Shambolic state of affairs at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

Apr 9 2009 West Lothian Courier

MY mother also recently found herself requiring a stay at the Royal Infirmary for a major operation (readers letters Courier dated March 20).

Unfortunately, while in the Royal she contracted C. Difficile diarrhoea.

She was immediately isolated in a single room.

However, to my amazement, the following morning she was transferred to St John’s Hospital in a patient transport vehicle, in her nightwear and with several other patients.

On arrival she was placed in a six-bed ward with five other ladies and one shared toilet.

On seeing this, I questioned it with staff only to be informed that they had not been told of my mother’s status.

It seems that this was not the first time that this has occurred with both C.difficile and MRSA patients.

I don’t see the logic in transferring infected patients from one hospital to another. Was this the Royal trying to empty a bed?

Thankfully, my mum left hospital with no ill effects but she could have infected many other patients just because the Royal Infirmary needed her bed.

Name and Address Supplied.