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Epileptic woman's hospital agony
A NELSON couple have hit out at a lack of consistency in the level of care received from Blackburn Royal Hospital's Accident and Emergency department.
When Ms Julia Muldowny (47), of May Street, suffered an epileptic fit and fell in the street, they say the treatment she received when she travelled to hospital on her own varied greatly to that which she received hours later when she was with her boyfriend.
The fact she was discharged and sent home by ambulance, without being asked for a phone number for her next of kin, has incensed boyfriend Mr Clive McNamara, who found her less than an hour later at home in bed, having suffered a relapse.
Less than three hours separated her first fit from the second.
Mr McNamara (52), of Leeds Road, cannot understand how his partner was sent home, as she would not have been in a fit state of mind or physically capable to make the decision to leave.
He said: "I'm not happy at all. It's just not good enough and I'm sure it's not just me upset with the authorities, as there's got to be thousands of others like me. Julia had bruising to her face, eyes, lips and cheeks and was a right mess. No X-ray was taken the first time – they didn't ask for a phone number or even clean the blood from her face.
"But when I phoned an ambulance a second time and she was taken to Blackburn Royal again, they took an X-ray and asked me for a phone number. Why didn't they do that the first time? She wasn't in her right mind to be sent home. They should have waited until she had calmed down and then asked her for the phone number of her next of kin."
He added: ""In my opinion Blackburn just doesn't give the same level of treatment as Burnley General. When I spoke to one of the matrons the next day, they told me they didn't have the beds to keep every epileptic patient in all night."
Mr McNamara has written to Pendle MP Mr Gordon Prentice about the incident and will be looking into the matter with the Chief Executive of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Lynn Wissett, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Clinical Care and Governance for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We are unable to comment on an individual's details, but if the patient wishes to contact us at any time we are very happy to discuss their care.
"We feel we do offer consistent care, especially with regard to a condition such as epilepsy. However, if a patient chooses to leave before a full medical review has taken place, we must respect their wishes and allow them to go if they feel that is right for them."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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