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Hospital discharge

89 replies

ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow · 10/05/2013 18:50

I am sat here absolutely raging. My husband was supposed to be discharged from hospital at lunchtime, (so the dr and ward sister told him) so I arranged to get out of work to get here for lunch. Sat here for two hours then they said there was a hold up - and now it would be nearer to 5. So it's now 6.45 and still we are waiting, the nurses keep fobbing me off and I've had to ring my parents to pick my son up - they managed to get him at 6.10 luckily I rang his after school club and they were happy to wait as they actually finish at 6. My son is now sat in my parents' car outside my house, 30 mins away from the hospital, and I still have no idea when they are actually going to pull their finger out and get him discharged!!!!!!

Have had to ring them and say to take him to their house now as they have been sat outside mine for 45 mins now and could potentially be at least another hour :-(

I'm really angry and my pregnancy hormones are not helping at all!!!!!

Do you think I would be unreasonable to write and complain?

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hippoherostandinghere · 10/05/2013 18:54

My bet is its a pharmacy issue getting his meds dispensed. It always is.
Complain if you think you received bad care.

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Sirzy · 10/05/2013 18:55

When you say they have fobbed you off what exactly have they said?

As annoying as it is sometimes there are genuine delays and there is nothing you can do about it unless you just disharge yourself and go.

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ChestyNut · 10/05/2013 18:55

Have you asked what the issue is?

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Sirzy · 10/05/2013 18:56

Hippo, I thought the same. I have lost count of the amount of times we have sat on a ward waiting for meds to come up. The Sister once got so annoyed at our wait she went to pharmacy herself to get them!

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XBenedict · 10/05/2013 18:56

You need to find out what's causing the delay first I think. Bloody annoying for you though Angry

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ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow · 10/05/2013 18:57

I keep asking them what is the delay, first of all it was the meds, but now it's something to do with having to get the matron!?!?!?

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EggsMichelle · 10/05/2013 18:57

It annoys me and I'm a nurse!!!!

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SauvignonBlanche · 10/05/2013 18:57

What has been identified as the 'hold up'?

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 10/05/2013 18:58

Do you know what the delay is? If its pharmacy there's little the nursing staff can do about it apart from nag pharmacy. You could offer to go home and pick up the meds later.

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ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow · 10/05/2013 18:59

Something to do with having to get the matron!?!?

I've had several different reasons since about 3pm!!! Hence feeling fobbed off. Particularly as they can't explain why they need to get the matron, now that they seem to have the drugs and I know the dr has done the tto letter at about 12!!!

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Sirzy · 10/05/2013 19:00

She probably has to do the discharge and go through the meds and things. Its annoying but sometimes other things happen meaning things get delayed.

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SauvignonBlanche · 10/05/2013 19:00

Why don't you just go?

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 10/05/2013 19:01

Not sure why they need the matron. I rarely see ours! I doubt they've checked TTOs for years.

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Smellslikecatspee · 10/05/2013 19:04

Are you in a discharge lounge with no qualified staff? It needs to be a qualified nurse to hand over the meds?

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ChestyNut · 10/05/2013 19:05

Ask to speak to the nurse in charge and ask exactly what the problem is.
Matrons aren't involved in the discharge process in my trust.

Matrons are generally involved if there is an issue.

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ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow · 10/05/2013 19:05

Because if I take him home without the painkillers and antiemetics he will be back before the sun comes up tomorrow :-(

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ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow · 10/05/2013 19:06

Still on the ward - been out to try and find someone to find out what's happening and only healthcare assistants around, and they can't do it :-(

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milk · 10/05/2013 19:07

I was once meant to be discharged from hospital at 8:30am, I ended up leaving the same day at 9pm :(

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SchroSawMargeryDaw · 10/05/2013 19:08

If you threaten to self discharge then they may possibly speed up a bit?

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ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow · 10/05/2013 19:11

Tbh I think if he threatens to self discharge they wouldn't be bothered.

They've twice forgotten to give him his antiemetics and painkillers on the ward, and three times forgotten to replace his drip!!! It's the worst organisation I've ever seen in all my life - and they're not even short staffed.

I know they work hard etc, my mum and gran were nurses, so I do know, but this is a joke!!!

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marriedinwhiteagain · 10/05/2013 19:11

Have you asked what the delay is? Have you said, well I have to go, do the admin you need for my DH and then send him home by community ambulance. It's disgraceful.

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 10/05/2013 19:11

I waited about 7 hours to be discharged after having DS as they were busy. It's frustrating but being a nurse myself I know what it's like.

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Smellslikecatspee · 10/05/2013 19:12

Hmmm thought so.

Because they're seen as walking well a lot of trust only man these areas with unqualified staff.

You need a qualified nurse to go through the meds.

All fine till something like this happens, or worse. . .

But hey its cheap and if you do complain, they'll still blame nursing staff some how because the nursing unions are crap at sticking up for thier staff

Sorry, rant over.

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macreturnofthe · 10/05/2013 19:12

I have previous with this, the words you want are:

'Who is in charge, I want to speak to them now about making a formal complaint'

They shift themselves pretty quick once they hear those words - also it often gives them the excuse they need to give another dept. the kick up the arse to move things along.

My massive sympathies with this - it is soooooo annoying.

The other thing is to find out if it is pharmacy which is holding everything up - if it is they usually close by 8pm so you need to get them moving quickly or you may have another thing to annoy you.

Good luck

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marriedinwhiteagain · 10/05/2013 19:13

Have you asked them to call the hospital's duty manager to come and explain to you what the delay is and have you threatened to go down to A&E to speak to a consultant where there may be patients waiting on a trolley for your DH's bed. Might be about the staff not wanting to deal with the admission rather than there being a problem with your DH's discharge.

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