What treatment would King Charles get

[Notreadyforit]

Got a call a few hours ago from hospital. My dad was at friends for dinner this evening, tripped and fell on way to the car. The scan showed fractures and he has a brain bleed. I was told they’d probably need to operate at another hospital and they sent the scans to another hospital who said they don’t need to operate and monitor him where he is. I assume he probably left the house around 10. A and E is busy, with a 13 hour wait. Hospitals are at capacity. Dr Google says quick action and operation (I know, I know). He can’t speak, can barely move one side, has vomited and was trying to push something out of his mouth which ended up being a blood clot. I’m wondering if the treatment path is right for him - how will I know? What would they say if it was King Charles? My poor dad - I spoke to him earlier today and all was fine. They want to monitor him in resus for another five hours. There is no ventilation, no masks, just vulnerable patients and shitloads of viruses about.

Your poor dad. If they are monitoring in resus he has excellent care and they will be ready for anything. What you describe needs specialist review - which he’s had. The neurosurgeons will not be suggesting anything other than exactly what they think he needs; they are not driven by costs.

Are you able to go to him?

I imagine the King would get the treatment he needs which I hope is the treatment your dad is getting. I'd be in the car and on my way by now to give my mum a rest and to advocate. I probably would ask the Dr's if they were 100% he was on an optimal pathway and why one thing was said earlier and has now been changed.

I hope you get some good news this morning. We've always found the NHS is brilliant when it's something serious even though it may seem a bit chaotic at the time. My daughter recently had a planned gynae op at a private hospital (funded by the NHS) but, when her blood pressure collapsed later on in the night, we really missed an A&E Dept or even someone who knew what to do! Fingers crossed you were able to get there and are reassured that your father is getting the proper treatment 💐

Brain bleeds do not always need surgery, so I’d stop with Google tbh. And I doubt a neurosurgeon would happily do brain surgery that they consider unnecessary on King Charles (although of course he would be waiting in much nicer conditions).
Are you able to go and wait with him, see how he is for yourself and speak to the drs about his condition?

I'd be in the car and on my way by now to give my mum a rest and to advocate. I probably would ask the Dr's if they were 100% he was on an optimal pathway and why one thing was said earlier and has now been changed

Agreed. After the experience we had with an elderly relative's head injury, I wouldn't put blind faith in the doctors.

This. Was in a and e yesterday late afternoon, your dad needs an advocate there with him. The medical staff were completely overwhelmed - it's the worst I have seen and I have been to a and e a lot. Obviously sick elderly people sitting in their own pee and poo crying. 13 hour waits being advised. It's not that the staff didn't care - they had no time to do anything other than the essentials to keep people from dying. I am certain that it's the patients with people there with them who were actually being noticed.

Charles would be rushed to a private facility and attended to immediately - let's not pretend otherwise. He certainly wouldn't be waiting for 13 hours in A&E - wouldn't be waiting for 13 minutes.

I am so sorry to hear about your dad, we went through some terrible times when MIL was admitted to A&E, I think the NHS still do their best but it's sometimes just not great. I would agree with all above saying you should advocate for him, we had to with MIL.

In answer to you other question, Charles would get the best, and most immediate health care money could buy and we'd probably be asked for him to be our thoughts and prayers... ad infinitum . Disgustingly, Andrew would probably receive the same treatment (without the ask for prayers etc).

The person that suggested surgery is unlikely to be a trained neurosurgeon - and not every brain bleed does need surgical management, however neurosurgeons are best placed to assess that.

Neurosurgey is not with risk of complications - and I highly doubt Charles wouldn't just be given it if not absolute medically needed - although yes his waiting monitoring location would be much nicer.

Also if they're monitoring the situation they can always escalate again to neurology/neurosurgery/any other specialty they feel needed pretty quickly

You are right. I had to go to A&E twice last year - once for my son who only got seen because after waiting four hours I very politely pestered and pestered and pestered. Still took over 9 hours to get a severe leg wound cleaned up and concussion checked. Staff were making loads of really basic mistakes - the kind you make when you are sleep deprived. Several of them were on double shifts. And there was only one doctor on, despite this being a city centre A&E catering for miles around. Passive people had been waiting 13 hours.

I went straight up to the hospital when I got the call. I’d come outside for a breather when I posted this. My brother had also come up. My mum died suddenly, years ago. He was moved from resus to majors and has just moved to a ward. He was a bit hard of hearing, but otherwise was fully mobile with all his faculties. One bloody slip has taken that away. He apparently got up after he fell, his friends brought him a chair and held umbrellas over him whilst waiting for ambulance, he started feeling dizzy, internal blood loss on the brain. He was on an anti clotting medication, so lost more blood than would have without it. Board in ward showed 25% less actual staff than planned. I have presents wrapped from him for my daughter’s birthday. He’s not going to be able to give them to her.

Neurosurgery services are good, it sounds like he’s had the same care as anyone would get, scans sent to specialists and being monitored.

And remember the waits refer to those with the minor issues and those whose primary needs are not really a&e.

I guess so. The an and e wait time was more for how busy it is. Gos knows how long the wait time is for people today - queue was huge and people already in waiting area were spilled out into corridors. I haven’t told my kids. Hospital said he may get worse and then improve - it’s a waiting game at the moment.

So sorry to hear about your Dad @Notreadyforit Sending a handhold. I hope he will come through this and recover and give your daughter her presents in the fullness of time. I could say a prayer if that’s acceptable to you but sending my best wishes and sympathy to you anyway 💐

How is he doing now @Notreadyforit?

Thank you. I wrote a response earlier but lost it midway somehow. Another CT scan shows more bleeding to the brain. It feels like months ago this happened. It’s not even two days.

He had a seizure last night and another one this morning. He is asleep at the moment and looks peaceful.

So sorry to hear that @Notreadyforit Poor him and poor you. Thinking of you and your family xx

I don’t think he’s coming out.

I’m so very sorry your family is going through this. Just wanted to say you are not alone. 💐

Sending best wishes. Hope you get some clarity soon.

Wishing strength for you, OP, and peace for your dear dad.

I'm so sorry that you're going through this. Sending you a big hug.

Or even 13 seconds