Share review of Mr Zameer Shah

Mr Zameer Shah 2018-12-26 Person 5 5 0

Admission: I was admitted to St Thomas hospital via A and E with a broken ankle, fractured in three places. A and E were extremely efficient and the Registrar was excellent. I was given sufficient information about the procedure and a good explanation as to when my operation was likely to be, managing my expectations. Mr Shah visited me each day to explain when and how the procedure might happen. Surgery: I particularly appreciated Mr Shah taking the time on the day of the operation to discuss my options, how I should best proceed and the assurances he gave me on the day of the operation that he would be the one who would perform the surgery. At a time when I was still in shock after a significant injury, I really appreciated Mr Shah’s manner. He was informative, calm and treated me with respect. I felt assured that I was in good care. Consequently, I was not nervous going into the surgery as I felt like I was in the best of hands. I also really appreciated it when Mr Shah came to see me on the day following the surgery which was a Sunday (I presume on a day that he was not working) and I was able to briefly discuss with him how the surgery had gone. He was extremely reassuring and again his manner provided me at a time of uncertainty with reassurance and calm. Ward experience: In terms of any other care received, the nurses were excellent. I really appreciated the name badges as it was good to know who I was speaking to. Some of the nurses were outstanding – at a very emotional time, they helped support me with both my mental and physical care. My only constructive feedback would be that a) there was a constant mechanical bleeping from a broken bed next to me on the ward which meant I could not rest and which I ended up having to sort out myself by insisting maintenance was called b) it was virtually impossible to sleep following surgery as I was on a ward with patients who had dementia and who shouted out all night and c) the patient opposite me had MRSI but did not know it and then found out from a doctor even though apparently they had known for days – a sign was then put up that she was in isolation when she had been openly visiting other patients up to that point /had offered to give me a Reiki massage (which I refused) - I felt I had to ask for information about MRSI and her isolation in the bed next to me - this was quite alarming to both me and my hospital guest visitors – when I asked about it, I was given reassurance but perhaps, staff should understand that this kind of isolation sign/news that a fellow patient had MRSI should be explained to fellow patients not to be alarmed post surgery. Just some information would have been good. I received this in request. Follow up fracture clinic: I next saw Mr Shah at the fracture clinic. Unfortunately, there was a mistake in my x-ray form on this appointment which meant my appointment that day was a little haphazard and I did not get to see him or any doctor before the x-ray. I was then left at the x-ray department without a porter to bring me back to the fracture clinic and I had to phone in for an external line and the receptionist kindly came and got me back into the fracture clinic. My care at the fracture clinic was very good although I did not get to see a doctor before I was sent to the x-ray department (and there was then a mistake on the form/I was left in the x-ray department without a porter) so that I later collared Mr Shah on the corridor (twice!) to ask him questions and would have preferred some formal time with him at this appointment, if at all possible. The receptionist, physio, registrar and nurse who put the cast on were kind and informative and efficient. Hospital transportation: The hospital transportation to the fracture clinic did not confirm by text that it was booked. I found this quite stressful. It was very good when the hospital transportation rang me on the day to let me know they were on their way. The ambulance that took me into the fracture clinic belonged to the hospital and this was a very good experience. On the way back, hospital transportation was a bit chaotic. It was extremely busy. I was in an ambulance outsourced to a private company. The ambulance was very full and my transportation experience was very different from the way in. The ambulance actually broke down with a flat tyre on the way back.