My friend's GP had arranged an emergency appointment at Exeter to investigate a toe that was badly infected. He is diabetic and the toe had ulcerated. This obviously is serious in diabetics. He had to go to Exeter as Musgrove Park Taunton are a shambles. Upon arrival at Exeter, it became apparent that this was an admission. The Ward Sister was advised that he had not been told about this and whilst he was quite happy to stay that day for the investigations, he would have to go home because he had an appointment the next morning at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol which he had been waiting a long time for, and did not want to miss, but he would happily return to Exeter if required. This was agreed, and a part-admission was carried out. My friend was told he would need an x-ray and some bloods taken, following which he could leave. At that time, he asked for some pain relief. He was duly taken down to x-ray where he waited for over an hour. On his return to the Ward, he was told that someone came to take the bloods whilst he was in x-ray so they would have to come back. After waiting another hour or more, a nurse came to take the bloods. It was now gone 6 pm and the staff nurse was advised that we would need to leave shortly as my friend needed to get home for his insulin as he was beginning to feel unwell and to eat as we had not expected to be out so long. She said he could eat at the hospital, but was told it was no good eating if he didn't have any insulin to take. The pharmacy do not have the insulin needed and said it would take approx 3 days to order it in - if they could even order it as it "was not on their list". Even after all the explanations as to why he was unable to stay he was still marked as "discharged himself" on his records. This was categorically not the case - and just proves a total lack of communication and understanding between the staff. No pain relief was brought at any time. Apparently, a Vascular doctor arrived to see my friend just after we had left - he had not been told that anyone else was coming to see him. When he asked what, then, should he have done if he was beginning to feel unwell and needed to get home for his insulin, the reply was "well you should just have stayed to see the doctor" - total lack of knowledge of diabetes or what? Unbelievable.
"Emergency appt to investigate possible toe..."
About: Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford) Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford) Exeter EX2 5DW http://www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/
Posted via nhs.uk
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