"Care after falling 15 ft off ladder"

Fell off ladder. Wife called 999, had very good support from the operator, paramedic arrived quickly followed soon after by ambulance. Quite difficult abstraction from site. Taken to NDDH A&E, scanned for broken bones and internal injuries. “Mashed” spleen urgent operation, at the same time as fixing broken wrist, broken shoulder to be dealt with later. Ceri saved my life. My wife appreciated her late-night call to report on how the operation had gone.

Excellent treatment in ICU, but “too well” to stay more than 2 days. Moved to KGV. Very good care from day staff for “a man with no arms” including nurses and care assistants; less good care from some of the night staff, particularly agency staff, although it seemed they were short-staffed some nights. Proper hand-over appeared not to happen occasionally.

After a week someone in the bay contracted Covid, so we became suspect contacts. I was moved into a side room. Tested almost a week later I was found to be positive. Moved to Tarka ward.

Staffing here very similar to KGV, good during the day with some excellent senior nurses adept at chasing solutions to outstanding questions and again some excellent care assistants, though night staff less good.

One outstanding service in both wards which I cannot praise or thank too highly was the physios. Their care, communication and encouragement helped my speedy recovery. They secured the equipment I needed to get me on my feet, cajoled me out of bed whilst understanding that I didn’t always have the energy post-Covid to face it. I can’t thank them enough.

A week after my admission further fractures were discovered in my shoulder blade. The orthopaedic team operated on it efficiently and effectively, with follow-up x-ray checks to confirm all was well.

I was discharged at fairly short notice and an ambulance arranged for my transport home via First Care. I have to say that this was the worst part of my whole hospital experience. I was collected from the ward just after 5:30pm and taken to the ambulance, sat on a hard seat and belted in, and left for 25-30 minutes while they went to fetch a second patient, and then a further 20 mins while they went for a third whom they did not eventually take. By this time I was becoming exhausted and hot. Unfortunately they then drove to Ilfracombe first for the other patient, and I was again left on my own. When they returned I said I was not feeling well and proceeded to faint in the seat, still strapped in. This was almost two hours after first being loaded I to the ambulance. The ambulance staff said they had to take me back to A&E. There they reported that I had had a seizure and had been on the floor (I was still strapped in!). A&E put together fall and seizure and ordered a brain scan, but nothing found. Eventually a very sensible doctor asked me a series of logical questions and decided that I had indeed fainted and I could go home but by this time it was almost midnight, so I stayed in until morning. My wife decided to take me home herself!

Overall, I have to report that my care in the hospital, with only minor reservations, was excellent. Thank you.