Hello,
this story isn’t about the infusion itself that was not a problem I think it’s about inappropriate NHS equipment, but contains details that needle phobes might not want to read.
So I was booked in for an MRI and steroid infusion, they clerked me in in 15 minutes including blood test and the nurse placed a plastic needle gently and accurately into my vein with no drama or issues I had my MRI and first infusion and returned the next day for the second, and that’s when it became a farce. The nurse couldn’t get the needle into my vein on my right arm she tried three times and could only get it under the skin, so a doctor was called, she attempted on the other arm, that didn’t work then she tried the back of my hands, no joy on either! Finally I ended up with the needle in my wrist! The whole thing took 3 hours just to get the blinking needle in a vein. I must’ve been stuck more than 20 times. I was bruised like an apple for a week!
i have to say I heard the nurse say that this was because they’d changed needle supply, and I don’t think the needles they used were fit for purpose. I can only say this must have been because of budget cuts. How far down to a third class health service will the NHS be allowed to get? This is obviously only the tip of the iceberg. Im only talking about a cheap needle if they can’t afford decent needles what about expensive equipment like scanners. Poor NHS, if it was an animal it might be sent to live on a farm soon.