I don't know if anyone remembers the saga of my daughter and the problems she has had with with an operation site after a gall  bladder operation? Well the saga is still on going. the wound is still not healed after almost a year.

She saw her consultant back in May and he said they would need to take her in and reopen the wound, cut out the problem area and restitch it.
We finally got an appointment for this to be done at the end of October. Although my daughter is not keen to go back to hospital she accepts that she needs it done and the wound is very tender and getting bigger again and is constantly infected. It is making it very difficult to care for her baby son as she struggles to pick him up etc. She is running a temperature and on antibiotics at the moment.

Well the point of this post is that after waiting so long for the op to be scheduled my daughter has had a letter from the hospital today saying they have cancelled the operation.!! No information about when it might be done. just an apology for the inconvenience!!  To say i am fuming is an understatement. I am seriously concerned for my daughters health as she is constantly ill with the infections. The wound is getting larger and her GP said it looks like it might be starting to open up further along. I had moved a lot of appointments so that I had the time free to care for my grandchildren while she was in hospital and will have to move a load more should she ever actually get this op.

We have made no end of complaints both to the hospital and GP because of the poor care . We get told they will look into it but never hear any more. My daughter desperately needs this op and needs it now. Does anyone know if it would be possible to get it done privately and possibly a very rough idea of what sort of cost might be involved. Or is there anything else we can do to get the hospital to get my daughter treated ? I would be so grateful for any help anyone can give me.

Your GP would be the best person to ask about going private and how much it would cost as he knows about your area.

Would going to the newspapers help? Would they be interested. How would I go about it? I just want the hospital to give my daughter the treatment she urgently needs

Get your GP to sort it out with the hospital . They can ask for her to be prioritised.

As for private it would probably cost in the region of 2K plus unless they have to do it via GA ( the could do it under local if it is not too deep ) and then that would be a lot more on top because of extra staff they would need.

Get your GP to sort it out with the hospital . They can ask for her to be prioritised. Also ring  PALS as they maybe able to help .

As for private it would probably cost in the region of 2K plus unless they have to do it via GA ( the could do it under local if it is not too deep ) and then that would be a lot more on top because of extra staff they would need.

> unless they have to do it via GA ( the could do it under local if it is not too deep )

Obviously I'm not an expert but it looks pretty deep to me. It was certainly over an inch deep last time the nurses measured it and it has got bigger since then. the scar is tender all the way along its length and GP said it looked like it might re-open at the end.

If your GP doesn't sort it, contact your MP. 

I would speak to the Consultants secretary and find out why is has been cancelled and if she doesn't know or can't find out then ask for an appointment to see him out of clinic so you don't feel rushed or fobbed off.

Hope it gets sorted soon.

I agree with the others above that your daughter should seek answers from the hospital and her doc as a matter of urgency. Another idea might be for her to apply to Channel 4's Embarrassing bodies programme.I realise it would be embarrassing to go on TV but watching past shows they fairly get superb medical help for show participants often where the NHS has failed to help.

If she feels ill and has a temperature and with the wound getting bigger then you could always try a&e. If nothing else they will assess it and refer her. She shouldn't be putting herself at risk by waiting when there is obviously something going on.
Go to a different hospital than the one she's waiting for.
I hope she's better soon, sounds awful for her.

thanks everyone. We have been advised to see the GP on monday and insist on a second opinion from a different hospital and preferably a different health authority so will try that. I have sent her details to one of these no win no fee solicitors who deal with medical negligence cases.

She saw the doc on Friday because it was so painful. the nurse dressed the wound and sent her off with ONE small dressing to last until Monday. because of the location of the wound and the amount of weeping it does dressings dont stay on for very long unless they are very large.  This means the wound is uncovered and open to infection all the time. She has tried asking for more dressings but has been told she cant have them because of cutbacks. This has been the same  for the last year. I just don't understand. Surely it would make financial sense to provide her with the correct care and get it healed up. This would be cheaper in the long run.

and in case anyone thinks that having it open to the air might help the wound heal, it hasn't helped.

I just don't understand. Presumably the GP is prexcribing cancer patients thousands of pounds worth  of anti cancer drugs and chemo and yet they can't afford a few pounds worth of dressings for my daughter? Do they think she is selling them on the  black market or something.

She should have been given a prescription for the correct size dressings, the nurse should never have mentioned cutbacks to a patient even if it's true, not very professional.

the consultant back in May said he would sort it so she did get dressings and sent her off with a carrier bag ful. But one those were gone and she was back at the GP she was back to not being allowed any dressings. Maybe she should have been given a prescription but you can't force someone to give you one and she was refused on numerous occasions. this has meant she has had a large weeping open wound on her abdomen for the last year, messing up her clothes and her life.

She needs to challenge the treatment she is receiving and ask to speak to the Practice Manager to get something done.

She has already spoken to the practice manager who promised to look into it and get back to her. We are still waiting :(
We have also complained to PALS at the hospital several times but it has made no difference to the (lack of) treatment.

time to change gp practise prehapse?
I'd also look into writing to her MP giving permission in letter for him or her to contact hospital on her behalf or seeing the MP at one of their meet the public sessions.
is she happy haveing same hospital that did such a poor job first time round have another go? personally I think I would be asking to be treated by someone else.

I'm horrified by the poor quality of care your daughters received, but on a slightly practical note, have you considered buying your own veterinary dressings? I've bought animal ones quite cheaply and I assume they are equally sterile? I say use the animal ones as I think it would be easier to get the larger size. I've bought them in our local farmers stores but I'm sure you could get them on the internet.

