Mum suffers ordeal after op move to JR
MHBG-14-03-13 Sharon Thornton Sharon Thronton with her children Ruby (2), Harry (7), Helena (12) and Carl (14) at their home in Thorpe Mandeville
A woman who went to hospital for a routine gall bladder operation says she has endured more than a month of pain and disruption after emergency surgery was moved from Banbury’s Horton General Hospital to Oxford.
Sharon Thornton of Thorpe Mandeville has written a five-page letter documenting her ordeal, complaining to the Oxford University Hospitals Trust (OUHT) about the ‘totally awful’ care and demanding that the trust restore services at the Horton.
“Because of the lack of services, people’s lives are going to be at risk,” she wrote.
Mrs Thornton’s letter described how her husband had to take leave to transport her to Oxford while friends and family had to step in to care for their four children. Her abbreviated diary shows:
l February 4: Gall bladder operation resulting in internal bleeding, discharged Feb 6
l Feb 11: Went to GP in pain, arrived at the JR at 9.45am. Seen by doctor at 1.45pm who suggested the blood clot was ‘trapped wind’. Refused food.
l Feb 12: CT scan ordered, prepared for surgery.
l Feb 13: Antibiotics prescribed at 10am and discharged. Husband takes time off to collect but incorrect medication dispensed.
Husband asked to return to collect next day but hospital refuses to let patient be left alone with children while he makes trip. She is kept in overnight, distraught.
Attempt to call nurse for pain relief left unanswered for 45 minutes. Drug chart missing so pain relief delayed a further hour.
l Feb 14: Discharged.
l Feb 22: Pain continuing; Horton does new CT. Suspicious rash develops.
l Feb 23: JR requests return to Oxford – another independent journey (with two-year-old child), arrived at noon; staff unaware of need for admission. Seen by junior doctor at 4pm then a wait until 7pm for senior consultation – still with toddler present.
Husband collects child. Kept in triage overnight.
l Feb 24: Blood clot still present; rash unexplained and undiagnosed.
Admission at Horton recommended but Horton refuses due to lack of diagnosis. Discharged to make own travel arrangements home; patient refuses to wait further three hours for medication and opts to buy it herself.
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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