"Trelisk Hospital, Truro, Cornwall. Carnkie ward."

Anything else?

I spent three weeks in this Hospital, three weeks I never want to repeat. Firstly I was sent to an admission ward after some haematemesis and persistant vomiting.

The care there was ok. Then I was transferred to Carn Kie ward 48 hrs later. This ward was very noisy, mainly the staff making the noise. Late for lights out, and early rising.!

None of the doctors knew what was the matter with me. I was seen by surgeons who thought my existing hiatus hernia was the cause. It was not. I was sent to a surgical ward "Poldark". There it was much quieter, and there were more staff. I was well treated on there. However I was transferred back to Carn Kie ward after two weeks of persistant vomiting. It was dreadful, again very noisy and not enough trained staff. I was given the wrong medication on three occasions. Fortunately I am a retired nurse so know what is right and what is wrong.

My first weekend on CarnKie ward I was introduced to a strange doctor, who told me outright with a very loud voice, that I had had a mini-stroke and had developed Cerebro Vascular disease. This was not explained to me at all. However it shocked me enough to start the vomiting off again. I had to wait for ages for my medication for the vomiting, as the nurse was reluctant to give it to me, and there was only one nurse on the ward who could give it to me.

I immediately told my partner what the doctor had said. She was very shocked, but looked it up, and realised that I had had the symtoms of a stroke whilst at home. The vomiting was caused by it, and the swollen hand I had had for two days before the vomiting started.

The doctors on the Monday morning did not mention the stroke at all. It was as if they weren't interested in that, just my hernia..

My partner decided to come early one morning to see my doctor ("4th one").!! Eventually they came round and talked to me as if nothing had happened. Karen (my partner) asked them what about the stroke? She asked them if I had had a scan of my carotid arteries. I had not, so they signed me up for one immediately. That was clear.

After three weeks and one day in there I was discharged, having only just got back on to normal meals. I was dicharged on the understanding that it might have been a virus that had made me vomit. I know it wasn't it was the stroke.

There were not enough qualified staff on the ward at all. On a weekend there was one staff nurse who could attend to drips and the machines they ran through. Thirty beds on this ward, all full.