Apparently it's not a case of just waiting for a spare bed or cancellation, because they have had so many trauma patients the consultants had a meeting and decided all the beds must be cleared so the whole ward can be given a thorough deep clean. Trauma patients are often messy which means it's not an ideal environment for replacement, infection is more risky. I get their reasons and of course I wouldn't want to be put at risk, but clearing a whole ward is asking a lot. Joanne the bed manager was very honest when she sent me home on Thursday, she said the current system isn't working and it is being escalated ever higher (goodness knows how many levels they have to go through) they haven't done any replacements other than trauma patients since December!!! It doesn't help that some of the beds in orthopaedics have been commandeered by the medical side (even more infection) so I can see how frustrating it is for the bed managers trying to keep their wards for the purpose intended. They are even considering bringing in portacabin wards to handle the situation but that could mean it's another two months or so before they start operating again. Keeping a whole ward of beds empty isn't easy, but when Joanne left on Wednesday they'd managed to section off part of the ward ready to be cleaned at 11am to take me and the other patients on Thursday. 6 trauma cases were admitted overnight and it only took one of those to take a bed in that area to scupper it all.
Spoke to Matthew yesterday, he was trying to be optimistic and was hopeful I wouldn't have to wait too much longer, but I'm not too confident. I will be contacting PALS, not so much to complain, but to reiterate the NHS guidelines about target times. In my case they are quite close to being fined as I'm coming up to the initial 18 week rule (consultant to treatment). Added to that because I was actually cancelled on the day, they have to offer me another date within 28 days, something Joanne was frank she couldn't guarantee. Double fines. Tbh I'm not sure it will make much difference, but I feel I need to let them know how much it's affecting our quality of life. Quite apart from the pain, emotional impact etc, E really shouldn't be pushing a wheel chair