"The start of my care was great but post op I feel let down"

I had the unfortunate  pleasure of having to attend the surgical assessment unit in GRI for urgent surgery recently. 

The nursing team were fabulous pre-op, friendly and conversational. The HCAs were all the same and it was really reassuring.

The surgical ward rounds were a bit overwhelming with in excess of 4 or 5 surgeons rounding on multiple occasions to discuss treatment in a bayed area where neighbouring beds could all hear the discussions, which  I appreciate is difficult to overcome but does make it daunting discussing your symptoms etc.

Theatre team were great, reassuring, professional and friendly. 

Post op unfortunately there was no discussion what so ever. I didn't see the surgeons again so didn't actually know the outcome of surgery, had limited understanding of what to expect and no mechanism for scheduling follow up if there were problems. 

I had to ask the nurse what my discharge plan was who checked my notes and returned to say I could go home whenever I felt fit. I asked what was to happen post op and was told just to make a district nurses appointment, there was no clear plan for wound management even on my discharge letter.

When I saw the district nurses there was no clear plan so they simply applied a dressing instead of packing, eventually leading to further infection.

Additionally the nurse in SAU told me I could drive so long as it was >4 hours since my anaesthetic, which I'm quite sure was incorrect advice and outside of the general anaesthetic council's recommendations.

I'm a number of weeks post up with ongoing pain which is potentially a result of the initial poor post op wound care although I was never told what to expect and if this is normal and with no mechanism if knowing who to contact to arrange follow up.

The start of my care was great, swift and reassuring but unfortunately  post operatively I feel entirely let down.