Chemo delays and prioritizing patients

Hi Tvman

I have got a shielding letter. I had my chemo today and I questioned it. The nurses there had masks on. They are moving the unit now to a private hospital and the bloods will be taken there so we should be better protected. 

Xx

Hi  and tvman

I had bloods done at the hospital on Mon, they were seeing urgent cases only. None of the phlebotomists had masks, and they're not allowed to provide their own as they've been told by management that they don't need them. Simply not true, and they're not happy. They told me it wasn't safe for me to be there and a district nurse will come out from now on.

The nurses on the chemo unit only have enough for 1 mask per shift. They're uncomfortable and hot, so when they weren't delivering care the masks were mostly under their chins, so constantly being touched and increasing the risk to themselves. I don't believe any mask would be effective from 8am to 6pm. 

Although it's good news that the chemo unit is being moved away from the main hospital the risks will be every bit as high if the staff aren't being tested and don't have enough PPE.

My heart goes out to everyone who's had treatment postponed and the anguish that goes with that but perhaps it really is the safest option. The risks to staff and patients alike at the moment are  frightening.

xx

I had bloods done yesterday and I noticed that the phlebotomist pulled her mask down between the previous patient and me.

I have chemo tomorrow and last time I had chemo the infusion nurses were being given one mask per day, which they only wore when close to patients.

It will be interesting to see what has changed in three weeks.  I was surprised to learn that they are still allowing support people in the infusion suite at this stage.

Hi Tina

I'm so happy for you that you are to receive home visits from the district nurse, it's frighteningly worrying for me to hear that your bloods were done by a phlebotomist with no mask. 

I'm stating again as I did on my post to Flowerlady, if anyone turns up at my house with no proper ppe, they ain't getting in! 

I hope your luck changes Tina, why is it that the good ones always suffer? Apart from me ha ha!

I had chemo today and the nurse didn't wear a mask. I did. Yesterday the nurse in my chemo unit did my blood. She wore a mask. But I had to wait 90minutes in the waiting room for that appointment. The phlebotomy area was empty and I could have been in and out in a few minutes. I noticed they were wearing masks. I am lucky to be getting treatment but so confused by what the correct procedures are. Sorry for hijacking your post. And best wishes to you all.

Hi and welcome You are not hijacking the post, you are contributing to it which is great!

I do think most of the problems are down to the management because they can't supply enough masks etc and yet will not allow the staff to wear their own! My husband works for the Out of Hours service overnight at reception. All the staff were given masks but then told NOT to wear them until they had written permission, which is nonsense. Some of the doctors are now refusing to do shifts because they don't feel protected and they have wives and children at home!! What else can they do.

Lass you are right, of course, one mask is not going to be protective for a whole day! A lot of the problems are caused by inconsistencies, it should be one rule for everyone!

Hi 

Yes welcome . I agree with Annette - it’s joining in not hijacking. 

I have a question. Who is the mask protecting? Is it the patient or the worker? It seems to me that the risk to poor healthcare professionals who are seeing multiple patients is much higher than the risk to us patients who see only one healthcare professional. 

I take a risk analysis approach to all this. For example, what were the risks in getting to the hospital yesterday? 

1. Public transport: high risk, obviously. 

2. A lift from my friend: low risk. She’s been self isolating for a fortnight except for a single masked visit to Tesco 

3. Driving myself: medium risk. The central London hospital has no parking so I might not find a parking space nearby so I might need to get public transport from parking spot to hospital 

4. Not going: no risk of corona but high risk of cancer progression. I’d be taken off the treatment that’s controlling the cancer. 

So I took option 2. Having done what I can to reduce the risk, I’m simply not going to worry about the risks I can’t control. I don’t have the energy or the will for that. I realise this way of thinking might not be for everyone but it does save me a lot of anxiety. 

I had wondered about not going, but as you say Daloni, it's deciding which is more risky

 Keep safe everyone

Xx

A decision that's been taken out of my hands now  and ....

I had a phone call from the chemo unit this morning to tell me about the move to a cold site this weekend and explain the arrangements for Tuesday. Bloods and an appointment with the Consultant at the private hospital in the morning, insertion of a Hickman line and CXR at the main hospital in the afternoon and chemo on Wed at the private hospital. Phew, so far so good.

Just had a call from my Consultant to say the scans show some response to chemo, yay!!! but....

it's too risky to have an invasive procedure or carry on with treatment in view of my history of severe pneumonia, I wouldn't get a ventilator if I caught covid 19. 

I'll be sent a phone appt with my Consultant in 5 weeks, by which time the situation should be clearer and hopefully safer.

That's a lot to take in for one day. I wish we could have gone straight to the 3rd call because I've been half expecting this so was feeling very lucky for a while there. I do believe that it's decision that hasn't been taken lightly and is in my best interests given the most appalling circumstances. It must be so much worse if you don't have that trust.

xx

Tinalay

Really happy that the treatment has worked. I suppose you need to forget about everything else other than enjoying life in the knowledge that you have improved

Take care

Xx