Health Service Commissioner : second report for session 1977-78 : investigations completed December 1977-March 1978.

  • Great Britain. Health Service Commissioner.
Date:
1978
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Health Service Commissioner : second report for session 1977-78 : investigations completed December 1977-March 1978. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/184 (page 21)
    sent by taxi. This arrived later in the day. The DSA replied that the ward sister had arranged with the physiotherapy department for a wheelchair to be provided for the complainant’s husband but the ambulance was unable to take it, so she had arranged for it to be sent on afterwards. The complainant told my officer that she could not understand this reply as her husband had a wheelchair on the ward which could have accompanied him. 20. In a memorandum dated 28 April 1977, the senior nursing officer (SNO) at hospital A (SNO) reported that the ward sister had arranged with the physio- therapy department for a wheelchair to be provided for the complainant’s husband to take home but it had not arrived on the ward by the time the ambulance came to collect the complainant’s husband. 21. I have seen a copy of the form asking for transport for 26 June for the complainant’s husband and note that this does not contain a reference to a wheelchair. My officer was told by a physiotherapist that a list of the patient’s requirements on discharge, including a wheelchair if necessary, was normally drawn up with the ward sister but neither was able to recall what happened in this case. I have seen a copy of the nursing notes which confirmed that the complainant’s husband had the use of a wheelchair on the ward. Findings 22. As the complainant’s husband was immobile without a wheelchair, I consider that greater care should have been taken to ensure that he had one with him when he was discharged. I am glad to note that the omission was rectified promptly when the complainant informed the ward sister. But I think she is entitled to an apology. (e) The complaint that a catheter leaked and that the complainant’s husband contracted a urinary infection 23. The complainant told the Authority in her letter that, whilst her husband was attending for outpatient physiotherapy in June and July 1976, his catheter was constantly leaking and he needed treatment for a urinary infection. 24. In her reply the DSA said that during his operation the complainant’s husband had an in-dwelling catheter fitted. It was removed after two weeks but because he was unable to control his urinary flow it was re-fitted. When he was discharged the medical staff decided that the catheter should be left in until he was better and able to walk. The DSA said she had been informed by medical staff that a catheter might leak because the tap on the bag was not turned off properly or because it had become accidentally disconnected. It could also fall out because of failure of the balloon which retained it within _the bladder. The risk of infection in patients with in-dwelling catheters was recognised as an unavoidable problem but was usually controlled by anti- biotics. I have checked that the reply given by the DSA correctly conveyed information given to her by the consultant urologist, who told my officer that it had been reasonable to re-fit a catheter in the circumstances. 25. The complainant told my officer that on 3 July 1976 she informed the hospital that her husband’s catheter was leaking and on 5 July she had received a note to say it had been replaced. When she put her husband to bed that night the catheter had fallen out. On the advice of her family practitioner she did