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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

125 replies

ghi · 28/03/2023 17:23

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?

OP posts:
SecretDoor · 28/03/2023 18:06

You need a very urgent check of your records with a doctor or a senior nurse/pharmacist. Hopefully they will put your mind at rest.

I have had experience of an chemotherapy error as a health professional: 2 patients with same name but different cancers given each others medication. it was an extremely serious incident and when it was discovered was investigated by 48 hour panel that confirmed the seriousness level and that triggered involvement of NHS England patient safety team etc.

Original poster
ghi · 28/03/2023 18:06

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.

I mean I was given an appointment card with my name on, but the appointments were not mine. I had already been told mine verbally, and noted them down myself. I rang the appointments earlier, and was told that the appointment card must be someone else's, as those are definitely not my appointments. I wasn't thinking about the dose, then. I only started worrying about the dose possibly being wrong too, later on.

OP posts:
SecretDoor · 28/03/2023 18:07

Did they ask your name and DOB before giving you the medication?

Original poster
ghi · 28/03/2023 18:08

SecretDoor · 28/03/2023 18:06

You need a very urgent check of your records with a doctor or a senior nurse/pharmacist. Hopefully they will put your mind at rest.

I have had experience of an chemotherapy error as a health professional: 2 patients with same name but different cancers given each others medication. it was an extremely serious incident and when it was discovered was investigated by 48 hour panel that confirmed the seriousness level and that triggered involvement of NHS England patient safety team etc.

Mostly I am worried about, IF I have been given the wrong does, is it dangerous? I still definitely had a pink chemotherapy, followed by a clear one, as usual. Just the amount was not usual.

OP posts:
Original poster
ghi · 28/03/2023 18:08

SecretDoor · 28/03/2023 18:07

Did they ask your name and DOB before giving you the medication?

Yes, and checked my wrist band.

OP posts:
weebarra · 28/03/2023 18:09

It does sound as though you know what you should be getting eg 4/4 not 5/3, and when they call back you can tell them the whole story. Maybe write down exactly what happened, including querying the dosage etc.
I'm not meaning to sound patronising at all but if this had happened during my chemo I'd have been panicking. Big hugs xx

IthappenedtoDH · 28/03/2023 18:19

NC for this post.

Something similar happened to DH at one of England’s great cancer hospitals. At our meeting with his oncologist the wrong regimen was discussed. When we went for his first chemo session, he saw the consultant’s nurse specialist who reviewed the same (incorrect) regimen with us. Then a couple of hours later, after his bloods etc we went to the ward where a different regimen had been prescribed. It was terrifying.

Because his life hung in the balance I politely (I think) explained what had happened and showed the notes from the onc which we had brought along. We were simply confused and did not attempt to blame anyone; that may be a helpful stance. The nurses halted everything and double checked with the original onc plus the Head of Dept who specialises in the same cancer. It turned out that the original onc had caught their mistake and was attempting to correct it discreetly. We probably did their reputation no good, but I would do the same again.

You absolutely must get this clarified asap in case it matters. Even if it is correct, I think you were owed an explanation.

Could the E and C be Etoposide (sp?) and Cisplatin or Carboplatin?

DH is doing well and I hope that soon you will be, too.

L0bstersLass · 28/03/2023 18:25

ghi · 28/03/2023 18:08

Mostly I am worried about, IF I have been given the wrong does, is it dangerous? I still definitely had a pink chemotherapy, followed by a clear one, as usual. Just the amount was not usual.

Show quote history

Another consideration, if you have been given the wrong dose, is whether the dosage you've had is as effective as what you should have received.

I hope they get back to you quickly and all is well.

Thiswayorthatway · 28/03/2023 18:25

My chemo doses did change according to what my blood tests showed. Do you have a MacMillan CNS nurse you can speak to?

DotAndCarryOne2 · 28/03/2023 18:29

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.

I would ring the unit to clarify and then contact PALS and tell them what’s happened. I’m a bit confused - you said you have the chemo to take home ? Have I got that right ? And if so, you will still have the medication to prove it’s different to what you should have, and from what is on your records - same with the appointments. It does sound as though they have you mixed up with someone else, so you need to get it sorted because you have the wrong meds and someone somewhere doesn’t have theirs. Or their appointments.

TomeTome · 28/03/2023 18:30

My GP would advocate for me in this situation.

CliffsofMohair · 28/03/2023 18:30

keep a log of who you have reported this to, and when.
I hope it is resolved easily for you.

Original poster
ghi · 28/03/2023 18:30

I have had a phone call back, and I told the doctor about the wrong prescription and the wrong appointments, and how that made me suddenly, a few hours later, start to worry I have had the wrong dose of chemotherapy too.

