"ED versus Fracture Clinic"

I was taken by ambulance to CUH on sat 5/5/2018 at approx 10.00h. Very impressed with speed of ambulance arrival, and ED assessment. My nurse in ED was excellent. I was in a great deal of pain with broken bone in shoulder, also problems with low BP and vomiting due to shock and morphine. My nurse always seemed to be there and nothing was too much trouble.

I was admitted two days later for surgery, this went ok except for one nurse on the ward who the long term patients had named “the monster”.

Two weeks later I had an appointment at the fracture clinic - what a fiasco, no organisation, receptionist and nurse playing games on mobiles while elderly people with sticks had to make their slow way to the clinic rooms. They could have saved time by moving the next patient to be seen to a chair near the clinic room door in readiness.

My appt was supposed to be at 14.00h, this time passed until at 14.20 was called by a nurse (who got my name wrong) and taken to room to have dressing removed. I could not understand the nurses accent and had to ask her to repeat everything she said, 14.45 told to go to X-ray ( I could have arrived earlier and had the X-ray instead of waiting in clinic). Eventually saw doctor, not the one who did the surgery, for about 3mins at 15.45.

Yes, the clinic was busy but needs to be managed and supervised properly.

On leaving I was given an appt in 4 weeks time. When I arrived home I found I could not make the date given, so phoned the clinic, number given on letter, 4 times between 16.30 and 17.15 with no reply. Tried again today and listened to music for 10mins before admitting defeat and sent an email. It is no wonder people don’t turn up for their appts when they can’t get through to change them. I wonder if I will get a response to my email, nothing as yet!