Happening now- surgical assessment unit- how normal is this ?

[Dartwarbler]

Ok, anxious mum of young adult. Who’s probably old enough to look after himself 🙄🤷🏼‍♀️but mum worry in a bit of a decline over last few hours - I’m in contact by telephone with him and his partner, as he’s living 200 miles away,

Called into to surgical assessment unit yesterday by GP, just before 6pm. Only admitted at 12 midnight. Surgery at 11am today. Still on IV antibiotics. He’s pretty much told them at 10 pm he doesn’t want to be discharged as in pain, can’t walk, and wound is leaking/discharging to point where bedding wet . They made no comment really in response.

he’s not seen surgeon or registrar to talk to post operative- discussion about what they did etc. he recalls someone saying “it all went well” in recovery when just round but not in sound mind at time to ask pertinent questions 😴😵‍💫🙄

even after 5 hours of saying leaking dressing still not changed

he tried to use commode to pee- was extremely painful and he doesn’t feel confident walking let alone going to toilet proper by himself.

He is STILL on surgical assessment unit - not transferred to proper ward and no one talking about transferring despite it looking imho , because of IV antibiotics, likely he’ll not be discharged tonight .

staff aren’t doing much in terms of vital signs. Has had to ring buzzer to get painkillers being left in pain for over 4 hours - people cwho ming n and turning off buzzer and saying they’ll be back soon and not coming by back 🥹

I appreciate nhs is not what it was when I had my last op pre Covid, but this seems chaotic and poor to leave him without information, updates and even checking in on his care needs.

How normal is this now? Why is he still in SAU - and is that normal for 2 nights now?

is there anything he can do or say to ensure better comms and outcomes tonight and tomorrow- we don’t want another day of this and I’m aware junior doctor strike in some parts tomorrow to make t even more challenging! 😱

What is the wound?

What surgery has he had? Has he actually asked the staff for an update? Has he communicated with his nurses etc that he doesn't know what is going on or what to expect? I find that a lot of the time in hospitals staff assume patients know about their own care when often they are in the dark. He needs to ask someone if he is really this clueless.

He needs to go to the nearest nurse if well enough show them his leaking wound & ask again politely but firmly for painkillers. I work in a hospital and have been deployed to our SAU as a healthcare assistant, it can be manic. The nurses can be like headless chickens. The people turning off the bell may not have been actual nurses. But it's not great.

Sadly, my recent experience is yes, it's normal. My Mil is currently in hospital with heart failure. She is still on a general assessment ward waiting for a bed on a cardiac ward. She's been here for 4 days currently. Luckily, between the family, someone is here every day. We are basically doing everything for her, including feeding, washing, and toileting. From what I've seen with other patients, if we weren't here doing that for her, she would have sat hungry in her own mess. I hope your son is well enough to go home soon because he will get better way faster, and honestly, I wouldn't wish a hospital stay on my worst enemy. I'm on my way back to the hospital now to sit with Mil she just called because she's terrified.

It was about 10 years ago but when I had my appendix out I was in the Surgical Assessment Ward the whole time - pre and post op.

I was checked by the doctors and nurses though. It seemed like it was used like a short stay ward. I was in 2 nights.

A leaking dressing doesn't sound right. I'd be using the patient bell asking for that to be looked at and changed.

I hope he recovers quickly and is well enough to get home soon.

Abscess - very deep. He’s cagey that it’s on bum. I suspect given additional investigations they’re doing it is closer to being an anal abscess.

update since posted - he’s still there in SAU. In the end, around 11:30pm, I told him last night to refuse to be discharged.

he’s still on morphine and an IV antibiotic. Just had abscess re-packed with 2 packs of gauze strip- so that’s a big hole🤢🫣. Did eventually see registrar at lunchtime and told he needs mri as well as colonoscopy he had during surgery . So it’s pretty serious in terms of depth and concerns it might be caused by a colon issue, I assume.

but they’re still , even today, saying he’ll be discharged,cand we’re heading to a 3rd late night of him not knowing if he’s staying in until nearly midnight, he’s shattered. Hes facing third night on SAU. Partners shattered but I told her to stay at home all this morning to catch up on sleep and eat properly. She back in the ward now- but I’m pushing him to tell staff, before shift change this evening, that he’s assuming he won’t be discharged again today so ball is in their court to insist he is and get stuff moving.

he’s not clear who will change packing tomorrow if he leaves hospital as GP and district nurses not available on Sundays. He can’t sit in a taxi or anywhere much. He’s still on morphine, he still hasn’t had mri when last spoke at 4:45pm, if that was what was supposed to happen before discharge. So, I think it’s fair to set expectations with staff that he assumes he stays in agian tonight

any thoughts?

Hi, I know this is an old post but how did things turn out for your son? I’m having a similar problem and will be getting admitted to Surgical unit tomorrow