Husband stuck in hospital

[monkeyblonde]

Firstly, this may not be the best thread for this topic but I am trying to get traffic (happy to move).

My husband went out last weekend and passed out whilst at a local shop. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital as he had some cuts and bruises. Whilst there he also had some tests which revealed that he needed to be monitored as they suspect a potential heart problem. Therefore he was moved to another hospital pending further investigation. He has also broken his jaw which requires surgery under GA which cannot be done until heart concerns are understood.

The heart concerns need tests which cannot be performed at this hospital. He has had no tests here, and has been sat for. A week whilst consultants disagree on what the next steps should be, and also impacted by a potential norovirus outbreak on the ward which came to nothing. The hospital that he needs to go to is world renowned and no doubt he will get the results he needs to move on - but they have no beds or at least the current h

We have a young family and he also has a new job. This is becoming more

Sorry, pressed post my mistake.

I think you get the gist. Is he stuck in here forever? His mental health (not normally of concern) is obviously deteriorating and as visiting is obviously very limited there is only so much support I can offer.

Would PALS be able to help? Without diagnosis the doctors have said that he in unsafe to discharge himself and also he needs the diagnosis so that they can sort his jaw out - at the moment he can barely eat. Any advice appreciated!

Oh bless you. That sounds really hard. It sounds like he really needs the heart investigations. I hope a bed comes up in the new hospital soon.

I hope he gets the medical attention he needs soon. It must be very difficult for you

If there are no beds in the hospital they want to transfer him to- that won't be resolved by complaining to PALS. I understand he's frustrated as are you, but apart from going privately, to guarantee the next end, you need to wait for one to become available, or start asking if the can look at transferring to one further away which may have capability to admit

If the hospital he needs to be at has no beds, I'm not sure what pals or anyone else could do. Is the hospital close enough that he could be transferred for some investigations as a day patient ?

@SD1978 We have private health cover however consultants have said that the tests (and interpretation expertise) only lie within the NHS so unfortunately this is not an option. I may ask him to find out about different hospital transfer when ward rounds take place later this morning.

@romdowa he asked this. It is a different NHS trust so apparently not possible?

OP I'm really sorry to hear this. But I'm also sceptical of tests and treatment only being available on the nhs. My DH had a hugely complicated heart issue a year or so ago. He was treated privately by amazing doctors (who also practice in a well known nhs heart unit). I'd try again on getting him seen privately and if you are anywhere near London happy to make some recommendations.

@user1477249785 we are near London. If you are able to message me I would greatly appreciate it x

[quote monkeyblonde]@romdowa he asked this. It is a different NHS trust so apparently not possible?[/quote]
I'd seriously be doubting this too. Maybe speaking to pals about facilitating the tests either as a day patient or privately is the way to go then. Have they said what investigations he actually needs ? That would help you research if they can't be done privately, I'd be shocked if they couldn't, especially in London. Friends of mine have had quite uncommon testing done in private hospitals in London over the years.

Monkeyblonde, if you haven't already can I suggest you ring your insurance company too. When my hubby had heart issues my insurance company (BUPA) was incredibly helpful explaining everything and they gave me advise on how to manage the NHS plus how to get a balance of NHS and private treatment. I hope your hubby is OK.

Sorry to hear this OP, but this is really normal. My mother spent nearly 2 weeks in hospital following a minor heart attack, becauce she needed stents and she kept being bumped for more urgent cases. It's how the system works I'm afraid.

Start by phoning the other hospital to find out if he is on the transfer list - similar situation with my Dad sitting in West Suffolk hospital waiting for transfer to Papworth for heart investigations for three weeks - my Mum found he wasn't even on the transfer list.
She took the list of investigations and phone round the private cardiologists ( google cardiologist your nearest big town they come up) and found one who could do the tests. My Dad then self discharged from the NHS and went straight to the private hospital.
This stalling was not uncommon between the two health authorities involved.

What would you like to achieve by contacting PALS?

Is the ward 'open' now following the suspected outbreak of norovirus ? I can understand him being stuck there if there was an outbreak as they don't move people in an effort to contain it.
Can you speak to the nurse looking after him and clarify what the plan is , it will be in his notes. I don't think a lot will happen over the weekend if I am being honest.

The tests can be done privately, contact a private specialist asap, speak to your insurance and he could get the tests this week.

Thanks all. I contacted our private health insurer on Tuesday who confirmed they could help - however we were dissuaded from doing this by his current doctors who said that it would not accelerate his care and may even slow it down.
I am going to contact them again in the morning (they are closed on Sundays) and see about how to move things along. I figure that it would be better to wait in comfort rather than the current situation which doesn't appear to be going anywhere.

@frumpety the norovirus was not present, they reopened the ward the following day after tests on the affected patient confirmed this.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene I just want a point of escalation. Luckily this is all new territory to us.

That's good news about the ward being open as even private healthcare wouldn't accept a patient from a ward with an ongoing outbreak.

@supersuds I'm sure it's normal. But with a new job and two young children asking when Daddy will be gone I have to try my best to expedite matters.

We are looking hopeful for a private transfer. For those who have done similar, who provided the vehicle for the journey as the NHS say it is unlikely that they will be able to.
He is currently on monitoring.

We used private ambulance paid by insurance

Then you have to pay. There is no other way to skip the line. However keeping on top of (or DH keeping on top of) what was agreed between consultants especially if more than one specialist may help, as delays can come from lack of clarity or follow through on commitments.

@user1477249785 thanks, that's helpful. Thanks for your PM too. Sorry for delay in reply, it's been a hectic day!