Should I complain?

[montrose]

My Grandson was 3 months premature only weighing 1lb 2oz. He was transferred to a hospital out of our area that had a Intensive Care Unit for premature babies.

While he was there a cannula was inserted in his foot and medication was run through it for a while until a large blister appeared. It was then that we were told that the cannula had not been inserted correctly.

He has now been transferred back to our local hospital and when the specialist nurse in skin tissue saw his foot she appeared to be quite upset and told us that he would probably be left with a scar and dent in his foot.

He has now got a infection in his foot that has spread up his leg and is quite unwell.

I would like to make a complaint but not sure how to go about it. Can anyone advise me as to what I should do?

[seftonview]

It sounds as though there may well be grounds for a claim of clinical negligence. I'd suggest your first port of call should be to a Solicitor.

 

SV

[Night Owl]

Hi Montrose.

 

Congratulations of a new grandson. I hope the little fella is doing well now.

 

From your account I think you should take it up with the local PALS of that hospital.

 

A Special Care or Paediatric Intensive Care Unit should have a staff ratio of one to one depending on the patients dependency...........thats one trained nurse to one patient, or one to two, one nurse to 2 patients.

A cannula in a small child or baby is a risk in itself as the blood vessels that the cannula is in are very small and delicate and can easily become dislodged by the babies movements.

I'm not making excuses here but I'm trying to explain the difficulties.

 

You say he developed a large blister at the site of his cannula. This is known as extravesation whereby the cannula has become dislodged from the blood vessel and either blood has leaked into the surrounding tissues or the medication given. A cannula should be closely monitored at all times especially when administering medication or fluids through it. The site should be visable at all times. There may be a splint or bandage to keep the cannula safe but this should be monitored at all times.

 

If a cannula is not intserted correctly then it would be immediately obvious that medication or fluids could not be given through it. On insertion a cannula is flushed with saline to check patency by the person inserting it.

 

You say a specialist nurse saw the site, was it a Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist? She will be able to monitor the damage and give advice.

 

I'm so sorry this has happened and you should go to PALS first to get an explaination at the very least and an apology.

 

I wish you and your grandson well and a full recovery.

If I can help you further please keep this thread updated.

 

Night Owl x

[papasmurf1cx]

I don't think your first port of call to be a solicitor as yet. Keep monitoring the situation and keep notes and photos of the condition as it progresses. There will be plenty of time for solicitors in the future. Go to PALS as advised. Keep an open mind and I hope the little one makes it. Good luck to all.

[lady-in-red]

how sad for the baby and the pain he must be having, take photos of his foot now and write everything down now so you dont forget it, im sad to hear that this little baby is unwell adn hope he gets through this infection very soonxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx