A 38-year-old cancer patient has recounted a harrowing experience of being left in severe pain for hours following major surgery at an NHS hospital, with staff reportedly failing to provide adequate pain relief.
Zoe, who underwent an operation for kidney cancer in September at Salford Royal Hospital, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, said the ordeal was so traumatic it led to nightmares after her discharge.
A System Under Pressure
The incident occurred at a hospital trust already under scrutiny. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) issued a formal warning to the Northern Care Alliance after an inspection revealed critical failures, including significant delays in patients receiving pain medication.
Inspectors found that surgical patients were left suffering, with one specific case involving a patient with major chest injuries who did not get pain relief for hours and was later found dead. The trust has confirmed an investigation into this death is ongoing.
Furthermore, the watchdog reported that basic care standards were slipping, with urine bottles being allowed to “stack up” on the wards, painting a picture of a service struggling to cope.
A Patient's Ordeal
Zoe's personal account brings the CQC's findings to life. After her surgery, she was given an initial dose of morphine and paracetamol but was not provided with a patient-controlled IV drip, which is standard for managing post-operative pain.
"It was horrendous. I was sweating a lot because I was in so much pain," she told The Independent. "I couldn’t move, I was in that much pain, and the nurse just kept saying: ‘There's nothing I can do…the doctors haven't prescribed anything else’."
Her situation only changed when a CQC inspector, who was visiting the hospital, approached her. After Zoe explained her plight, the inspector raised the alarm with staff. Despite this intervention, it still took over three hours for the correct pain relief to be administered after it was finally prescribed.
Zoe, who was initially meant to stay for one night, ended up in the hospital for four nights due to a series of mistakes that left her feeling unsafe. She also noted that the ward appeared visibly understaffed.
Broader Concerns and Official Response
The problems at the trust appear to be systemic. Local MP Rebecca Long Bailey has written a letter expressing grave concerns, stating that staff have come forward “feeling overwhelmed and worried about their ability to maintain safe care under current conditions.”
In response to the CQC's findings, the trust was served with a Section 29a notice. This legal directive means the Northern Care Alliance must demonstrate clear improvements in patient care when the regulator carries out a follow-up inspection next year. Failure to improve could result in the trust being placed under special administration.
Juliette Cosgrove, chief nursing officer at the Northern Care Alliance, said: "We are sorry for any harm or distress caused" and confirmed the trust would contact the patient to understand more. She added that the trust acted immediately on the issues identified and takes the feedback seriously.
The trust also confirmed it cannot comment on individual patient cases but stated that the level of care described does not reflect its aims.
