To want to know why I spent the night in hospital.

[FlemCandango]

I have a chronic condition Bronchiectasis - this basically means my lungs are a bit damaged and I am prone to chest infections. I have been taking antibiotics for a few days to clear a suspected infection. But I was feeling pretty rough yesterday and called GP for some advice. I was called in for an in person appointment, first in over a year. I had bp taken etc. GP listened to lungs they seemed clear, so I was told to go to A&E for blood tests and chest x-ray to rule out other causes. I have been feeling exhausted and have some pains in ribs/ chest.

So spend 5 hours in A&E having tests etc. Told my a clichéd dismissive consultant that I could go home but an hour and a half later still in waiting room and then admitted but non of the night shift nurses could tell me what had changed. DH fuming, on phone, me tired and just wanted somewhere to lie down by then.

Have had a crappy night's sleep but my BP etc. is good now so that is something. Now I just really want to go home. But also really want to know where all the miscommunication happened!?!

I'm guessing they felt it was better to keep you under observation rather than send you home. Perhaps they want to do other tests.

Late at night probably isn't the best time to get the full details. This morning would be better.

Why are you fuming though? They are trying to help you. Surely being sent home if you are still having problems would be something to be more concerned about than being kept in overnight?

If you don't want to accept the NHS's help, discharge yourself and let someone else have the bed you are currently occupying.

@Lilacflowerperfume

God, I hope you get some sleep, hospitals are the worst places for ill people, as you can never get any rest.

They should be good, but are sadly staffed by some gems and a lot of idiots

I wondered how long the hero worship of the NHS would last? This time last year they were hailed as heroes, now they are branded ‘a lot of idiots!!’

OP I hope you get some answers this morning and are soon home, safe and well.

Sounds frustrating but being impatient, fuming etc when they were trying to check all was ok is a bit much. Hope you're better now.

I'd have put my foot down op and insisted on an answer about why the goalposts changed between shifts. Such poor communication but it happens too often and needs to be channelled. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

I wasn't unpleasant to any staff I was polite, smiley, under my mask, asked questions politely and only felt impatient when I was being admitted after I was told I would be leaving. I think it is understandable to feel a bit fed up - I don't want to waste a hospital bed. My issue is the mixed messages and lack of communication.

I am still hoping for discharge but after speaking to ward sister it is clearly up to doctor and the nursing staff are not able to say I will definitely be discharged this morning. I will not be unpleasant to anyone, and I haven't been, but I don't want to be here unless I have a reason to be.

That’s rubbish ( I’m a doctor) . Not good enough - awful communication. You should ask questions on the ward round . Get well
Soon!

@RosAndHellebores "happens too often and need to be channelled" they do have probably a 100 other patients to care for. They've kept her in for good reason

You're allowed to ask what is going in with my body that is making you - the medical staff - decide to admit me? I am entitled to know that. Then we can work out a plan to treat this as you need my permission to do any thing to my body or put anything in my body that I'm not in agreement with. You could refuse treatment (even temporarily) until you get a clear answer to your questions.

@Desmorelda there is never an excuse for poor communication or failing to tell another human what is happening and why. If the op was being told she was being discharged, she should have been told why that decision was reversed.

All procedures and actions in a hospital setting require consent providing the patient is capable. In the op's shoes I would have required to know why I was being messed about and why a decision already communicated to me had changed.

but the op was exhausted and ill, hard to argue in that scenario.

they dont often admit people willy nill op, they are concerned, they may be inexperienced which is why

@AbsolutelyPatsy I wouldn't want a decision to admit me to hospital made by inexperienced NHS staff. That's a terrifying observation but it's precisely why I question everything in hospitals. I expect all decisions in relation to my health to be made by individuals who are appropriately experienced.

I have no doubt my BP was high I am unwell and I was anxious. But nothing has been communicated to me about why I have to stay since 9.30pm last night the last time I spoke to a dr when I was left with the impression I would be leaving. The nurses have been lovely throughout.

