"My stay ended in self discharge"

As an employee of the NHS for most of my adult life, I am more than aware of the pressures that are put upon staff and completely sympathise with staff when they are expected to work with little resources and support, however my recent stay at LCH left me in tears.

After consulting 111 I was sent to the GP out of hours service at Lincoln County. I attended the GP and he said that I needed to go to the SEAU for a consultation with the doctors as I had a hernia.

It was around 5pm on a Sunday.

I went to the ward and handed the staff the letter.

They informed me that I would be in X bed in the bay.

Puzzled, I asked if I was being admitted?? They laughed and said that I probably would depending on the time of the doctors coming to see me.

I sat on the bed with my daughter an the nurse came and 'clerked' me in and took my basic information.

I was told that a doctor would be round soon.

After another hour or so, a doctor came round, didn't introduce herself, barely said any words, felt my tummy, and said she would refer me to her more senior colleague.

She said that I would probably need a scan, and to not eat or drink any thing. No further information about what was actually happening to me.

Night shift came on.

A nurse, who was employed by an agency came to complete my observations.

She did not introduce herself.

She did not speak.

She came back later and put a pair of TED stockings on my legs.

She managed to complete the WHOLE process without speaking or telling me why she was doing this.

Later a more senior Dr came in scrubs and introduced himself. He said that I would need a scan but it was probably too late now so it would be in the morning.

As a leaving thought I asked if I was allowed to eat or drink as I hadn't done so since lunch time.

He said I could. The ward was cold, and the hygiene was poor.

The alarm bell button had many weeks of brown crud.

I stayed the night, and the following day I was in so much pain as I have a chronic back condition.

I asked the nurse for some of my own medicine which she gave me.

She informed me that she had ordered some of my other pain medication from the pharmacy and it would be there soon.

I saw the consultant who was very friendly.

He said I would need a scan and that I may need surgery after this.

FINALLY someone had informed me of why I was there!

He told me to only take clear fluids and not eat.

The day continued and the pain got worse.

The pharmacy did not deliver the medication until after the night shift arrived at which point I was cold, in pain and in tears and still without a scan.

I informed that night nurse that if there was no possibility of me having a scan that day then I would go home as I was blocking a bed and could take my own medicine at home. She did not persuade me to stay. I left without being told whether this could be detrimental to my health.

I was devastated and I am still very very upset by the whole thing. My discharge summary was full of mis information.