He said my recollection of my dose does not tally with my notes, and this is all very worrying, but not dangerous. He said as long as it was my normal E and C, I am sure it was, as it was the normal colours. He said to go to A and E if I had any new side effects I have not had before, and I am going in to the hospital tomorrow for some blood tests, which I think will show if I have had the right dose or the wrong dose, and then I have an appointment with a "coordinator" to show them the wrong medication and the wrong appointments.

He did put my mind at rest, saying the main danger you are in here is of having a few hours of your time wasted while we are getting to the bottom of this.

So I am very much reassured.

I will update tomorrow

OP posts:
Original poster
ghi · 28/03/2023 18:33

DotAndCarryOne2 · 28/03/2023 18:29

I would ring the unit to clarify and then contact PALS and tell them what’s happened. I’m a bit confused - you said you have the chemo to take home ? Have I got that right ? And if so, you will still have the medication to prove it’s different to what you should have, and from what is on your records - same with the appointments. It does sound as though they have you mixed up with someone else, so you need to get it sorted because you have the wrong meds and someone somewhere doesn’t have theirs. Or their appointments.

Show quote history

no, I have the chemotherapy in hospital, then I have a bag of prescribed medication to take home, like steroids, and injections, etc, and this time my bag contains something which turns out to be heart medication, too. That one wasn't prescribed for me ( but it does have my name on it)

OP posts:
Original poster
ghi · 28/03/2023 18:34

yes, I still have the wrongly prescribed heart medication, and the wrong appointments, so I will be taking these back in with me tomorrow.

OP posts:
toomuchfaster · 28/03/2023 18:35

The blood test will not show what drugs you were given, they will be checking your counts only. However this is very important. Also make sure you are happy with their explanation before you leave. You really should know your regimen, it should be written down for you with explanations about usual side effects. Ask for this on paper if you don't have it already.

DaniAlvez · 28/03/2023 18:35

Every chemo dose will be checked by 2 nurses - the one giving it to you and a colleague. They have a paper copy of your prescription and need to check name, dob, drug name and dose. They both sign to say all ok before they can administer. Not saying you weren’t given the wrong dose but there will be paperwork with signatures to show the checking. Ask the nurse in charge to check it with her own eyes.

MarshaMelrose · 28/03/2023 18:36

That's so good that the doctor has taken your worries seriously and is doing his best to getting to the bottom of it all. It sounds like you'll be well taken care of.
And well done you for expressing your concerns and making sure you're listened to. It all sounds well in hand so I'm sure tomorrow will go smoothly for you.
Glad you'll sleep easier tonight.

Original poster
ghi · 28/03/2023 18:37

toomuchfaster · 28/03/2023 18:35

The blood test will not show what drugs you were given, they will be checking your counts only. However this is very important. Also make sure you are happy with their explanation before you leave. You really should know your regimen, it should be written down for you with explanations about usual side effects. Ask for this on paper if you don't have it already.

Ok, thank you for clarifying.

OP posts:
Georgiepud · 28/03/2023 18:38

I've not had chemo, but given the circumstances would it also be sensible to take photos of everything currently in your possession?

adriftabroad · 28/03/2023 18:45

Yes,I would take photos Flowers

Hudsonriver · 28/03/2023 18:52

What is the name of the cardiac drug Op?

Mamamia7962 · 28/03/2023 18:53

When I had chemo I had 6 rounds which was given at 3 weekly intervals. I had a print out of all my appointments before my first chemo session. Also before giving me the drugs they checked my name and date of birth with me and then showed me the drugs which also had my name and date of birth on them plus the dosage amount.

Did they not do this with you OP?

StarsandStones · 28/03/2023 18:53

As suggested above. Take pictures, they may want the medication back... you need proof, also for the future.

Throwncrumbs · 28/03/2023 18:53

DaniAlvez · 28/03/2023 18:35

Every chemo dose will be checked by 2 nurses - the one giving it to you and a colleague. They have a paper copy of your prescription and need to check name, dob, drug name and dose. They both sign to say all ok before they can administer. Not saying you weren’t given the wrong dose but there will be paperwork with signatures to show the checking. Ask the nurse in charge to check it with her own eyes.

Lots of hospitals don’t use paper prescription charts now, it’s all computerised, much safer imo. People need to know what drugs they are given… the ‘pink one’ and the ‘little white tablet with a d on it’ just isn’t good enough when it’s something being put inside your body(the tablet one is an example of a patient telling me their medication) if you can’t pronounce them make a note of them, it’s your
life that’s at stake!