"Completely unacceptable levels of basic care"

Three weeks ago, my GP surgery called me at home and explained, that following my recent blood test results, coupled with ongoing symptoms, I was being referred under the 2 week urgent wait referral for Bowel Cancer. I was told that I would be seen ASAP. Last week, my GP admitted me to hospital as they were concerned at my iron levels and dehydration. I was initially admitted to the MEAU Ward. My vitals were checked and I was hooked up to an intravenous drip. The staff on this ward were lovely.

At midnight, I was awoken by one of the nurses, explaining that I would be moving wards. I packed my belongings and waited...2 hours later, a porter arrived and wheeled my bed to Carlton/Colbey ward. It took the staff here 40 minutes to check me in and I was finally left to sleep at 3am...

This is where my nightmare began:

- I was freezing cold, having only been left with the original sheet from the MEAU. I asked for a blanket but was told they had ran out. I had to use my dressing gown to keep warm. 

- my husband tried to bring me a blanket in the following day, but was told he couldn’t due to Covid. 

- in the 4 days I was there, my bed was changed once. The same blood stained sheet from where my cannula had been put in remained on my bed throughout my stay. 

- the most difficult symptom I had was severe diarrhea. I was opening my bowels on average of 15 to 20 times a day. The diarrhea was watery and extremely strong smelling. The side room I was given had no toilet. When the nurse checked me in, they asked the member of staff which toilet I should use, and the response was “she can’t use the toilets. She’ll have to make do with a commode...” A commode was then wheeled in. I was obviously concerned about this but was told, “as soon as you’ve used it, press your buzzer and Someone will come straight away to empty it...” 

- on average, it took the staff 20/25 minutes to respond to the buzzer. On one occasion, I had filled the bowl with diarrhea and it took so long for someone to respond to the buzzer, that I had to go again. My tiny room was now filled with the stench of 2 lots of diarrhea...and STILL

no one came to help me. My husband arrived to visit during this episode and was, quite rightly, very angry. He found a member of staff and insisted it was collected. This became typical of my experience...

- the nurses kept asking for a stool sample. It was difficult for me as my stools were very much liquid form. On 2 occasions, where I did manage to provide a ‘solid’ stool, the night team accidentally threw it away without keeping some for testing.

- the majority of staff were agency and didn’t know my situation.

- every morning, I was seen by a doctor and each time was told that I needed a Colonoscopy and CT scan (I already knew this, as I had already been referred under the 2 week wait). However, the day would come and go and nothing would happen. After 3 long days of being in hospital, a member of the endoscopy team came to see me on the ward. They were angry that I had been in for so long without being seen. They told me that the ward were to blame and that my notes had only been sent that day. They said, “if we had known you needed a colonoscopy when you arrived...we would have given you one when you arrived. You have only been referred today...”

- I was obviously really upset about this. I then asked the ward to make sure that I had actually been referred for the CT scan. No one could answer me. One nurse said I had been referred for an x-ray but had no date. I did not need an x-Ray. I was told that I was ‘on the wrong ward...’ so they had ‘probably just forgotten about me...’ 

-  On day 4, I was finally seen by the endoscopy unit. Because a colonoscopy takes a lot of prep, I was given a sigmoidoscopy instead as this only required an enema. However, after the sigmoidoscopy, the consultant said I still needed the full colonoscopy and CT scan. I was so fed up at this point that I asked if I could be seen as an out-patient instead. They agreed and said I could go home.

- when I got back to the ward, I was told it would take a while for the discharge papers to be ready. In the meantime, I asked for my cannula to be removed. The nurse agreed and said they’d ‘be right back...’ 2 hours later, I had to ask again. They said, ‘Oops, I forgot...I’ll do it now...’ and then left the room and didn’t return! Half an hour later, when they came to check my blood pressure - I asked for a 3rd time. They then proceeded to show me their hand and said, ‘sorry, I wrote it on my hand (in black felt-tip) to remind myself but it’s been wiped off...’ and said, ‘let me get rid of this machine (blood pressure) and I’ll come back and do it...and then left...and STILL didn’t come back!!! FOUR hours after initially asking, I pressed my buzzer and a different nurse came in. They took it out straight away (it took seconds).

I came home on Saturday evening. I  was told by the endoscopy team that I was still an urgent case so would have the appointments through ASAP. I was advised to leave it until Tuesday and if I hadn’t heard from the hospital, then to ring them. 

Tuesday I rang. I was passed around a number of people who didn’t know how to help. Eventually, I was put through to my consultant’s secretary. I expected to ring and to be given the dates for the colonoscopy and CT. however; instead I was informed that my notes were STILL on the ward and that the discharge paperwork had not been completed - she said it appeared that I was still in hospital. I left 4 days ago. This is absolute abandonment. I cannot get an appointment until the ward requests it. I left 4 days ago, yet my notes are still on the ward and the discharge paperwork has still not been signed.

I was told 3 weeks ago now that i needed an urgent appointment to check for bowel cancer. I was told I would be seen within 2 weeks. Despite having spent 4 days in hospital, I am no closer to having any answers. If anything, my hospital stay has slowed everything down. I still don’t have the appointments. 

Whilst I fully appreciate that the hospital is short staffed, it is completely unacceptable to not even have the basic level of care. Additionally, I cannot accept that Covid has played any part in this poor treatment. Lincolnshire has one of the lowest rates and Lincoln hospital has a very minimal number of cases. I was, quite simply, forgotten about. I was put onto a ward where I was left to sit in my own faeces. My experience has left me upset, emotional, depressed and anxious. After ringing the hospital today, I have no confidence that I will be seen. The secretary confirmed that I was ‘still an urgent case’ and they could see the urgent referral. If you are not going to see patients within 2 weeks - then please don’t call it a 2 week referral.

I have always hailed the NHS. I have had a number of procedures over the years and have never, ever complained. I am very tolerant and understanding and  am always very grateful for NHS care..however, I honestly can’t let this go. The treatment I received in Lincoln hospital was appalling. 

I just hope that I haven’t got cancer and that this hideous experience, and continued delay, will not have a negative impact on my health.