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Cardiacthoracic bypass operation at Blackpool

Posted By Michaella

"Cardiacthoracic bypass operation at Blackpool"

About: Blackpool Victoria Hospital Royal Blackburn Hospital / Cardiology

(as a relative),

My husband had a heart attack in April and was admitted to Blackburn Royal hospital. Four days later he was seen by a Consultant Thoracic Surgeon from Blackpool and was told he needed a Triple bypass operation. He was told this would be done within 2/3 weeks. he was then discharged home to wait for surgery.

5 weeks later I rang his secretary and was told the Consultant was on sick leave and his case had been passed on to a Cardiac Liason nurse. I rang the nurse and was informed she was trying to arrange for another Consultant to deal with my husbands case.

We are now over 6 weeks since his heart attack and during that time my husband has had no medical follow up or communication from anyone. He is becoming increasingly distressed about the wait and his condition.

He has his own business which is going under because of his absence and this is also causing extreme stress. If I had not rang then we would still not know what was going on.

The staff have always been polite when I have spoken to them but we just want to know why he has had to wait so long with no medical support.

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Responses

Response from Paul Jebb, Assistant Director of Nursing (patient experience), Clinical Governance, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 9 years ago
Paul Jebb
Assistant Director of Nursing (patient experience), Clinical Governance,
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 30/05/2014 at 09:41
Published on Care Opinion at 12:12

picture of Paul Jebb

Thank you for leaving your feedback. I am sorry that there has been a delay with your husband’s surgery.

I have spoken with the Cardiac Liaison Nurse about the reason for the delay and she explained to me that all patients were moved onto a new list under the care of another consultant as soon as the sick leave occured. Unfortunately there has been a number of emergency refferals for surgery recently which has caused a delay for patients on this list due to bed shortages. Please be reassured that your husband has not been forgotten about and the nurse says he should now have received the date for his surgery. If this is not the case please can you contact the nurse directly on 01253 957718 and she will personally chase this up for you and provide further information about the situation.

I do hope that the explanation above offers you some comfort. Once again thank you for leaving your story here at Patient Opinion and please accept our apologies and pass them onto your husband for us too and do get in touch if things are still not resolved.

Kind Regards

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Michaella (a relative)

I appreciate that you have taken time to respond. As I said in my story your staff have always been polite and as helpful as they could of been but that does not help the patients awaiting surgery. Both my husband and myself have worked in the NHS all our working lives and have always been proud of it, I am sorry to say we no longer are.. We are very aware of the pressures put on the staff and do not blame them. However I do feel that the hospital should have communicated with the patients sooner. We we do blame the government for cutting resources to the point that one problem causes the whole structure to fall causing distress to patients and in some cases deterioration in their condition, also financial problems and not least the frustration of the staff. My husband has now been seen and is hoping to have his surgery in June providing there is an intensive care bed available ( We are very aware the service has not enough beds)

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