Mistake by Nurse - advice please

I think your plan is a good one ferry23, and also include a request for a blood test, plus an opportunity to review your experience. Hope it all goes smoothly for you and your leg heals very soon.

Good luck with your appointment- your plan sounds like a reasonable one and please come back and tell us how it went.

Personally I wouldn't mention taking it further- do that if the appointment doesn't go well.

After appointments at my surgery they always ask for a review afterwards by text- so if you don't have one at yours I would suggest you ask them to get one!

I think you should write to the practice manager so the whole thing is on record. You can say that the nurse is usually very competent but that you don’t want something like this to happen to someone else. As my doctor said if mistakes aren’t highlighted and recorded lessons aren’t learned and that everyone makes mistakes. I have sensitive thinning skin that has also been very itchy because of the humidity. My skin doesn’t seem to heal these days. The skin on the front of the shin is particularly thin to the point of being almost non existent ( I know that because I decided to shave my legs ages ago and shaved the skin off around my shin and it’s only just healed).. Are you getting enough sleep?I find that my skin heals itself far more during a good sleep. I’m so sorry that you’re going through this.

Thank you blue. No I don't have anyone who can come with me but that doesn't really matter. I have no problem in being assertive or articulating myself. In my professional life I had to do a fair amount of presentations to large audiences and also travelled extensively, often by myself, to far flung places where I had to find my way around so I'm well used to looking after myself!

ferry - I really feel for you.
It is awful to suffer in pain as you have for so long.

The plan regarding your appointment that you have outlined above sounds just right.

You will need to be composed and assertive with this nurse.
Do you have anyone who could go with you to the appointment. Just for support really.

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, hope all goes well and you get all your questions answered.

Please do update us after the appointment.

Do ask for a blood test to check your levels, not just haemoglobin etc but mineral and vitamin levels. It could be that you are deficient in vitamin D and other nutrients essential for healing.

Thank you all, so much.

I was very much brought up in the school of

"Can't go to school today, Mum, I've had my leg cut off"....."Never mind" says Mum "You've got another one, off you go"

so I truly wasn't looking for a sympathy vote, but your kind words and empathy honestly have cheered me.

I've just tried to send an e-consult to explain the situation and request an appointment with senior partner/GP but the surgery has switched to a new system and only takes submissions between 8 and 10.30am so I was too late today.

So here's my plan, see what you think.

I shall go to my appointment tomorrow with said nurse and tell her that I need to have a conversation with her about what happened last week. I shall go through it all with her and then TELL (not ask) her what route I now want to take, which will be an appt/meeting with GP (preferably partner) and Senior Nurse to review my treatment so far and discuss treatment from now on with possible referral to specialist wound clinic (there is one in my area) and ask that she please arranges this, while I am there. I shall also diplomatically (not my strong suit, but I'll give it a shot) explain that by her listening to me and doing what I have asked will potentially avoid me making an official complaint. It will be up to her to explain in her own words what happened last week and is a way of making her accountable rather than me having to totally play being the bad guy.

Does this sound like a sensible idea?

I'm prepared to work with the surgery on this because generally, it's an excellent surgery compared to the one I came from prior to moving here. But I can see from your replies that I have been too compliant, not my usual MO, but we tend to think we should bow to what we assume is superior knowledge when it comes to medical matters.

Primrose 😯

Gosh, I'm feeling for you, ferry33

Yes, you need to make an URGENT appointment to see the senior GP in the practice. This has gone on far too long now and not help by incompetence and frankly, neglect.

DH had a skin cancer removed, one nurse at the surgery removed the stitches but left a large piece inside and the wound kept opening up more and more and became weepy. We went back to the hospital where they re-dressed it and then a competent nurse practitioner at the surgery took over. After several visits and good care, the remaining stitches were removed it healed well.

You should ask to have a blood test too, to check your vitamin and mineral levels (and neutrophils) because you are not healing you may be deficient and need supplements.

Ferry that is horrendous. Difficult to know what to do. You do not trust this nurse and rightly so.

I had a similar experience before Christmas, but my treatment was entirely the opposite. It was still weeping, so the nurse asked a GP to examine it, and he recommended applying steroid cream before the dressing, which was a minor miracle. I have lymphedema in both legs.

I sincerely hope you do not have any joint replacements, as this may affect the management.

