"Thanks again for great care on the ward,..."

What I liked

I had a diagnostic operation in Jan 2010 in (I think) ward 105.

The day of the operation I was very impressed with the service I received and the level of care and attention I received from the ward staff. I realised how much nurses have to remember and have a new respect for them - thank you to all!

It wasn't until after the operation that I reflected on how different this excellent experience had been to the way I was treated in my appointments leading up to the operation.

What could be improved

My GP had suggested that I had illness A and referred me to gynaecology for a diagnosis. Two consultants saw me, on two separate occasions, and stated that I most certainly did NOT have illness A, but that they would put me through for the op as this was the only way to confirm either way.

Following the op, the consultant who carried out the procedure would not see me, but another member of staff told me my diagnosis, but did not know enough to treat me.

For the next appointment I was referred to a third consultant, but when I arrived he was not available. Again, the person who saw me did not know enough to be able to treat me (but was very kind and as helpful as they could be).

The third time I attended an appointment was 5 months after the op and 3 months after I had learned the diagnosis. Again I could not see the consultant I was booked with. I was then treated very rudely and was told I hadn't received treatment because I hadn't made up my mind - I had no concrete information to make my mind up on!

The person I saw was very difficult to understand, and was pushing a treatment on me that I had previously been told was not suitable for me. I had to get quite cross before she stopped pushing this on me. Eventually she went to see the consultant I should have been speaking to who recommended a completely different plan for treatment, which I am now following.

It appears that a GP's suggestion is belittled, even though my GP turned out to be correct. I had 2 appointments that were pointless; please ensure that patients see the consultant when they attend and not another person who is unable to help. Surely this will save money also!?

Anything else?

The only other thing is that I wasn't given any information about how long to have off work after a general anaesthetic; nor about how to care for the wound and when to have the stitches out.

One doctor said take 2 days off, and a nurse was horrified to hear that and insisted I took 5. I ended up taking more than 5 as I was still unable to move very well after a week! But having this in writing beforehand would have been useful so I could plan effectively with my workplace.2010AppointmentsGeneral anaestheticWoundsAttentiveCommunicationPatient careServiceWardAnaestheticsDoctorsNursing staffReferralsDiagnosisKindGynaecologyWomen's healthConsultants