@RosesAndHellebores Beds in nhs hospitals are like gold dust. An inexperienced medic would run it past their reg. Agree that good communication is vital and lack of it is often the cause of many a complaint.

In my experience with hospitals, communication leaves a lot to be desired.

It is sometimes surprisingly hard to get discharged when staff are busy.

@WouldBeGood that will be down to the bed shortages then .

Unless there is a section in place nobody has to stay in hospital. I recall once when MIL had been messed about all day over an op to reset a broken and dh spoke with the ward sister at 4.30 to say the situation was ridiculous and he would be taking his mother home for something to eat and bringing her back the next morning rather than have her cannulated with fluids. There had been zero communication and a lot of chat. Sister said they would get on with it.

At 5.45 DH and MIL walked past the nursing station with MIL fully dressed and her overnight bag. There were then absolute panic stations with the Sister raising her voice and instructing MIL to go back to bed because she hadn't been discharged.

DH stood his ground and someone in charge was called. MIL was in theatre within 45 minutes. There were apologies.

The NHS too often fails to communicate. It is not good enough and none of us should be grateful.

That does sound stressful not knowing, I am sure they aren't doing it for the fun of it, I mean, it's more work for them, but to not communicate or let you know why; I would be worried too. Hopefully you get some answers this morning :)

@Lindy2

I'm guessing they felt it was better to keep you under observation rather than send you home. Perhaps they want to do other tests.

Late at night probably isn't the best time to get the full details. This morning would be better.

Why are you fuming though? They are trying to help you. Surely being sent home if you are still having problems would be something to be more concerned about than being kept in overnight?

If you don't want to accept the NHS's help, discharge yourself and let someone else have the bed you are currently occupying.

I don't think that's fair, it's more than reasonable to expect someone to tell you why they deem it necessary to keep you in. For one thing, people can still discharge themselves, and cannot make an informed decision without knowing why, and its also stressful I imagine. Worrying about what the issue they have presumably picked up on and want to monitor is, I am sure the decision was made by someone competent to make it, in which case why couldn't the reason be passed onto OP?

My husband has just been diagnosed with this after having a cough for well over a year. He’s had ct scan on his lungs, chest X-ray and chest consultant referral after he started coughing up blood.

Consultant has continued the long course of antibiotics he’s been on and he’s got to go back in three months. He was told that the condition may not go. Basically the condition is pockets of mucus in the lungs that are difficult to clear, hence the cough and it can become dangerous if they become infected. No idea why it’s happened.

I hope you’ve had some answers. Is it worse jotting down some questions you want answering. Hospital is the best and worst place you can be when you’re unwell. Hopefully you can get home soon and get some proper rest. 💐

As I thought they were meant to discharge me last night. The Dr confirmed that was in the notes and couldn't explain (other than the lateness of the hour) why that had changed. So didn't need to be here they weren't worried about me and I didn't need further observations and was made to feel like I was wasting their time. Which was irksome. I was politeness personified but the whole thing feels like a massive waste of time and stress. I do not blame the NHS but I do think the GP was a bit too keen to send me to hospital A&E when out patients appts would be fine. But maybe how I presented worried them. 🤷

Now there will be the wait for discharge. Still canula is out. So that helps as it was sore and kept catching on things.

I see an end in sight.

Sounds like the test results took longer to come back than the consultant expected. Or they showed something that caused another, maybe more junior, or more cautious doctor, to admit you.

Hope they were able to explain at this morning's ward round.

You could just leave, if you want.

You can just discharge yourself if they aren’t doing anything. Sounds like the blood test results came later then expected so they thought they’d review them In the morning. It’s what tends to open as the doctors on night shift tend to emergencies. Glad your feeling better but i would ask why you were feeling like that if you have no answer

Cross post. That's annoying, it's so hard to sleep in hospital. Hope you're home soon.

Plus if you want to go you can go and ask them to send the discharge papers to your gp. I’ve done it on many other occasions when the hospital drag their feet.