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The transition from Addenbrokes to the N&N university hospit...

Posted By Betst B

"The transition from Addenbrokes to the N&N university hospital."

About: Addenbrooke's Hospital / Accident and emergency Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital / Accident and emergency

(as a relative),

My father suffered a tbi in April and was taken to addenbrokes where he was put in an induced coma for four and a half weeks. The care he received in the critical care unit at addenbrokes was fantastic. He had a severe brain injury and a secondary chest infection we didn't know what the outcome would be. Luckily for us he started to improve and was eventually moved to the HDU upstairs. We were lead to believe he would be there for at least a week. To our suprise after one day on the HDU it was decided he would be transferred to the N&N.

On arrival there it seemed there was no bed for him on the HDU, he was taken to a ward and put in a side room alone. He had just spent 4 and a half weeks getting the best care to be placed in a room alone, he was confused unable to speak due to a tracheostomy and he was scared. We felt this was unacceptable.

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Responses

Response from Janice Bradfield, Senior Communications and Membership Manager, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 8 years ago
Janice Bradfield
Senior Communications and Membership Manager,
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 11/12/2015 at 11:45
Published on Care Opinion at 12:09

We are sorry to hear that your father was scared following his transfer to the N&N. Transferring from one hospital to another and then stepping down from high dependency to a ward must have been very difficult for him. We carefully assess each patient to make sure they have the appropriate level of care. Our side rooms are used for patients who are more dependent and this may be why he was placed there rather than on a bay with other patients. If you would like to speak to us in more detail or make a complaint, please get in touch with our Patient Advice and Liaison Service in the first instance. PALS can be contacted on pals@nnuh.nhs.uk

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

Update posted by Betst B (a relative)

Thanks for your response, we were just voicing concerns that he was moved so suddenly and there really seemed to be no bed for him on his arrival.

He was scared and confused as he had only been awake just over a week, he was unable to speak due to his tracheostomy. The N&N seemed unprepared for him especially with his tracheostomy. He was in a side room, yes it was near the nurses station but he was left alone for periods of time, he was trying to pull out his tubes and move his legs out of the bed. We were concerned about this. He had been there two nights when we received a call to get to the hospital immediately as his condition had suddenly deteriorated, we didn't think he would make it through the night. Luckily he did improve. It was then that my mother complained about him being left alone so he was then given a HCA to stay with him and monitor him constantly.

We had a good outcome, with my father recovering well but I feel that there was poor communication, and very little aftercare.

I appreciate that the nursing staff are pushed but when you have a loved one in hospital your primary concern is the patient it should not be staffing levels.

I did speak with pals at the time but felt that this was not helpful in this case. I was possibly too emotional at the time.

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