"My operation for a new knee"

Up to the time of this operation I always had a high opinion of the NHS.  This experience shattered that.

I was admitted into hospital in July.  I was due to have a total replacement of the left knee.

I had a high temperature after the op. and the doc thought I had a bladder infection.  i was catheterised.

When the catheter was removed I was unable to retain urine and so was given bottles.

The staff nurses refused to accept this and tried to make me walk to the toilet, with the result that I was urinating on the floor and wetting myself.  A great embarrassment for a 67 year old male.  One of the senior nurses did not have a clue how to talk to people -  took great delight in shouting at me and asking if I was a child as I kept  wetting myself.  From shift to shift no one was taking on board that I had an infection and could not retain urine.  Some nurses gave me a bottle , others removed them & let me wet the floor and pyjamas.

On the third day I was asked if I would like a shower.  I was placed in a shower cubicle on a stool and left unsupervised.  I managed my upper body, but when trying to wash my groin I fell off the stool and onto the floor.  I was lyin , naked on the groin with, suddenly, nurses all around me shouting at me.  I have never been so embarrassed in my life.  One nurse was screaming that they weren't allowed to pick me up. 

Well get someone who can I shouted back.  Eventually I managed to worm my way around  to a grab handle and pull my self up.  No one remained to help dry me or get me back to bed.  The person in the next bed said that there were 5 nurses outside the shower room gossiping when I fell.

I had hurt my ankle when falling and asked on a number  of occasions to see a Doctor.  This request was stalled for 2 hours.  Eventually one came, but the Doctor seemed more interested on blaming my falling in the shower on me rather than a lack of supervision.

The rest of the stay was very much the same, some nurse supplying a bottle, other saying thing like the physiotherapist says you have to walk and watching me wet myself.

I still had the infection when they eventually released me.

I have to say that I will fight tooth & nail before they get me into Ninewells again.