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Who to tell?

6 replies

PandaNot · 12/08/2013 11:54

My sister was taken to hospital by ambulance after phoning 111, describing a 'thunderclap headache' which we now know is a classic sign of a brain haemorrhage. She's now receiving excellent care at a regional specialist centre and so far the outcomes look good.

However on arrival at a and e she was berated by the triage nurse, before any examination for calling an ambulance for a headache! My sister did point out that she hadn't called the ambulance, 111 sent it to her. The nurse then tried to send her home with paracetamol and it was only when the senior doctor stopped her and insisted on a ct scan and lumbar puncture that the nurse realised it could be serious, and as it turns out life-threatening!

So the question at the end of this long story is - who do we write to / contact to express our unhappiness at the lack of knowledge or care shown by this supposedly specialist a and e triage nurse? We don't want to make a complaint as such, just express some concern that the outcome of her actions could have been catastrophic!

OP posts:
RockinD · 12/08/2013 12:22

The hospital will have full details of its complaint procedure on its web pages.

Alternatively, just contact the Chief Executive and work down.

ParsingFancy · 12/08/2013 12:28

Very glad your DSis is now in the right place and things look good.

Would be nice if you could include thanks to the doctor who did the right thing along with the complaint about the nurse. Always good to give positive feedback as well as negative.

PandaNot · 12/08/2013 12:45

Thanks. I've tried the web page but can't find the details, I think they're well hidden!!

We are very grateful to the doctor who did do something and she's now at the regional specialist centre who are fabulous. Like I said we don't really want to complain as such, just ensure that for someone else the results aren't fatal, which they could easily be.

OP posts:
Montybojangles · 12/08/2013 12:53

Every hospital will have a PALs team (patient advice and liaison service) who can tell you how to proceed.

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1082.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=153

There's a clicky link to enable you to find your local team contact details on this site.

PandaNot · 12/08/2013 12:55

Thank you! That's what I was looking for Smile

OP posts:
RichTeaAreCrap · 12/08/2013 18:24

You need to contact NHS England who will deal with any complaints made. I wouldn't bother trying to contact the Chief Exec of the NHS, you will only be told to go though the correct process to,raise a complaint.

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