A patient made a personal plea for treatment to the board of Brighton’s main hospital trust this morning (Wednesday 4 November).
Colin Heminway, 49, said that he had had an operation cancelled twice in a few months when he addressed the board of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. The trust runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.
Mr Heminway’s stoma reversal was cancelled at a week’s notice in July and on the day it was due to be carried out at the start of October. The hospital didn’t have enough beds.
He had been told that the operation could be carried out at the Nuffield but this had not yet happened.
The board, which usually listens to at least one patient’s story at each meeting, invited Mr Heminway to share his experience after he contacted the trust.
Mr Heminway, a former flooring contractor, told the board: “I’ve been chronically ill for about five years now and I lost my business.”
His mother-in-law Ranna Hurst said: “I can’t tell you how much pain he’s been through and how many operations he’s had.
“Somehow he’s got a degree. He’s done teacher training. And he’s now reliant on freelance work to get some income.
“The chap who was with him has had his operation cancelled five times, including in the anaesthetic room.”
The trust’s chief executive Matthew Kershaw said: “It shouldn’t have been cancelled in the first place. We have too many patients waiting.
“We’re investing significantly to create some additional capacity.
“We’re improving the way patients flow through the hospital.
“We have very significant demands in the area where you’re waiting and they’re increasing not reducing. We need to have conversations with commissioners and GPs.
“You’ve waited too long and we will solve this for you and solve it as quickly as possible. That’s our job.
“The cancellations we’re keeping on top of now. But the issue now is the number of patients adding to the (demands on) the service and we’re trying to resolve that.”
Chief operating officer Mark Smith said: “I’m sorry. I would like to apologise on behalf of the hospital. It is about patient safety. It’s not a money issue.”
And Julian Lee, who chairs the trust board, said: “I’m very grateful to you for coming to our board.
“You’ve been through a totally unacceptable experience and I apologise on behalf of the board.”
He told Mr Heminway that his case would be looked at in more detail to look at what wider lessons could be learnt.
Afterward Mr Heminway said that he had wanted to know what immediate and long-term measures the trust was taking to tackle the problems.
He said: “They were very sympathetic. “I completely understand the demand and pressure that they’re under. I sympathise. They hate sending people away.”
He hopes to learn tomorrow when he will be admitted for his operation.
