By: Ramesh Kallidai
A patient, Jeyam Radhakrishnan, had four different blood samples lost in seven days. As if this was not enough trauma, she was wrongly diagnosed twice with Hyperkemia – a condition caused by excessive potassium in blood - even though her potassium levels were normal.
Jeyam had gone for a routine blood test in February. “They lost the blood sample, so I had to go again,” she said.
“The second sample was diagnosed as having hyperkemia, and we were summoned to the A&E. They wanted to test the blood again before giving treatment,” said the patient. “But after two hours we were informed that the they had lost this sample as well. Then another sample was taken, and they ended up losing that sample too. After this, a third and fourth sample was taken. They finally revealed that they had made a mistake - the potassium level in my blood was normal.”
In the meantime, Jeyam’s family had gone through a stressful six hours. They had been informed that the condition could have serious repercussions on the heart and other internal organs – often leading to fatality.
That of course was not the end of the story.
A week later, Jeyam had to go for another blood test, and once again the Hospital informed her that the potassium level was high in her blood. She and her husband reluctantly made yet another trek to the A&E.
“This time the A&E informed us that the test-tube in which my blood had been collected got broken while being transported. After making us wait for two hours they took yet another sample,” she said.
The family waited an agonising four hours, before the hospital informed them they had made a mistake yet again - her potassium level was still normal.
“We appreciate the concern the hospital had,” said Jeyam’s husband, Radhakrishnan. “They were very prompt in informing us of the ‘condition’, but we are concerned that so many blood samples were actually lost.”
The doctor attending on them was of the opinion that a blood clot or an error in the procedure could often reveal high levels of potassium by error.
Notwithstanding this, there seems to be a serious laxity in the procedure that Central Middlesex employs for transporting blood samples in A&E to its haematology department.
I called up Central Middlesex’s press office and told them about the fiasco with Jeyam. A lady informed me that someone would call me back. A week went by – and there was no news from them.
Finally, I managed to get hold of Michelle May, the Press Officer at Central Middlesex.
“I really can’t help you, I am afraid,” she said apologetically. “We cannot speak to you unless we get written permission from the patient.”
I explained patiently that I did not want to speak about this patient per-se. I merely wanted information on the procedure Central Middlesex employed for transporting blood samples taken in A&E to their Haematology department. If one patient had four samples lost in seven days, surely there must be a problem in their blood transporting procedure.
“Well, I really have to make enquiries,” continued Michelle. “You see, we are having major construction work to enable our buildings. I think blood samples taken in A&E may now be transported to Northwick Park Hospital for testing. This could be the reason why the samples were lost. I do not know for sure, and have to speak to a few people to confirm if A&E blood samples are actually tested locally or at Northwick Park.”
Michelle called back an hour later and informed me, “………..”
I was taken aback. If this is the attitude of a hospital with 2000 patients passing through it’s A&E every week, I shudder to think of the consequences of …
If anyone else has had their blood samples lost in a similar manner, can you send me an email at rameshkallidai@hotmail.com please? A proper investigation is called for – and every little bit of data helps.