"Information I should have been given, and wasn't"

I recently attended Lincoln County Hospital for a kidney scan and cystoscopy. Following the scan I was informed that it had not been possible to scan my bladder as it was empty, and that I should have been drinking to fill my bladder prior to the scan.

Nowhere in the appointment letter or accompanying brochure was the necessity to drink mentioned; on arrival at the reception desk in the X-Ray Dept this was not mentioned to me; there was no water machine/plastic cups anywhere in sight; there were no posters on the walls in the waiting area giving such information. Nobody else in the waiting area was drinking, and there was no sign that anyone had been as there were no used plastic cups around. How, therefore, was I to know that I should have been filling my bladder? I felt annoyed with myself that my bladder could not be scanned but actually it wasn't my fault that I was ignorant of the procedure. I feel that I was let down by those members of staff who should have informed me of the need to drink.

Also, when I arrived at the Urinary Investigation Unit, the check-in machine incorrectly told me that I had arrived too late for my appointment and that I must make another appointment. When I spoke to the nurses in the Department they confirmed that the machine was not working correctly and I was in good time for my appointment.

The staff in the cystoscopy dept were absolutely lovely and made my experience as comfortable as possible throughout, for which I am extremely grateful. I am extremely grateful to Mr Khan for carrying out the procedure.

I will know in future that any scan of the pelvic area requires a full bladder - what a pity this important information was not given in my letter of appointment.