To be suspicious of this patient?

[Babycarrottt]

I'm currently in hospital awaiting an emergency operation to remove my gallbladder. I've been in since Tuesday morning. On Wednesday, this patient came in. She was hysterical and initially being abusive to staff constantly asking for very strong opiates and arguing with them when they wouldn't give her the ones she wanted. Yesterday, she was literally following the nurses around. Her behaviour seems odd to say the least.

She's been in conversation with some of the older women on the ward and they've been talking. She's asked the other women about their homes, livelihoods etc. As they've been in here quite a while, they have been rather chatty.
One was telling them about her home to which this women said "it sounds idyllic","if you ever want a paying house guest". She's now in a state crying stating that her family have taken all of her money from her and how she has no money until the end of the month. She's currently having a very loud conversation with her "sister" although I can't hear anyone on the end of the line. The older women are being very sympathetic but I'm genuinely concerned that she's creating a ruse in order to get money out of these women. She's claiming that her family have taken her money to buy her paint and carpets. She's also telling her sister how she's always "paid back anyone who lent me money in full".
The nurse heard her and told her to call the Police if she'd had money taken from her. She was quiet until the nurse left and then she started up again.

AIBU to think that this she is trying to scam potentially vulnerable women?

Yup, highlight your concerns to the nurse.

No, potentially yanbu, but hopefully any of the women who are very vulnerable will have someone looking after their affairs. Mention it to the ward sister or matron.

Always trust your instincts.

And, have a little chat with the nurses if the other women start offering money and accommodation. If someone is asking for opiates, my spider senses would be tingling too.

I think the patient sounds vulnerable to be honest.

Thank you. She was screaming from Wednesday night until yesterday morning. The poor nursing staff seemed so harassed. She was given some meds and then as soon as the nurses left, she was "sick" and demanded more as she couldn't keep it down.
I'm in the bay next to one of the older women and she's become really quite over familiar with them. It was telling because when the older patient went to use the bathroom, the phone call stopped.

I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't just me having an over-active imagination. It's handover time at the moment but I'll speak to the staff nurse in a bit.

@Miniestelle I agree completely. She is and judging by her behaviour she probably has substance issues.

I'm sorry they're keeping you waiting for an emergency operation OP, I hope it happens soon and you have a good recovery.

Trust your instincts - something sounds wrong. She may just be a bit needy and making innocent albeit attention seeking conversation but on the other hand she may have a more underhand motive.

I was in hospital in January and unfortunately had the same experience with a woman who was addicted to opiates. She was well known to all the hospitals in my part of Yorkshire, one of the nurses told me.Very similar sort of character...telling the other patients sob stories and keeping the other patients on the ward awake all night makingfake phone calls.

People like this are basically junkies who get their fix in hospitals rather than on the streets.

Very sad but I'd bet money on her being well-known to the hospital staff already.

I agree that something isn't right. Tell a nurse, write down everything you heard and the time, just for your own records
She does sound like she is targeting a vulnerable person
Hope your op goes well OP

Do you know why she was admitted? Without knowing her age or anything other than what you've said, I'd guess:

• urine infection has sent her off
• mental health crisis, but no mental health beds available
• medical problem with dementia on top
• withdrawal from opiates/heroin/other drugs

Beds can be few and far between, so she must have a medical reason to be admitted and still be there. I'd be thinking one of the above problems, first, before considering she is there to scam other patients!

I'd mentioned your concerns to the matron/ward manager. Wishing you a speedy recovery too

I agree that she is probably well known at the hospital. I hope she gets some mental health input while she is there. It must be very uncomfortable for you though to be on high alert when someone is acting like that in close proximity to you. I would be on edge.Not good for your recovery.

I hope your operation goes well

I have seen this scenario play out on many occasions, quite often those 'vulnerable' other patients completely have the measure of the situation. If you are concerned they haven't though, it would definitely be worth mentioning your concerns to the nursing staff.

I believe she is in her mid 40's. Her behaviour seemed especially odd as she was claiming that she was in too much pain to move yet she was following the nurses around the 8 bed bay and up and down the corridor of the ward.

I'm sure she does have issues but I wanted to err on the side of caution. Something definitely seemed off.

My op has been delayed due to my inflammation markers and temperature increasing significantly. My temp has been 38.2 for the majority of the day and they were concerned about me developing sepsis but my organ function looks good.

I wasn't aware but apparently gallstones/pancreatitis are very common if you lose weight quickly or if you have been pregnant. I've lost around 3.5 stone since I became pregnant and I gave birth seven weeks ago. I'm hoping my obs will stabilise soon so I can get the op done.

Tell the ward sister and ask them to fill in an IR1 incident form and flag it up

If they don't listen to you - email your hospitals PALS dept and explain your concerns

I hope you get your op soon and all goes well

Thank you for your kind wishes. I've been told that they are aware of her behaviour and she is known to them.

I'm guessing I'd she's known, that they don't think putting her in her own room away from the other patients will work. I'd want her as far from me as possible, when I'm in hospital I'm sick and need quiet.

Does she know now... that the wee older lady's idilic home is lying empty 😳

Has the lady told this 'patient' where exactly her Home is 🙄

Good lord I fear for her too OP 😱

I think the woman is mentally unwell. However, if you are concerned do speak to a nurse.

Apparently, the older patient has a husband and dogs at home so hopefully this information is putting the other patient off.

I'm now waiting to have my bloods done at around 5am and if they're better then I can get my op done today. Last time I had my temp checked it was 36.9 which is fantastic. I think they've finally cracked the infection.

I used to nurse on this type of ward and drug seeking behaviours can be v difficult to manage. On the other hand previous drug users can become incredibly unwell with infections/bowel issues so they absolutely have to be there. If she already has a tolerance to opioids then managing her pain can be incredibly difficult...she needs stronger pain killers than you would for example as she already has a tolerance but you wouldn't want to give someone who already has an addiction a further whack of morphine. Thats why she would have been screaming...along with mental health issues that often go hand in hand.

That being said this should be managed more effectively. If she is putting other patients at risk she needs to be in a side room.

Hope you are better soon, sounds like you have been through it. Gallbladder issues v common after birth...though pancreatitis less so. Hope they have been helpful in terms of encouraging you to see your baby if you felt up to it.

Thanks @Jent13c. The opiate issue was something I'd had as I have chronic pain and Fibromyalgia so I've been on Oramorph recently. As a result, it did nothing for the pain I was in so they've put me on a different one.

The nurse told me this morning without elaborating that she is known to them and at different hospitals in this region.

Finger's crossed but I might actually get my op today as my obs have improved significantly. My temp was 36.9 recently and my heart rate was just under 100 and my BP is good. My heart rate had been upwards of 125 for the past few days.

Speak with the nurses to explain your concerns OP, vulnerable as these people often are they can also be very clever in manipulating people.

I think the patient sounds vulnerable and possibly as though she suffers from a mental illness. Be kind - speak to the nurse discreetly, but don't call the police!

Sounds like some of the begging threads here. Do you think she's been taking tips?

Try telling her to take in ironing.

Hope your op goes well. Make sure you lock up your meds and valuables before going in.