Hospital mistakes, but no harm done. Title edited by MNHQ at request of OP.

ghi · 2023-03-28T16:23:12+00:00

It was a different dose to normal, and I did query it at the time. I was given my next appointment, which was wrong, and I said it was wrong, but I was told that it must have been changed, and I would be informed. Well, I wasn't informed so I rang the hospital, and I have been given the wrong appointments. I was given my medication to take home, but one of it I have never seen before, and that was wrong too, so now I am seriously thinking I have been muddled up with some one else, and I might have got the wrong dose of chemotherapy too. I rang the hospital to ask if I should be taking this new medicine, and was told no, it hadn't been prescribed for me, bring it back. What shall I do about thinking the chemotherapy dose might have been wrong too? I don't have any proof, I just know how much I was given, and it was not my normal amount. WWYD?

SycophantsUnite · 28/03/2023 17:25

You need to ring PALS, as well as whatever numbers you have and can find for the chemotherapy department. I really hope this isn't the mix up you think it is, sounds very worrying....!

curlykate99 · 28/03/2023 17:29

What did they say when you queried it? I would probably call the dept, or the secretary for whichever consultant you're under. Hope you get it sorted x

Original poster

ghi · 28/03/2023 17:34

curlykate99 · 28/03/2023 17:29

What did they say when you queried it? I would probably call the dept, or the secretary for whichever consultant you're under. Hope you get it sorted x

They didn't really say anything, just reiterated that was what I was getting, same when I queried the appointments. I said I already have appointments that are different to these, they just said , no, these are your appointments - but they were not.

I don't know who to ring or what to say really, maybe I am wrong, and I got the right dose of chemotherapy. I normally have 4 syringes and then 4 syringes. Now I had 5 syringes then 3 syringes of the second drug. So shall I just ring PALS and say please can it be checked? If what I got is what my records say I got?

OP posts:

GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 28/03/2023 17:34

I would ring the unit and ask to speak to the nurse in charge and explain your concerns.

Original poster

ghi · 28/03/2023 17:37

I can't prove it. It is not like the accidental prescription, which I had in my hands. I said "what shall I do with this drug" and I was told "nothing, you don't have it."

Well, I had it in my hands, but it was not on my records. Same with the appointments. I was told "you don't have those appointments - you were not given those appointments" - but I had my appointment card in my hand, so I could prove that I had been given them, even though they were not on my records

But I have not got anything in my hand to prove it, if the chemotherapy dose I was given is a different one to what is in my records.

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Paloma66 · 28/03/2023 17:38

This is serious stuff, no-one on Mumsnet can advise. Call the hospital immediately and explain what you've said here.

I hope all goes well.

Hankunamatata · 28/03/2023 17:40

So you got an extra packet of medication to take home plus usual medication?

Depending on how close you are to the hospital ut may be easier to take it back and speak directly to the nursing staff who give you the chemo.

TheCentreSlide · 28/03/2023 17:41

Call the hospital and PALS. Also email (PALS? Your consultant?) and write everything down - if it’s in writing it will be down in black and white and you will have a log to refer back to.

Hankunamatata · 28/03/2023 17:43

With your update get straight onto pals

CombatBarbie · 28/03/2023 17:44

Oh wow! Was there no sticker on the unknown drugs box, I thought, may be wrong, That they all had to have dispensed stickers with name etc. I've noticed my meds (not cancer related) are coming sellotaped together with one sticker now.

Paella2022 · 28/03/2023 17:44

If you are having chemo, you should have a direct dial to oncology- use this without delay.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 28/03/2023 17:44

You need to raise this right to the top, now.
Evidence of wrong chemo or not, they've clearly mixed appointments and meds up which you can prove, on the same day and if it turns out there is a link with another patient then they can join the dots.

This is inexcusable. When they said you couldn't have the meds or appointment, did you tell them you have proof that both of these were given?

To ignore you is a disgrace and it badly needs to be flagged. It's dangerous!

Hudsonriver · 28/03/2023 17:45

ghi · 28/03/2023 17:34

They didn't really say anything, just reiterated that was what I was getting, same when I queried the appointments. I said I already have appointments that are different to these, they just said , no, these are your appointments - but they were not.

