"Shocked at the care I witnessed"

I had recently had knee replacement surgery in another hospital and a week following the surgery I developed complications and had to attended my local A&E.  

Firstly I understand that currently these services are overstretched and I was well aware before my attendance that I would have to wait.  What I was not expecting was rude and very uncaring staff, from the reception desk to the nursing staff.  I was triaged after an hour and was told I would have to wait about 4 hours to be seen.  I sat and waited on the most uncomfortable metal chair ever, in a freezing waiting room for 8 hours, I was alone, in pain and nobody came to check on me but I also did not go to the door to complain, which most other people did on a regular basis.

When I was taken into the department I was really feeling unwell and my knee was in severe pain, obviously sitting for 8 hours did not help.  I asked the nurse who took me in and asked me to get on the trolley if I could have a pillow for under my knee, was told bluntly they don’t have any, and did not offer me anything else.  They took bloods and vital signs and left the cubicle, I remained there for 4 hours and they never came back again.  After this two doctors came to see me, who were much more caring and understanding and at least apologetic for the circumstances.  I was taken for an X-ray and a very kind radiographer did put a pillow under my knee to help relive my pain.  I was then transferred by trolley up to ward 23.  

I will again accept that there is a huge demand on services currently and the ward was short staffed, but that is no excuse for some of the behaviour I witnessed by the nursing staff.  I will also clarify this is not all the staff but too many were rude, and uncaring to other patients and myself.  This is my 3rd admission to hospital in less than 2 years and the other two have been very positive experiences.  I have to say this one was not, it was quite horrible, patients who were bed bound were being reprimanded for ringing their buzzers?  I could list many examples.  

When I was told the following morning I would have to stay in longer I was devastated and I do not think I could cope with the behaviour I was witnessing.  I will point out now that I am a nurse of over 40 years experience and I was shocked at the care I was witnessing.  I would say the worst thing that was said to me was that I had, in one nurses option, a low pain threshold.  I would like to know how they know and have they any idea how painful a knee is after 7 days post op with complications, as until then I did not?  

Again it was not all negative, myself and fellow patients noted a huge improvement in nursing care when the night staff came on and my consultant who discharged me the following day was fantastic.  I really hate to say this as a nurse as my main complaint has to be about the nursing staff not the rest of the team and being short staffed is no excuse ever.