Patient Describes Painful Experience After Surgery at NHS Hospital

A cancer patient has shared her distressing experience following major surgery at Salford Royal Hospital, where she endured hours of severe pain due to insufficient pain management by hospital staff. Zoe, 38, underwent surgery for kidney cancer in September and described her ordeal as “horrendous,” stating it left her with nightmares about her hospital stay.

Zoe reported that she received inadequate pain relief initially and was only provided with appropriate medication after a health watchdog inspector alerted staff to her suffering. The situation at Salford Royal Hospital has drawn scrutiny from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which recently highlighted significant staff shortages in the surgery department.

According to a recent report by The Independent, the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) Foundation Trust, which operates the hospital, received a formal warning from the CQC after inspectors found patients like Zoe waiting unreasonably long for critical medications. This included cases where patients faced severe delays in pain relief, raising alarms about care standards.

Zoe recounted, “I was sweating a lot because I was in so much pain… I kept saying: ‘Should I be in this pain?’” She expressed frustration over the lack of immediate assistance, stating that a nurse informed her, “There’s nothing I can do… the doctors haven’t prescribed anything else.” It was not until a CQC inspector intervened that Zoe received the necessary medication, which included an initial dose of morphine and paracetamol.

Investigations and Staff Concerns

The CQC’s findings indicated that the surgical ward appeared severely understaffed. Zoe was initially scheduled for a one-night stay but ended up remaining in the hospital for four nights due to what she describes as a series of mistakes that compromised her safety. Her distress was compounded by another tragic incident reported by the CQC, where a patient with severe chest injuries did not receive pain relief for several hours and was later found deceased.

The NCA is currently under a Section 29a notice, requiring it to demonstrate improvements in care by the next CQC inspection scheduled for next year. Failure to meet these standards could lead to further regulatory actions, including the potential takeover of the trust by a special administrator.

In response to the issues raised, the NCA acknowledged the distress caused to patients and stated that it could not comment on specific cases. However, a spokesperson emphasized that the level of care provided is not reflective of their standards. “We are sorry for any harm or distress caused, and we will ensure we contact the patient to understand more about the issues raised,” the spokesperson stated.

Political Response and Future Actions

The situation has also attracted political attention. Member of Parliament Rebecca Long-Bailey recently expressed concerns regarding the trust, citing feelings of overwhelm among staff who worry about maintaining safe care under current conditions.

Juliette Cosgrove, Chief Nursing Officer at the NCA, mentioned in a statement, “We have received a letter from MP Rebecca Long-Bailey and will be meeting with her to discuss the actions we’ve taken in response to the Care Quality Commission’s feedback.” She assured that the trust is committed to addressing the issues highlighted and improving the safety and quality of its services.

The NCA covers a population of approximately 1 million across its four hospitals: Salford Royal, The Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, and Rochdale Infirmary. The ongoing challenges within the healthcare system underscore the urgent need for improvements to ensure patient safety and well-being in hospitals.