I really hope this is resolved soon, has she seriously considered changing to a different GP practice?

She has already spoken to the practice manager who promised to look into it and get back to her. We are still waiting :-(
We have also complained to PALS at the hospital several times but it has made no difference to the (lack of) treatment.

Definitely MP time as I first suggested, with the question of "Would you be happy if a member of your family was treated like this?"

I'd be writing to MP and the Prime Minister as the NHS is in the news a lot recently re cutbacks..
Perhaps as the PM has kids he will understand the predicament your daughter is in.
That's awful re the dressings too.

If you don't get any joy with the MP/PM perhaps the press as the NHS is in the news.
So it's a current 'hot topic'  so they may run with your daughter's story.

I sincerely hope that you can get a satisfactory outcome for your daughter.

But all this takes time. If she feels that unwell and has a temperature then please consider a&e. They will at least assess the situation and it's the second opinion she needs. The last thing she needs is the infection getting worse.

It's not a cure, but have you tried putting an old fashioned sanitary towel over the dressing to soak up the excess ?

I have emailed the MP so will wait and see if that does anything.

My daughter phoned the Consultants secretary to ask why the op has been cancelled. Was told that someone more urgent needed it. My daughter explained how bad she is feeling but was told that the secretary only does the schedules and nothing she can do. My daughter still has to go to the pre op tests this week. Apparently that is valid for 12 weeks. If she doesn't get the op within that time they will schedule anther one!

We managed to age an appointment with the GP this morning. She basically said there is nothing they can do.My daughter has to wait 2 weeks and if she hasn't heard anything the GP will write a letter to the hospital. She said there is no point referring her to another doctor or hospital and wouldn't do it.

It seems there is nothing anyone can or will do and so my daughter will just have to carry on with an open wound in her stomach until either it heals. (Unlkely if it hasn't in a year.) or she catches a really serious infection and dies :( I am just so fed up and disheartened  that no-one can apparently do anything to help.

> It's not a cure, but have you tried putting an old fashioned sanitary towel over the dressing to soak up the excess

thanks. I will suggest that to her

> But all this takes time. If she feels that unwell and has a temperature then please consider a&e.

yes I will take her there next time she feels rough.

> I'm horrified by the poor quality of care your daughters received, but on a slightly practical note, have you considered buying your own veterinary dressings? I've bought animal ones quite cheaply and I assume they are equally sterile?

that is an idea. Would make a good headline if I go to the papers. Young mum uses Dogs dressings because NHS won't provide.

The other problem is cost. My daughter is now a single mum and I am on a small pension so neither of us have a lot of income spare for purchasing dressings.

I work in the NHS and know from expierience that the constant moaners often get seen quicker... It is a fact of life. If I were you I would make a real fuss and ring every day to the consultants office. This has gone on way too long and is not right. An open wound is just too easy to get infected and needs dealing with. As for not giving her dressing well I am speechless. I have heard of someone near me who also has an open wound and is waiting to go and have it closed...they are going for dressing changes every couple of days and some of the nurses are opening packs of instumants to use then giving them to her to take home and bring back next time to be re-used! I have told her to conveniently "Forget" them every time so new sterile packs are used. It is becomming  a real problem with the NHS as there just is not enough to go round. A sad fact of the NHS now that the money just does not strech far enough to deal with everything.
I think the time has come for you to get tough and make a pest of yourselves. Sometimes we need to be a little more pushy...you can call it pro-active but it is the same. She is entitled to proper care and is not getting it so start fighting back now. You have been polite long enough and you have every right to be annoyed.
Aileen

thanks very much. Will start doing that.

I too work for NHS  they have a dept  P.A.L.S. the  patient advisory liason service  contact your specific hospital and ask for them  And as others have lready stated get on daily to the consultants secretary
Really hope this is sorted out for your daughter and all soon as possible

There was a piece in the Daily Wail today about a girl who's Caesarian scar had become infected, it's the sort of story the papers love and I guess it would just be a matter of contacting them.

Thanks but we have spoken to PALS on a regular basis and they have done nothing :(  Not heard back from the MP yet but the solicitor thinks we have a good case for medical negligence.

I would also suggest a complaint letter to the CEO of the Clinical Commissioning Group as well as the Hospital Trust and drop in that you are taking legal advice as that will get things moving :-)

For the consultant to leave your daughter in such a state is an absolute disgrace.    No-one should have to suffer like this.

Sounds like it's more than time to bring out the 'big guns'   You have been more than patient and polite with this.

I do hope you get some result and proper treatment for your daughter very soon.

My God, how horrific, you'd be better off seeing a vet. If this was an animal you'd have animal welfare after you.

Don't know if its already been suggested but does your MP have a 'surgery'? Get in to see them in person and SHOW them this wound.  (I know you've emailed, did you enclose a photo?)

The time has come to start making a BIG fuss.

If my OH hadn't kicked up a stink and called an ambulance I could've died of complications from a burst appendix. My parents had called the GP out but she never appeared.

Contacting a No Win, No Fee solicitor is a good move.  I currently have a solicitor and Barrister working on my behalf and so, far, they have been excellent. Their involvement has managed to persuade a Coroner to do a complete turn-around and conduct a thorough two day Inquest instead of a brief half day job.

I do hope your daughter receives the treatment she clearly needs.