"Awful experience during admission to gynaecology"

If someone were to ask me to use one word to describe Ward 49 during my admission, it would be a circus.

I was admitted with severe pelvic pain and bleeding from all exits.

Firstly, I had to remind them repeatedly that I'm allergic to ibuprofen as well as being asthmatic. Despite this, I was constantly given this medication in a tub. I also have a wheat and milk allergy and had to constantly educate your staff on what gluten free and dairy free meant. This is the most basic of healthcare, can we please have our healthcare staff educated in serious allergies?

Secondly, medical notes from years ago were being used despite other admissions and healthcare since then. I found this to be unnecessary. Not to mention the constant ward rounds with multiple different doctors switching and changing care plans. The number of times I was stopped and started on antibiotics, told I would be getting certain pain medication then not, arranging scans then canceling them, missing dosage times of meds because of what I believe was complete incompetence, I found shameful.

I had no idea what time I was given medication, or what, as they were so frequently changed. I checked my discharge notes which stated I was given tramadol without my consent or knowledge. As far as I knew, I was given co-codamol as pain medication for the duration of my care. I believe there is an over-emphasis on administration, with staff not understanding that behind those notes is a real, living, breathing human being, and likely suffering. We are not tick-box exercises for staff to keep swapping and changing the plan multiple times a day without discussing this with the patient or getting the patient's consent. There should be someone keeping order in there, there didn't appear to be a hierarchy/no one leading things like patient care, patient needs, etc. There is no one for patients to approach to highlight these issues and concerns in real-time.

Thirdly, the attitude of one nurse, who shouted at me and walked away from me whilst slamming the door shut on me I found disgusting. I simply asked for the name of the doctor I spoke to, for future reference as they were from a different department, and I wanted a second opinion. They replied that theydon’t have time for this nonsense, I’m on my way home. I replied asking if they would be kind enough to ask a colleague if they could give me their name as they were leaving. The nurse loudly sighed stating that they don’t have time for this sh*t, man, and proceeded to march away and slammed the room door. This caused me distress and alarm, especially the next morning when they returned for the morning rounds. I felt bullied and attacked as they said good morning to the others and not myself, making me feel like a target for asking a simple request the night before. There is very much a high school bully vibe there.

Further, hospital wards are to rest when sick and to hopefully get well. Some, not all, staff in that ward, I felt, treated it like it was a holiday resort in Benidorm. I understand the need for staff morale and to keep a positive work environment; that is something that should be done away from patients in a staff-only area. Blasting Whitney Houston from the Nurses station radio, singing I want to dance with somebody, at the top of your lungs at 3 AM in a hospital ward, is not it. Particularly when there are patients who are distressed, crying, and feeling unsafe.

Another issue was the lack of cleanliness in the room. The toilet and shower were shared areas and the toilet was constantly soiled with blood and fecal matter. The first shower area was unclean, with used towels laying all over the bins, and dirty cleaning products. For the bathroom, I requested it be cleaned due to infection risk and was told it would be done. It wasn’t touched the entire 3 days I was there. I requested domestic wipes and cleaned it myself. I cleaned the toilet bowl and seat whilst being doubled over in pain but it was the only way to sit and provide urine samples without being mixed with other people’s bodily fluids. 

Another thing that I found shocking was overhearing the staff discuss the need for beds, and briefing everyone by saying, Right folks, let's get these beds emptied. I don't find that professional or reassuring, and it definitely made me feel uneasy and a burden as a patient in need of care, particularly as I was rushed home without proper investigation or treatment.

Lastly, and most importantly, I was discharged with active bleeding and pain. The source of the bleeding was not found, and no tests were arranged even as an outpatient. I was, again, given Ibuprofen as meds to take at home, despite saying repeatedly, that I’m allergic to it and asthmatic. I was also referred to a pain clinic against my wishes, as it is not applicable in my case as this is acute pain. I really don’t know what on earth was going on in that place, but it was like something I’d never seen before. I will never go back to that ward, even on my deathbed. What an absolute disgrace to the NHS.

Note, there were three nurses that were extremely kind and compassionate and did what they could to help me. There was also one doctor who was extremely kind and took the time to take a detailed explanation of my issues, who created a care plan and was empathetic. Sadly, that care plan was again changed by someone I did not know, so I did not get the benefit of this.

All in all, I think this department needs a major investigation into how it’s operated and to make changes where necessary.

Absolutely horrific.