"Distressing and undignified"

In September 2024 I had open abdominal surgery. The theatre team and recovery nurses were absolutely incredible, I can't praise them enough.

However, the care I received in the ward (PCU) after recovery was at best the bare minimum. I was extremely concerned with their lack of basic care and compassion. I was in a lot of pain, on occasion crying and I was ignored. My obs were checked barely a handful of times between returning to the ward and going home, this was over 12 hours. My wound was not checked and I was not given any aftercare or discharge information.

The staff on the ward lost my fit note and tried to send me home with no pain relief despite having major open abdominal surgery. It was only when a senior staff member came down that they started to listen. I was struggling to pass urine after the operation and their answer was to send me home with a catheter if I didn't, it felt like they didn't care at all that I was very distressed. I don't feel I was given the respect that is expected from staff and my dignity was thrown out the window when they left me on my own crying and in pain. I would not trust being on this ward again and would insist on going somewhere else.