Witholding MRSA results

melodymad

A relative of mine is currently attending a well known Dublin Hospital with a Surgical Wound that has not healed and displays serious symptoms of a Staph infection..HOWEVER...despite the fact that the wound is visibly infected we are being told over and over that the swab results have come back clear and no MRSA is present, as for what the infection is, we are repeatedly being told 'an infection' with no furhter explanation. I now believe they are witholding this information from us as all symptoms match MRSA symptoms and due to the nature of Surgery an infection like this could seriously impede on recover
Has anyone else experienced this?
Does anyone have any advice as to how to obtain these results?
Are our hospitals witholding MRSA results so as not to create a 'bad' reputation for their hospital?
Any thoughts welcome!

keith_d99

I can tell you for fact - that hospitals used to put yellow stickers on patient's files instead of writing MRSA into the patients' records. I have seen such a case.

I lost my father 2 months ago - after a 8 year battle with MRSA - acquired during a hip replacement operation.

I would push for as many answers as possible - doctors do not like being questioned - but we have the right to question them.

Also you are entitled to request the records under the freedom of information act.

Paulw

keith_d99 wrote: »

Also you are entitled to request the records under the freedom of information act.

I don't believe so. You are only entitled to your own records. There is a doctor/patient confidentiality which means that the doctor doesn't have to tell anyone except the patient themself.

You should, of course, continue to question the doctors, and even write to the hospital, keep record of what is said, and what answers you get.

The_Minister

MRSA is not the only type of infection.

tallaght01

Plus, MRSA infections don't have any particular symptoms!!!

McCrack

Either your relative can request his/her records under FOI of he/she can give a written consent to you entitling you to take up the records.

Might be worth consulting a solicitor for advice too...medical negligence.

melodymad

thanks for all your response...I will take all of this onboard:)

Gangu

Get your relative to submit a data protection request (hospitals are not subject to FOI). See www.dataprotection.ie

melodymad

Hi everybody, I just wanted to update you and let you know that,despite all this time that has passed,my relative's surgical wound is the same. They are now admitting it is infected...as for what the infection is..despite direct questions I have as of yet had no direct answer, the last being that and I quote 'a wound can look infected and seem infected but not actually be infected with anything', and also that they are waiting for the most recent swab result. We did however have an admittance that there is a 'possibility' that MRSA could be present elsewhere in the general area of the wound????? THIS is beyond comprehension and I have already begun taking the necessary steps!!!.
Let this be a warning to all...follow your instincts and continue to fight and question, I only wish I had done this from the start..but when you are told repeatedly that the wound has NO infection, it can be very hard to prove otherwise.

havana

As someone said they put a sticker on the file. We only found out my dad had it when we spotted the big coloured sticker on the folder.

Gangu

melodymad wrote: »

Hi everybody, I just wanted to update you and let you know that,despite all this time that has passed,my relative's surgical wound is the same. They are now admitting it is infected...as for what the infection is..despite direct questions I have as of yet had no direct answer, the last being that and I quote 'a wound can look infected and seem infected but not actually be infected with anything', and also that they are waiting for the most recent swab result. We did however have an admittance that there is a 'possibility' that MRSA could be present elsewhere in the general area of the wound????? THIS is beyond comprehension and I have already begun taking the necessary steps!!!.
Let this be a warning to all...follow your instincts and continue to fight and question, I only wish I had done this from the start..but when you are told repeatedly that the wound has NO infection, it can be very hard to prove otherwise.

Good luck

drkpower

Gangu wrote: »

Get your relative to submit a data protection request (hospitals are not subject to FOI). See www.dataprotection.ie

Public hospitals are subject to FOI.

melodymad

Question:
What signs should I look for that would indicate a wound is being treated for infection in a hospital,in terms of:
The method used in Closing the wound/healing the wound?
Is the patient isolated if any staph infection is present?
What is healthy flora and can flora be present on an internal swab and be considered healthy??(this I cant understand...if staph A is found on a swab from the wound surely this means it is infected and not healthy skin flora?)
Due to the nature of this and the circumstances I have to be quite vague!


Thanks for all the help:(