Should I complain? Hospital related

[MrsPotts18]

Sorry this is long but I'll try to be brief. I'm so confused.

• last Sun became unwell around 5pm with what I thought was gastro bug. Vomiting, spasms etc. Managed until 1.30am when I got a sharp pain in my right hand side and was in agony. Took more painkillers but was worse by 2.30am so went to triage (30weeks pregnant)

• got the by 2.45am and was seen immediately. Bloods done and seen by midwives. Dr eventually came after 2hrs as they were v busy and initially thought gallstones. Got adequate pain relief at this point as was in agony. CTG on baby was great thankfully.

-6am was transferred to antenatal ward. Slept on and off all day and was on morphine, dihydrocodeine and paracetamol at this point. Various bloods ran all day and was suspected gallstones and ?cholestasis. Had ultrasound Monday pm which showed normal gallbladder/liver.

Tuesday Am rounds consultant comes and says she's discharging me. Says the pain on my right side is pulled muscles from being sick and I've had a gastro bug. I'm still being sick at this point but only after very small meals. She says CRP (infection markers) are 168. Anything over 100 would suggest bacterial but she def thinks I've been unlucky with a gastroenteritis infection. Tuesday night I beg to stay as I'm still in horrendous pain and cannot eat at this point. Reg agrees. I ask for antibiotics and was told 'can't find original source of infection so what's the point'. I'm too weak to discuss more.

-Wednesday 1.30am. I wake up in total again. I was sobbing and couldn't breathe. Midwives get SHO who refuses to call consultant. I beg for pain relief or to be knocked out. Pain was only on my right side under ribcage again. They tried for 6hours to get blood from me. 28 attempts later (even from my feet) only 1 was successful. Refused to call anaesthetist or senior dr. 8am and SHO finally decides to call the surgeon.

-Wednesday 9am. Surgeon comes. Spends 5 mins with me and I'm in MRI with surgeon personally doing it by 10am. Was told by 10.45am my appendix has perforated and I have pus pockets everywhere. CRP is now at 268 and I need to go to theatre. Everyone is worried and preparing for c section as told early labour is almost guaranteed. By 1.30pm I'm in theatre. Overhead brief conversation between surgeon and obstetrics and he told them it was basic negligence but I can't be sure of exact conversation

Thursday - in HdU. Finally round from op but GA has aggravated my asthma and I'm really ill. Baby is thankfully amazing and didn't need to do a c section. Staff in HDU are amazing!!!

Today spent all day in HDU due to no bowel sounds but finally got those moving. Kidney function returned to normal. Now back on original antenatal ward.

Had a slight debrief with surgical team (im still a little out of it). Had an open appendectomy and have 24 staples in situ. Op that was meant to be an hour was 3.5 due to complications. My appendix was black and gangrenous and the infection had spread much further. They had to go into my bowel too and repair due to infection.

The surgeons have been amazing. I have never felt so safe since they came on board Wednesday morning. But from Sunday night to that point I feel neglected. Things wouldn't have got this bad if they had run the appropriate blood tests or even called the right team. On the other hand should o just be grateful that I was got to in time and my baby is healthy. It could be so much worse and all I keep hearing is how lucky I am. I'm so emotional tonight hence this post and just need a hand hold I think.

Absolutely complain.

Request a full copy of your notes as well

That sounds absolutely horrific, so glad you're now

Jesus, you absolutely need to complain. That is beyond negligent.

You must have notes somewhere with a detailed record of when a doctor saw you and what was decided. Make sure they don’t go missing...

That sounds horrible, well done for getting through it
How many weeks pregnant are you? Depending on how long you have left until the due date I might be tempted to wait until you've had the baby before making a formal complaint, and give yourself chance to recover emotionally before the baby arrives. However, making a complaint now could help you to leave the last few days behind you so it really depends on what you think will benefit you most.
I hope you can get some rest tonight. Good luck for when the baby comes

Glad baby is ok and you have had the right procedure.
Who do you think they said 'basic negligence' about? SHO to Tuesday am consultant who wanted you discharged?
Good you've got all this in a post while it's fresh in your mind.
Take care 💐

Bloody hell! What a horrific experience! Glad you eventually got the right treatment and that your baby is doing well, but for it to have taken all that time - with you in agony and pregnant!

Definitely complain. That is completely unacceptable and the lives of both you and your unborn child were put at risk.

I'm back in the original antenatal ward and it's awful. I'm sitting here crying and feel so unsafe.

They moved my buzzer even though I can't sit up or reach for it without help. I have no working lights in my room. They opened the bathroom door to let light In and will find a lamp soon. The HCA brought a menu in and told me to fill it in. I asked for a pen and she threw it on the table and said she'll be back. I can't reach my table. They forgot to bring me my pain relief so I had to beg 3 times for it. Some of these things are so petty but I can't believe the difference between here and HDU. I'm a community nurse and would never treat my patients like this.

