"A & E & AUU"

Anything else?

My father who is in residential care suffered a seizure which resulted in him falling badly and being taken to Hull Royal Infirmary unconcious in an ambulance. On my arrival nobody could tell me where he was - it later transpired that I had arrived before the ambulance. On seeing my father it was clear due to his positioning that his shoulder was either dislocated or broken and it took over 3 hours to give him pain relief despite my continuous requests. He was left on a trolley in a corridor with several other seriously ill people for over 5 hours in between his x ray and CT scan during this time I had to stand with him and took the opportunity to try to keep up the morale of the other unaccompanied patients who were left alone. One elderly lady had been asking to go to the toilet for 3 hours. The trollies in corridors is an incredibly shocking experience the indignity and humiliation is wholly unacceptable. It transpires that my father has a dislocation and a serious break and after being admitted has been given paracetamol for the pain relief and will be awaiting treatment for at least a week. It beggars belief that anyone considers this to be appropriate in terms of pain relief yet on questioning this none of the nurses seemed able to comment. His appointment to see the orthopaedic consultant was changed without any notice and I was therefore unable to attend however the consultant did telephone me to let me know the prognosis. He is now awaiting a consultation with an upper limb specialist and a neurologist and nobody is able to advise when this is scheduled to happen. I really hope I am never brought to this hospital in need of care however would have no hesitation in commending the care experienced by one nurse, the orthopeadic consultant, some of the porters and catering staff and the person responsible for carrying out the CT scan. It is such a shame that of all those involved only very few seem to be able to offer patients the care dignity and respect that they should receive yet as service users we are constantly reminded of the need to treat staff with said dignity and respect.