pharmacy immediately, or I could have kidney damage.

To be blunt , I will summarise with 2 points:

1 My chemotherapy at the hospital is going well, as far as I know and the oncology staff are kind, caring and meticulous.

2 however to spend 4 hours in emergency care with abdomen pain, which I stated each time my medical history was taken (3 times) I believed was caused by IBS constipation and a urinary tract infection and to be left in extreme discomfort while my urine sample was sent to a laboratory I think was both

- distressing to me - I know it was until the antibiotics worked their magic

- over wasting money in awaiting a lab test causing how much?? I told them I was allergic to septrin so there was a limited number of antibiotics they could have prescribed anyway- so was the lab test absolutely necessary?

I feel better relaying my experience, not all good about the emergency department at Russell's Hall Hospital- because as I said before the department was overwhelming looking and at tipping point. So they did check and reassure me with so many things- but I don't believe I was listened to or believed about in the urine infection.

I think the consultant I was assessed by immediately before my discharge could have done better

I am grateful for everything else but that was the sticking and distressing point that I want to share.

I hope my honest and forthright post will be of interest to hospital staff and will be willing to share my factual views to help them in any way I can.