"24 Hrs on Cornwallis Ward"

Had abdominal surgery under general anaesthetic then stayed overnight on Cornwallis Ward. As I was waiting to be transferred from recovery area to ward heard loud conversation about a member of staff going on around me - oh right, it's them coming to get the patient, they're good at form filling but not keen on actual nursing - 'X' seems to have aged overnight etc etc. Not very professional!

On ward staff seemed disorganised, lots of people milling around, didn't have correct info on my medication, hard to answer detailed questions on dose of quite a few meds when only half awake and in intense pain! Found out when I got home they hadn't given me right dose of a crucial tablet - had halved it. Don't see point in me having attended pre-op meeting six weeks before if none of the detailed medication info I gave them was passed on.

Night staff were abrupt and on the verge of being aggressive, I am in my 40's so not easy to bully but was very upset to hear old ladies on the ward repeatedly begging staff for help and trying to be nice to get attention. I experienced very bad after effects from my general anaesthetic but night staff just said "nothing we can do to help" and left me with my sick bowl.

Hand over to day staff interesting, more than 30 minutes discussion about holiday staff member had just come back from, apparently they had a glass floor over the roman mosaic remains, sun shone every day and the food was really lovely. Patients ringing for help and medication but being ignored as "we are busy". No attempt to hide the tripadvisor style conversation from patients!

Confusion re discharge, nobody to remove iv lines (in the end I told very surprised junior doctor to do it) and no post op wound care instructions or advice. Husband dressed my three wounds to best of his ability. Two weeks later wound still oozing blood but can't get a GP app for at least another week.

All in all dismal and highly depressing. Lack of basic kindness and care all round.