"Extremely poor communication and planning by staff"

Anything else?

My mum was admitted for her third orthopedic operation today. Her consultant told her he wanted her to come in the day before her op to have the flowtron boots on. This was to reduce the swelling in her leg, caused by lymph oedema, before surgery to make the surgery easier and improve recovery. When my mum was contacted by the hospital to arrange her surgery date she was told that she was booked into ward c8 and to come in on the 16/10/13 at 16:00 and that her operation would be in the morning on 17/10/13. She was also told that the flowtron boots had been organised for her on arrival at the ward on 16/10/13. So my mum got to the hospital a bit early because of transport and was told that the ward had no idea she was coming!! She was asked to wAit in j3 til a bed was arranged for her. When she did get on ward c8 they did not have the flowtron boots for her either. When she asked about the boots she was told she didn't need them and that they were for post op. She explained to the nurse in charge what her consultant had told her and the nurse said she would try to get them. I called the ward at 20:00 because my mum still did not have the boots. I spoke to the nurse in charge and said that mum really did need the boots as that wAs the whole point of her going in the day before her surgery. The nurse told me she had already told mum she would try to get them but she couldn't promise anything because it was so late. My mum has encountered problems because of poor staff communication every time she has been to Addenbrookes but we hoped it would have improved! I hope this is not a sign of things to come for the rest of her hospital stay. Very disappointed.