"I was prevented from dying that day."

Around this time last year I was walking the dog at about 7 o'clock in the morning - I had already been sick which was unusual and was feeling a little unwell. My stomach was hurting a little bit and I went home, the pain increased and eventually I telephoned 111, a paramedic was sent and I was taken directly to SEAU.

There I was assessed and diagnosed with a suspected punctured bowel,   later that day I had a scan and was scheduled for an operation the next morning. I had peritonitis, a punctured bowel and inflamed appendix - I was feeling pretty ropey. The operation took place the next day and a Hartman's procedure was carried out along with an appendectomy. I was prevented from dying that day.

I spent two days in the high dependency unit and then on to Greetwell ward. I found it very very hard to come to terms with having a stoma but the ward staff did their best, my care on Greetwell was absolutely fantastic, the nursing staff were brilliant, caring and made a horrible experience so much nicer.  

My stoma was temporary and  regarding the re-connection operation I then looked for a second opinion after having read extensively on the subject, I talked to the colorectal team at Lincoln and at Queens in Nottingham, because of the conversations that I had with both consultants I decided to go to Nottingham mainly because I had a large hernia and Nottingham specialised in difficult cases.

I was released after seven days from Nottingham but developed dehiscence on the laparotomy scar - this went septic and was really smelly. I was seen again by SEAU in Lincoln and after two days was transferred to Clayton Ward. Once again the care was fantastic, the nurses work very very hard and seem to have so much to do. For three of the days the main nurse was Sian and she went out of her way to make sure that I understood exactly what my care plan was and that I was completely satisfied with the information, I remain very impressed and grateful to her.  

After five days in hospital with intravenous antibiotics I was released again to the care of the community nurses. Everything so far seems to be going very well I cannot praise Lincoln hospital and especially the nursing staff highly enough I do not understand the CQC ranking as I could not see how my nursing care could have been better.