"Awful Colonoscopy experience"

having had a showing of blood in my stools I was referred to the Royal Alexander for a colonoscopy.

I had a bad experience 30 years ago and was keen to avoid the problems I had had then, I therefore spoke to the hospital and explained my concerns, also that I was a wheel chair user so this could be taken into consideration. My appointment for the colonoscopy was on Thursday, I was told I would be admitted a day earlier so that I could be prepped for the procedure on the following day.

I was admitted to ward 29 on Wednesday, the ward was an open ward with maybe 8 beds. One Nurse saw the problems I was having using the toilet, I could not shut the door as it was not large enough to accommodate the wheelchair so I had to use it with the door open. She moved me to a separate room with it's own toilet, whilst this was a little more private I still could not shut the door. added to this dilemma was that the toilet was old fashioned, with a chain to pull the flush - I could not reach this. 

My appointment for the colonoscopy on the following day was in the morning, however I was taken up to the unit at 2:00. All the information I had given the hospital about my earlier colonoscopy experience did not appear to have been passed to the consultant. I  am on morphine to manage the pain from a long standing condition, the consultant commented that I was an opioid user and went straight on to carry out the colonoscopy, I believe without any pain relief. I was in agony.

Even after the procedure had ended there was no apology or acknowledgement that I had suffered pain. the whole thing was horrendous.

Back on the ward the canula that had been inserted came out causing me to bleed over the bedding. A nurse saw this and changed the bedding but could not locate a clean blanket. As I was cold I asked her to leave the blanket, after all it was my blood that was on it. How can a hospital not have a supply of clean blankets?

When my daughter came to collect me she told them how angry I was with the lack of communication, lack of pain relief and of any courtesy from the consultant. They were either unable to calculate the amount of pain relief I should have given my other medication or was just not prepared to give any pain relief.