"Recent surgery"

I would like to provide some feedback regarding recent surgery at Dorset County Hospital.

I was admitted at the end of March 2023 to be sterilised. I'd had a consultation in March 2022 to discuss this and be added to the waiting list. During this appointment I informed the consultant I am nuerodiverse, specifically autistic. He told me he would add this information to the paperwork so adequate adjustments could be made on the day of surgery which would include having my partner with me.

The day of surgery arrived. Upon arrival we were told my partner couldn't be with me. After explaining my autism they finally agreed to put us in a side room so he could be with me. To be honest I was actually really happy with this because it meant I was away from the noise and lights etc so wasn't going to have a sensory overload!

I was taken to surgery where the people were nice enough but obviously hadn't been informed about my autism - that wasn't their fault. They did what they could with the information they had been given.

Whilst I was in surgery my partner went to get some refreshments and was told he had to wait in the corridor and couldn't be with me when I came back from recovery. Again, not taking my autism into consideration. He was told that if I was old enough to consent to surgery then I was old enough to be on her own. Would they of said the same thing about a nonverbal autistic adult? A low functioning autistic adult? Just because someone is classed as a high functioning autistic person it doesn't mean they do not need support etc. 

Following surgery I felt rushed out of hospital. As soon as I woke up I was sat up for toast and a cup of tea. I was given some Oramorph which I informed the staff didn't help the pain but they didn't give me anything else to take home. In fact they told me to use what I have at home. They didn't inform me of any aftercare including whether my stitches were dissolvable, when to remove/change my dressings etc. Absolutely nothing! I had to contact my GP to ask for aftercare advise.

I'm aware visiting hospital for surgery is never going to be pleasant but my experience was awful. 

None of this feedback is a criticism of the NHS or the amazing staff at Dorset County Hospital. The staff that are part of my experience were all from an outside company. I just feel it's important to provide this feedback to hopefully prevent somebody else having a similar experience to myself.