Whittington Hospital

• MY husband went into Whittington Hospital for day surgery for his heart arrhythmia in November 2014.

Two days later, he was re-admitted with pneumonia as an emergency to the ambulatory care service at the hospital. I thank the AC service as it most certainly saved his life. However, the pneumonia reversed the procedure and his arrhythmia returned.

A year later, still suffering the effects of pneumonia, his consultant cardiologist attempted the procedure again despite our real concerns. Déjà vu! My husband was hospitalised again with pneumonia days after the second procedure, with his arrhythmia returning.

Since that time, we have been trying to find out what went wrong. My husband, a lifelong non-smoker, is now disabled by a long-term lung problem developed as a result of these infections, which the Whittington was unable to diagnose.

It was only in February this year that we managed to get access to his medical files. We asked for help with analysing the medical terminologies and it was not provided.

To our horror, after ploughing through hundreds of pages, we discovered that my husband sustained four broken ribs during his first procedure. This had never been communicated to us, despite the fact we raised the enormous amount of pain he was in at the time and the extensive bruising he displayed – and despite many X-rays and scans.

So much for the “duty of candour and accountability” referred to in BMA guidelines.

Some five months later, we are still awaiting a reply to our May 12 complaint, despite continually contacting them. We have come to the Tribune in desperation. Hopefully you can shame them into some response?

DELLA EDWARDS
Address supplied