"open wound care"

following major surgery this year and a lengthy stay in hospital, I was discharged into the care of district nurses for home visits to dress large open wound.

Initially, after a mix up with equipment, the care was reliable, but quickly deteriorated to the point where I now have to rely on family, with no medical background, to dress my wound. This is due to the fact that district nurses advised I do not fit the criteria for home visits now, so after having nurses attending every other day and on call service if required, I have have gone to no help at home at all and am expected to visit the treatment room on a daily basis with a very large open abdominal wound, which they do not have the proper equipment to clean and dress, why? ?

The dressing falls apart after approx 8 hours, but I have to wait at least 24 hours to have it redressed, with risk of infection and tying me to my home, as the wound has a continuous fluid loss. I was previously on an machine to collect the fluid, but it was announced to me on two separate occasions how much the treatment cost, very unprofessional and unacceptable.

The reason I had to have a break in using the machine is due to the fact that the district nurses were not cleaning the wound before redressing it and after a hospital visit, was advised by the nurse in charge of my care that she could not put me back on the machine at this point due to a build up of bacteria as the wound had not been getting cleaned. I must add that it has never been cleaned by the proper product at home by district nurses, again, I ask why? ?

I am now also expected to attend udston hospital at weekends and public holidays and take my own supplies with me, that facility does not open until midday and has no appt system, so with a large abdominal wound I am expected to travel and wait in areas where there are air borne viruses. My partner and my daughter have attempted to speak to a team leader and last week 2 different dept at the health centre were asked to record my calls and ask a team leader to call me, no call, I have attempted many times to have a meeting for answers to questions, to no avail.

I have been told the patient is at the centre of the care and everything is done to ensure the patient is comfortable and has a good quality of life. My quality of life and emotional state are seriously affected now. Who will help me and take my thoughts and feelings into account? Very depressing and demoralising.