"Right total knee replacement"

I was admitted to ward 18 of Leicester General Hospital at 7.30am on Saturday 26.11.16. I was greeted by very friendly staff who assigned me to a temporary bed while I waited to be seen by my consultant and the anaesthetist etc.

Having spoken with the consultant, had an arrow drawn on my right leg and signing my consent for surgery I spoke with the anaesthetist who confirmed I'd be having a spinal anaesthetic and nerve blocks in my thigh, groin and back of the knee.

I was originally placed 4th for surgery that day but following discussions between the medical professionals involved I was moved to 2nd, so make sure you maintain nil by mouth until the list orders confirmed.

I was taken upto ward 16 following my operation where nursing staff were always helpful, attentive when required and I never had to wait longer than a few minutes for a nurse to come to my bedside when I buzzed for help, even in the middle of the night.

Unfortunately after 2 days on ward 16 the ward faced a staffing shortage and to ensure adequate quality of care, the patients were all systematically moved to ward 14. Again the care on the ward was great although the odd nurse on this ward did not always seem to put the needs of the patient first and could be fairly dismissive of requests for help, or did not seem willing to listen to a patient's point of view if it differed from theirs.

This was regrettable as it took away from the rest of the nursing staff who were excellent.

My main complaint about my stay this time. Is like my stay last year, when I had a left total knee replacement, is the failure to medicate me adequately for pain relief etc.

The hospital asks that you bring in all your current medication in their original containers,

I even included my repeat prescription slips, for additional info; however the hospital then ignores a lot of that information and starts prescribing different medication, often lowering dosages and changing medication without consultation and without explanation.

As a result of the hospital's failure to issue me with my pre admission level of pain relief as a minimum after my surgery,

I was left in severe pain for 5 days after surgery.

I asked repeatedly for my own additional pain medication, which for some reason was not being provided on the ward, despite it being locked in my bedside locker and shown as prescribed by my doctor. Eventually I had to be assessed by the in hospital pain team who assessed me and quickly decided to increase my pain relief medication with immediate effect.

As a result of being given stronger pain relief I was able to mobilise sufficiently at last after a week in hospital.

I would like to thank the pain team for the help and also the physio team, who unlike last year did not push me to be discharged but were patient, sensitive and helpful in allowing me the time to progress my mobility sufficiently, without causing me severe pain, so that I was fit enough to be discharged.