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Hospital Fails Cancer Patient on Pain Relief
26 Nov
Summary
- Patient endured hours of severe pain due to delayed medication.
- Hospital faces CQC warning over staff shortages and care lapses.
- A separate patient died after delayed pain relief on a surgical ward.
A cancer patient has reported suffering hours of excruciating pain post-surgery at Salford Royal Hospital due to a failure in providing appropriate pain relief. Zoe, 38, who underwent kidney cancer surgery in September, recounted her traumatic experience, stating she only received adequate medication after a health watchdog inspector intervened. The hospital is under scrutiny from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for significant staff shortages within its surgery department.
The Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust, which operates Salford Royal, received a formal warning from the CQC. Inspectors observed critical delays in medication for surgical patients, leading to unnecessary suffering, and noted issues like urine bottles accumulating on wards. Multiple staff members have reportedly expressed concerns about the situation, feeling unsupported by trust executives.
In a grave incident cited by the CQC, a patient with severe chest injuries died after waiting hours for pain relief on a surgical ward; an investigation into this death is ongoing. The trust has been issued a Section 29a notice, mandating improvements ahead of future inspections, with potential further regulatory action if standards are not met.
