Bebington c-diff patient's anger at home care

Oct 1 2008 by Matt Hurst, Bromborough and Bebington News

AS HOSPITALS concentrate on clearing wards of superbugs, one Bebington woman says she is “absolutely disgusted” at her treatment since being diagnosed with c-difficile at home.

The former nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, went into Arrowe Park Hospital at the end of May following a fall.

Five weeks later she was discharged, with regular home nursing appointments to treat a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and cellulitis problem contracted while an inpatient.

But by the second week of July, one of the nurses became concerned.

The woman, who is in her 60s, told the News: “The nurse said she thought I had something contagious.”

Superbug c-difficile was diagnosed and nursing care has been provided for her DVT and cellulitis, but she claims a doctor has visited only once since July to monitor her c-diff.

She said: “They didn’t tell me anything, just that I should be careful and that the nurses they send should not have young children and should wear aprons and gloves.

“The nurse told me if I was in hospital, I’d be in a separate ward.”

Last week, the News reported Arrowe Park’s contraction rate for c-difficile as unmoved, with 124 cases detected among the over-65s between January and March this year, compared to 133 in the three months preceding.

This woman, who lives alone, has been given a prescription of drug Vancomycin, which she says helps control her symptoms, but which ends on November 11.

She says she has no idea what will happen then and feels concerned she is not getting the medical advice she needs.

The grandmother added: “How long are they prepared to leave me here at home without any help or medical support?

“I’m absolutely disgusted. There are no words to describe it.”

A spokesman for Wirral PCT said: “We are unable to discuss individual cases.

“After being discharged from hospital, GP practices and community health staff work closely with patients on health care plans - where appropriate - so that patients have the best opportunity to recover as quickly as possible.”