"emergency admissions for operation"

Anything else?

Deeply disappointed at the response to a medical emergency here , Sunday 7th Dec.2013, I rang 111 for a doctor as a friend was in severe pain . I explained that this normally stoical man was in extreme pain and needed a house call. Some time later a doctor rang him. He was told to go to RUH..He was unable to walk so I packed an overnight bag and put him in a taxi He was discharged that night without any pain relief. The next day I rang his doctor but was unable to get an appointment until Tuesday at 10 am By Monday evening he was in even greater agony. I rang his doctor who arranged for him to go to surgical admissions at RUH and I put him in a taxi.again. This time he was kept in for an emergency operation. Happily his pain was now managed with morphine ,he was given antibiotics and a saline drip. But he remained nil by mouth and awaiting surgery from Monday night till Thursday night at 8.30pm when he was finally taken down to theatre. I fully understand that there has to be prioritisation of emergencies on this ward but surely the time already spent waiting should also be factored in? People are not like shoes waiting to be repaired, they get anxious about surgical proceedure and also distressed at being nil by mouth when others all around them on the ward are eating...this is three days we are talking about...this particular patient was on the verge of discharging himself by Thursday and that would have led to tragic consequences yours sincerely Judith s