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assistance in outpatients clinic bathroom with nurse/hca please????

Sera

Am I entitled to have a little bit of assistance from a nurse or hca in an outpatients pain clinic appointment if I need the bathroom ? I would’ve thought so ?? my main issue is is that sometimes I can pull my leggings up ( but struggle) and sometimes I can’t .

I’d be in a wheelchair but can’t self propel due to issues with hands. I can walk a very short distance with a walking frame.

I rang the pain clinic appointment line . The receptionist said that a member of the actual pain clinic team could wheel me to the bathroom, so either a psychologist physio or doctor. That’s very very kind , but the receptionist said that being wheeled to the bathroom would be “ the limit”.
the receptionist was a little bit forthright, and me being under a little bit pressure to accept an appointment from her that depended on what she’d just offered me, I felt inclined to accept.

I’m going to ring the hospital reception desk to enquire to see if a nurse or care assistant could possibly help me pull my leggings up if I struggle . But I need to know where I stand …. Is it a right that I should have this kind of help in outpatients??

Am I definitely entitled to this kind of help?

the appointment is 3 hours long. occasionally I can have urgency of need with the bathroom.

Thanks for reading

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Comments

GalDriver

Sorry, Sera, I don't have an answer for you but I'll be very interested to know myself. I sometimes have more trouble than others, too.

Sera

oh I see, sorry about that. I didn’t know that it went on.. not just getting help for people
thought it would be a given or a right . appreciate your answer thanks

Sera

If anyone knows an answer….

If anyone happens to refer to this post , I’ve since discovered that I also can’t lock and unlock a disability friendly lock on our bathroom door at home. This is due to balance issues mainly but there’s also issues with my hands.

Holly_Alumni

Hi @Sera I'm sure that you'll receive support from a member of the team if you ask but you could contact the hospital first or check their website too. If you can call ahead, at least it might put your mind at ease and perhaps they can make sure someone is available should you need them. A lot of outpatients departments now allow for you to be accompanied too if you have someone you'd feel more comfortable with coming with you.

Sera

hi Holly

thanks , I did call pain clinic … they said someone could wheel me to bathroom but that’s “ the limit”, quote .Frankly, that’s not good enough. I am going to call hospital but just wanted to know where I stood with rights first. Im really hoping / expecting that a nurse or health care worker can assist . Our family member just had an atrocious experience there ( place is mired in negative experiences). I know my mother could wait it out but I don’t expect her to do that for 10 3 hour sessions at age 73 though. could wear a skirt but still can’t lock and unlock door

Thanks

Sera

This should’ve been the simplest thing . But I don’t know if anyone can follow what transpired now that it appears to be sorted

Pain clinic told me that a member of our pain clinic team can wheel you to bathroom that’s “ the limit “. Pain clinic enquiries are through one hospital , hospital no 1 where the pain clinic team are mostly based.
But my appointment with that team is in a hospital that is more local to me .. hospital no. 2 . I rang the hospital no 2 reception, who just asked outpatients for me, and they said that there shouldn’t be a problem. There are usually care assistants around , the pain clinic team just needs to ask one of them.

This was the original question that I asked of hospital no1 , can’t a care assistant take me, as they can usually be found around the place. Hospital no1 appointments clerk said that they couldn’t speak for hospital no 2 . So the appointments clerk asked the actual pain team if they themselves could take me. Medics higher up the chain never assist you with the bathroom I have to say.

hospital no 1 appointments clerk should’ve just said I’ll put your appointment booking on hold until you’ve phoned hospital no 2. Instead of putting me under pressure to accept there and then.