I don't know who to ring or what to say really, maybe I am wrong, and I got the right dose of chemotherapy. I normally have 4 syringes and then 4 syringes. Now I had 5 syringes then 3 syringes of the second drug. So shall I just ring PALS and say please can it be checked? If what I got is what my records say I got?

Show quote history

What regime are you on?

Wildro · 28/03/2023 17:45

Pharmacist here. Most hospitals have a medicines helpline, and someone specific for cancer medication queries, it might be worth contacting them. We are frequently need to investigate medication related errors!

Original poster

ghi · 28/03/2023 17:49

Wildro · 28/03/2023 17:45

Pharmacist here. Most hospitals have a medicines helpline, and someone specific for cancer medication queries, it might be worth contacting them. We are frequently need to investigate medication related errors!

from what I have said, do you think this I would be in danger from a different dose to usual?

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medianewbie · 28/03/2023 17:49

ReformedWaywardTeen · 28/03/2023 17:44

You need to raise this right to the top, now.
Evidence of wrong chemo or not, they've clearly mixed appointments and meds up which you can prove, on the same day and if it turns out there is a link with another patient then they can join the dots.

This is inexcusable. When they said you couldn't have the meds or appointment, did you tell them you have proof that both of these were given?

To ignore you is a disgrace and it badly needs to be flagged. It's dangerous!

Agreed. Send an Urgent Email to Pals.
Email the Dept too. Re urgent advice tonight- Would Dept (if you still trust them) or Macmillan nurses (helpline) be able to advise?

Paella2022 · 28/03/2023 17:49

I think people are getting bogged down in blame, proving things and ‘disgrace’.

As a doctor, this is indeed a ‘never event’ but prioritise your health today, complain later.

You should have a contact number to call oncology about side effects and issues that need a rapid response- such a fever on chemo.

Call them calmly and explain your concerns- going straight to blame/complaint as some other posters have suggested will guarantee a slower and defensive response. It shouldn’t be this way, but that is human nature.

Wishing you luck with your treatment. x

Original poster

ghi · 28/03/2023 17:50

I have rung my emergency number and explained, and am waiting for a call back, which I am told will be within an hour

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Original poster

ghi · 28/03/2023 17:51

Hudsonriver · 28/03/2023 17:45

What regime are you on?

Show quote history

I have something starting with E and something staring with C, I don't know the full names, it just gets called E-C. The first one is pink and the second one is clear.

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Viviennemary · 28/03/2023 17:53

When you say you were given the wrong appointment what do you mean. You've done the right thing contacting the hospital.

Wildro · 28/03/2023 17:53

Unfortunately it is tricky to say especially without knowing what the medication is. Most chemotherapy medication doses are calculated to your body weight, kidney function etc so are quite specific to the individual patient. I hope you get this sorted!

Hudsonriver · 28/03/2023 17:54

ghi · 28/03/2023 17:51

I have something starting with E and something staring with C, I don't know the full names, it just gets called E-C. The first one is pink and the second one is clear.

Show quote history

Ok you have 4 big or small syringes of each?

We're they the normal size syringes that they usually use?

MarshaMelrose · 28/03/2023 17:59

Personally, I'd go in in person with the prescription and your appointment card to show the errors. Its too easy for them to put you on hold, say they'll ring back, deny, dismiss and just wear you down with their blathering. I'd want a person in front of me, looking at my evidence that was proving them wrong.

Original poster

ghi · 28/03/2023 18:02

Hudsonriver · 28/03/2023 17:54

Ok you have 4 big or small syringes of each?

We're they the normal size syringes that they usually use?

Show quote history

I guess they are normally about fist size! I don't know if that is big or small, but yes, maybe I had different sizes, and it was all fine. I think they looked like the normal size though.

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weebarra · 28/03/2023 18:05

Have you phoned your oncologist? Or just the chemo ward?
If you are having chemo for breast cancer, EC is Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide.
I'm so sorry that this might have happened to you, chemo is hard enough.