They refused to help me get settled in bed so DH had to help. Told them my stitches are hurting (normal recovery pain) and could they help adjust me in bed. Said I need to get myself comfy and walked out. I just don't know how I can cope for the next week I'm meant to be here

I agree with IWantMyHatBack.

At least you and baby are doing well.

Goodness me, that has been absolutely horrendous, you poor thing.

You absolutely must complain. You and your baby have been the victim of repeated, possibly systemic, negligence. You are very lucky you are both alive and well. Havimg to deliver your baby early could have resulted in it having a lifelong disability, or even dying. You could have lost the use of your bowel, or even died. Please complain, so lessons can be learned and nobody else is put at risk like this.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Yes please complain, it will prevent the same or even worse happening to the next person

Baby is now 31weeks. She's doing perfectly. CTG's have showed her heartbeat perfectly and recovery did a scan that showed she was doing brilliantly. I know I'm so lucky to have her still growing so that's what I'm holding on too. I'm really emotional tonight and needed to let it out. Thank you all for your kind words

Oh yes, definitely take a photo of your notes, as there is a chance they will go missing/be doctored (ha!)

Wow!

You need to complain now. Has your husband spoken to any of the staff about the way you're being treated?

Oh god that sounds awful and very much like my experience in a postnatal ward. Unsafe was the word I’d use. Not to mention utterly uncaring staff.

Please make a fuss. The buzzer moving is probably deliberate so SHOUT instead. And get your DH to complain in the morning (about your current shitty care, not the previous stuff). Please don’t feel you have to put up with this shitty treatment. The staff should be ashamed of themselves.

@Beeziekn33ze that I'm not sure about. Again I'm hazy on details all I remember is that being said. The surgeon was not happy with the antenatal staff, from what DH has said that included midwives, SHO & consultant. What terrifies me is I was being sent home with pulled muscles and gastro diagnosis and ended up in major surgery.

DH is luckily very good at communicating when he is annoyed. He doesn't shout but can seem to get his point across well. He was totally ignored this time too. My mum and MIL have been constant figures too and they aren't quiet (both feisty!) and they were completely shoved out the way until the surgeon came on board.

DH thinks we should submit a written complaint once I'm discharged but not rock things too much given that this is the only option is have to give birth in. But he would like to put i complaint soon after discharge while it's all fresh. If my mum had her way she would have shouted them an earful by now but that's just the fear. I think we're all slightly traumatised

Can you get your husband to speak to PALS? You're still in a weakened state due to op and trauma therefore you need an advocate.

I guess you get assholes everywhere but really is it too much to ask to be treated like a human being. Start shouting as previous poster said stuff being polite. Good luck

Consider taking it straight to the GMC. I think it’s that serious. Do try to photograph those notes, though

Sorry, forgot link www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/raise-a-concern-about-a-doctor

Sorry cross post OP

Good lord, you poor thing! What a dreadful experience! If you were in the US, you could sue for negligence, malpractice and God knows what else.

You absolutely must complain. However, to complain effectively you must remove almost all traces of emotional language and be as objective as possible.

State the facts. State to conversation you overheard. You can say you felt safe and cared for on HDU - it's a good idea to compliment where the care is good as it shows objectibity.

But you must also complain about the attitude following on the antenatal ward - moving your buzzer, throwing the pen and not helping you move about when you've had a very major and complicated surgery.

Create a shit sandwich, so you compliment HDU and the surgeon in the middle of the complaints against the antenatal ward. Use key phrases like negligent and failure in [their] duty of care.

It might also be worth looking up their trust values, because they usually have something about quality of care. Any points you make that highlight they are or are not sticking to their values will be very powerful. You can also request that they consider raising this as a Serious Untoward Incident (SUI), which has a different process to complaints and involves a vigorous investigation of all clinical notes/procedures/staff etc.

You can contact PALS whilst still in the hospital to ask for their complaints procedure, though it may be better to actually submit your formal complaint when you are away from that ward.

So sorry you've had this experience, but if you've not already guessed I've got insider experience of the NHS complaints process and I can assure you, where I work this would be taken very seriously. Complaints that help highlight where there are failings and where things can be improved are ultimately they are useful. Complaints about trivial things, overly emotional or about the patient not getting their way about something, not so much, but one like yours would definitely be taken seriously and given due consideration.

I have some paper notes here in my maternity record in my room so will get photographing them. No notes at all from obstetrics from sunday-Tuesday though. I don't know how they could 'doctor' notes tbh as they didn't order anything! Thank you for that link to the GMC. Def a lot to think about. I'm not in the right headspace right now but if I don't get it out I would think I'm going mad. Naive probably but I just didn't think this could happen.

My almost 2yr old (birthday next week) started nursery today. He did so well. And all I got was pictures. He's happy but I'm just devastated.

Complain asap more likely to give better care with a serious formal written complaint.

Not that it helps in the U.K. but surely there's some legal recourse? It's inhuman to be so badly treated! Utterly barbaric. I hope someone who knows more about the NHS on MN will advise you... meanwhile, ❤️