7 months is too long to be in such agony. Good luck

buffyfly9

Ask your GP to refer you to the nearest hospital wound clinic. Ask for hospital transport, in your circumstances you should be entitled to this. Sometimes these wound treatments are beyond the competence of a nurse in a GP surgery and GP's are often not up to speed in these matters either. I speak as an ex Practice Manager; whilst you are at it I would also write to the Senior partner of the practice expressing your distress. You need to make waves in order to be treated properly. I really feel for you.

Good advice.
An elderly lady I know had skin cancer on her head. They removed it in hospital and did a large skin graft on her scalp. Probably about 4” square. It was a big flap. She was told to see a nurse at her surgery in a couple of weeks.

She did so and the nurse just yanked the dressing off together with the whole skin graft. The lady contacted the Consultant and he was furious. It all had to be done again.

You poor soul, ferry. After all this time, you must be quite desperate - as well as low in spirits.

I’m with GrannySomerset and Casdon on this.
You need, for your health’ sake, to take this higher. Right now. Don’t concern yourself with ‘protocol’ or hurt feelings, you need better/different/more appropriate treatment and for your GP to actually be aware of your predicament. Shins are notoriously difficult to heal and that’s without someone deciding they know better and ignoring your notes and your concerns.

Make that GP appointment and don’t be seen by anyone else. You need your health back, your life back, and soon.
Stay strong and be determined and please let us know how you are. Meanwhile, a hug 🤗!

Ask your GP to refer you to the nearest hospital wound clinic. Ask for hospital transport, in your circumstances you should be entitled to this. Sometimes these wound treatments are beyond the competence of a nurse in a GP surgery and GP's are often not up to speed in these matters either. I speak as an ex Practice Manager; whilst you are at it I would also write to the Senior partner of the practice expressing your distress. You need to make waves in order to be treated properly. I really feel for you.

As a nurse I am horrified she went against your express wish and in that regard she did not have consent. However as you feel she is normally competent and may have been under pressure it would be polite to discuss it with her before making an official complaint. I would then ask to see the GP and ask for a referral t a specialist wound management clinic possibly within the remit of a plastic surgeon. These wounds do take a long especially if you have friable skin. I am so sorry that this has been both painful and distressing and I hope you get better care and attention soon.

I really think you need to make an urgent appointment to see your GP ferry23, as because the pain has worsened so much, you may have an infection or other underlying problem which the nurse has not recognised. Make that your priority, and tell the GP what has happened. You can decide then whether to talk to the nurse or make a formal complaint.

I can’t give any advice, but I’m very sorry that you’re in such a dreadful position that brought you to tears. I do hope you make a full recovery soon.

I wouldn't have any further contact with this nurse, unless you have to in which case I would make it clear you felt let down by her ignoring your wishes.

I would certainly go to see the GP too. I know shin wounds take a long time to heal but maybe some advice as to improve your skin health (extra Vit C, exercise and maybe some dietary changes too).

During Covid I was assigned a nurse who I considered to be very un-professional and last week was allocated an appointment with him- I refused the appointment. I was really surprised that he was still attached to the practice.

I went to a pharmacist instead who gave me excellent advice.

I hope this situation is resolved for you soon, you have endured enough.

Appalling ferry23 I would bare your soul to this nurse so she understands the whole picture as you’ve explained to us. I would then request a meeting with the senior practice nurse and GP to agree a treatment plan going forward.
If any of this is unsatisfactory, then the Practice Manager needs to be involved.
I really feel for you, good luck.

You poor lady.
A glaring error was the nurse not reading your notes prior to dressing the wound. It has been bad enough for you but a medical professional not reading up on their patient before any treatment could be catastrophic.
As you have to see her again, see how she is with you before taking it further. However, anything that concerns you needs to be referred to the Practice Manager. 7 months with little progress isn't really good enough.

I could cry for you Ferry23 Why, because I’m hearing far too many stories like yours 😥
I know what you mean about complaining, it goes against the grain, doesn’t it.
I would see the same nurse but have a long talk with her before the procedure.

I would ask to discuss the situation with the senior partner in the GP practice. He/she will certainly have read your notes beforehand and will be keen to establish a treatment plan which is the most important thing. I would submit the request in writing with the information you have given supporting your request. Good luck - you have been so unlucky with all this.

Oh ferry I am so sorry to hear of your awful situation.
I'm with Maremia, here. See how your treatment improves in the future before you make any decisions.
I hope that things improve for you soon.

This has been dreadful for you.
I would talk it through with that nurse first of all. See how that clears things for you. If you get concrete assurances, and trust that things will improve, after yout talk, then decide how you feel.
You might find that because of the error, you will get 'superior' attention.
Have a copy of this post with you to prompt what you have to say.