"Lack of communication"

Admitted with severe abdominal pains Sat 6am, x-rays done, antibiotics given for infection and pain relief administered.

Sunday a scan was done and diagnosis from doctor. Sun evening doctor said no medication tomorrow as bowel prep and colonoscopy needed, hopefully Monday or will be Tuesday. (Blockage in colon prevented bowel motion. )

Monday, no medication taken and no food given. Specialist saw patient at 10am and told them they could go home. By 4pm, patient still not told what was happening and had not been fed anything all day. When asked care staff providing food why, they had records showing not to feed him so there was a lack of communication problem.

No-one had advised patient regarding bowel blockage. I had to phone hospital and tell them I was concerned that he was being sent home without addressing the problem. Charge nurse reacted immediately and a doctor was called. Patient had to stay in another night and was given laxatives. Nothing happened.

Tuesday, given more laxatives in morning with very minor effect. They probably take longer than one day to work in severe cases but no-one ever explained this. Patient discharged home in afternoon still not cleared bowel blockage and with no advice given and no laxatives prescribed for further treatment.

I phoned hospital and nurse advised patient should get more laxatives from pharmacy or see GP. Great! Thanks for not keeping the patient informed what was going on while they were in hospital and not advising them what should be done to resolve the problem that they were sent home with. It may not be considered important or critical but if someone took the time to explain, it would help, rather than being left totally in the dark.

The private rooms with en-suite are very nice (although isolated when there is no-one to talk to and no-one keeps you informed) but the lack of communication both while staying in hospital and when you are discharged is worrying!