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Care Opinion

Lost Medication

Posted By Karunamitra

"Lost Medication"

About: Prince of Wales Hospital

(as the patient),

On admission to Prince of Wales Hospital Randwick NSW for back surgery on, I was asked whether I had any benzos. I had Temazepam to help me sleep (on a noisy ward). The admission's nurse insisted I surrender the drug and promised it would be delivered to the ward. On the first night after surgery, I asked for the drug and was told by the nurse I wasn't charted for it and that there was no sign of it. They seemed to think I might have been confused or making it up. I asked to see the doctor and the nurse assured me that he had called the duty doctor who never came.  The next day I asked again and was told I was not charted for it. I had not the energy to argue.

On discharge I refused to leave until my Temazepam were returned to me and eventually after about 20-30 minutes, they were found it in a cupboard locked away in admissions. All other treatment was excellent, but I spent a very unhappy and sleepless night that first night.

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Responses

Response from Alan Porritt, Director of Nursing and Support Services, Nursing, Sydney Hospital & Sydney Eye Hospital 5 years ago
Alan Porritt
Director of Nursing and Support Services, Nursing,
Sydney Hospital & Sydney Eye Hospital

Submitted on 26/02/2019 at 10:36 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 11:25 AM

picture of Alan Porritt

Dear Karunamitra

Thank you for alerting us to this issue. In hospital we prefer to secure patient's own medication and then return them at discharge. That way we can be absolutely sure the medication we provide is dispensed and administered safely.

Having said that, it is a reasonable expectation that our nursing and medical staff ensure your usual medications are reviewed and, if indicated, prescribed and provided to you. I am terribly sorry that this did not occur on this occasion, and as a result you slept poorly. Sleep is essential to healing and recovery, and in hospital this is so much harder being in an unfamiliar bed in a noisy environment.

I have also asked the manager of the admissions area to ensure that patients own medications reliably follow the patient to the ward postoperatively.

Thank you once again for the feedback. I trust you are recovering well.

Alan Porritt

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Karunamitra (the patient)

I suggest that a receipt be issued to the patient when you "secure" medication. Mine was so secure that it's existence was denied. Why did the duty doctor not respond to the nurse's request to come?

My overwhelming emotion at the time was not just desperation, but powerlessness. I felt that I was not believed. I spoke to two nurses, the second one twice. They seemed too busy to have to chase this up and the second nurse asked the duty doctor to come. The doctor did not come.

I appreciate the apology, but this is a hospital not the corner shop.

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