"I was not ready to leave after one night"

From the minute arriving on Eden Ward the initial welcome and diligence shown by the AP was outstanding. A kind and friendly gentleman, who demonstrated such fantastic interpersonal skills, making me feel relaxed and less anxious about the procedure ahead.  

My journey continued with due care and attention given by all those involved in my operation, from the consultant right the way through to the care shown by the theatre recovery team......sadly that experience was abruptly ended on my return as an inpatient to Eden Ward.  

Having worked in a hospital as clinical staff I understand the pressures, nonetheless this shouldn’t impact on the ability for staff to carry out their job to the best of their abilities, and with that provide a welcome hello, and at least make you feel like they want you there. Majority of nurses/healthcare failed to introduce themselves, merely attending the bedside to state ‘I need to do your obs’. I did try to make conversation at times, sadly to no avail with the odd glance my way occurring. That was typical of the care I experienced, albeit there was some concern shown when my BP was low (had been since Op). When they asked if I suffered with low BP, which I advised ‘No’, they then put it down to me being fit and that it was normal for me.   Pain relief was provided when needed, again with little to no interaction, other than a simple handover of medicine. I consider myself fortunate at this stage to still have a bed (morning after Op, which I must add was major surgery with most notes recommending at least 2-3 night stay). Woken at 7 to a HC saying they are taking my catheter out (again no introduction). Having removed it, they simply said nothing and walked away.

It was not until an hour later that I overheard another staff member explaining to a patient that they must not get out of bed for 30mins. On that time they need to pass urine 3 times and then have a scan. Thank the Lord I overheard!   Consultant came to talk about the Op - as expected. Next interaction came when I was told to get up and get washed. I mentioned my low BP to HC who then advised to buzz for aid. This I was going to do until the nurse came in to prompt me again, advising I would be fine as I am fit! Needless to say I struggled feeling dizzy and pretty awful throughout but thought best not to disturb them and become a nuisance.

Not much else happened during my very limited stay in this Ward, I felt so pressured to get up and out (after one night) with most staff coming in and asking ‘how many times have you been to the toilet’ despite the fact they advised us to tell them when we had. There was constant muttering when staff entered the ward, saying sorry, but we need your beds. The boss is on our backs to get you out.   This was, to say the least, extremely disheartening to hear. I felt like someone on a conveyor belt, with tick boxes next   to a number rather than a human being who had just had major surgery, feeling somewhat under the weather and, perhaps, in need of a bit of support. When I did finally make my 3rd visit to the toilet, and pass the bladder test, they couldn’t get me out quick enough. I was ushered out with my prescription of HRT, oh and once I had completed the friends question sheet (with it not being anonymous I felt intimidated to not put how I felt) with no word of a goodbye or even ‘what to do next’ I. e dressings need to be changed (no change given I might add), stockings need to be kept on for, no pain relief etc.  

All in all what started off as an experience to be thankful for, ended up in being one I would not wish to repeat. You hear the reports of how our NHS is struggling, my own experience now tells me it is but more so than just funding... the pressures from above are impacting the attitudes of some staff who, perhaps, had a very different approach on entering the healthcare profession. Whilst my own personal experience was unsavoury I do hope that lessons can be learnt from this post, and that bed managers will allow staff to undertake an holistic assessment of patients before making staff ‘kick them out’. I was not ready to leave after one night and suffered without any substantial pain relief (Morphine) which was provided by the hospital. Now several days post op, long way to go but hopefully my recovery will be quick- luckily I am fit! !