"Better than Expected"

I was in two minds about doing this review and decided that I

should because I wasn't going let one night ruin my opinion of

the staff and hospital.

My first encounter was with A&E on a Sunday evening. I knew it

would be busy, and was expecting a good few hours wait. I had

to leave after 3 hours though due to the pain/discomfort I was

in. I can't knock A&E for this, it's A&E, that's just how it

is. I went back the next day, Monday and was seen in about 3

hours. The nurses and doctors were great, I felt at ease and

they explained what was happening to me. I got sent for an xray

and had some tests and was told I'd torn my Achillies tendon.

I got various appointments during the week for an ultrsound and

to go to the orthopedic department which all went very smoothly,

again the staff were very helpful and explained to me what was

happening. On Thursday I was told I needed and operation to fix

my Achillies and I would need operating on as soon as possible

and that I should prepare to come into hospital either on that

Sunday or Monday.

I got a call to say I would be in Monday and I would need to

go to ASU for surgery first thing Monday morning. My operation

went ahead as planned on Monday and I stayed on ASU until early

hours Wednesday when I was moved to a different ward for

discharge.

My overall experience was beyond what I expected and I want

to thank all Orthopaedic staff, the nurses, the porters (good

laugh) especially the lady porter who took me down to theatre,

thankyou for keeping my mind off the impending op, the theatre

staff, the anaethetist for putting me at ease, too many to thank.

On the downside, and this is why I wasn't too sure about doing

this review, my final night on ASU was like I'd gone into a

different dimension and left me feeling completely bewildered.

I'm sure the staff must know that patients can hear what they're

saying when they go about their jobs, so when you just start

your night shift, why would you say at the top of your voice

"I'm doing F*** all tonight" swiftly followed by "Bo****ks to

these lot".

Then the gentleman across from me, who that afternoon had

had a hip replacement and was in agony because no meds

round had been done, called out to a nurse that his drain had

fallen on the floor, got the reply "Pick it up then".

The meds round wasn't done until 11:30pm, by which time myself

and the gent across from me were in a fair bit of pain. When the

round was done the nurse dispensing the meds was doing it in the

dark and kept having to go near the entrance of our bay to read

what it said on the medicine packet, until she switched all the

lights on. Should have done it earlier!

Myself and two others then got notice we were going to be

moved to another ward, so we sat awake on our beds until 2am

waiting to be transfered to the other ward, at this point I asked

if I could go home and come back in the morning.

Polite advice to the loud nurse, CHANGE JOB, you're not

meant to be around people!