"Shocking care on the ward"

Where to start. My partner went for emergency surgery on Sunday morning. Everyone in theatre and recovery were amazing and then he got back to the ward.  This was when I had heard from him that he had been for his operation.  I had no call to tell me he was away for the op.  When I called to ask about visiting times etc., when they eventually answered, the nurse I spoke to wasn’t aware my partner was actually back from surgery.

He asked if I would go and see him . At this point I headed straight over to ward 9b and got there about 12:30.  He showed me the dressing which was from surgery - it was soaked in blood. I said when the nurse comes in show them and you can ask to be changed. A few hours passed and no one came in to see him so I went out and asked when the doctors would be round to be advised they couldn’t tell a time but they will be round to see him.

About an hour later we saw the doctors on the ward round. They stopped outside his room and said to someone that my partner had had his surgery. They walked away - we just thought they would come back. Around 16:45 my partner started to experience pain so I went out and couldn’t see anyone so he pressed the buzzer. 2 HCSW came around 10 mins later.  When we asked if the doctors were still on the ward one said no they have finished their ward round. I said they haven’t been in to see my partner the other one then said oh someone else will come back. I then asked if they could get a nurse to come and see him and change his dressing and give pain relief. They said they will be in when they are not busy.  I said that no-one has came in to see him since he has been back on the ward.  I found them very rude.  They came back about 10 mins later and and said they had passed it on.

Half an hour had passed when eventually the nurse came in to take his obs.  At this time my partner said look I’m signing myself out. He explained that no-one had come to see him since being back from theatre, no offer of pain relief, and  then to be spoke to like that by the hcsw.  We were then told that he was missed out twice on the ward round and the nurse apologised and advised he wouldn’t be seen until the morning.  My partner wasn’t staying in there  - he went and got him painkillers and came back and I asked him to change the dressing.  We were told there wasn’t any cause for concern, but it was bulging in blood so he changed it to then say he didn’t have the proper dressings so put 3 small ones on that can only be described as pathetic plasters 

While the nurse was in a hcsw came in with my partners dinner. They didn’t even acknowledge him or say anything just slammed his dinner on the table and walked out. It felt very rude. The nurse then went away and came back with a staff member who wasn't very helpful as they couldn’t really tell us anything in regards to the operation except they thought it went ok.   

They wanted my partner to stay in overnight and then see doctor the next day.  We declined this and said he’d be better off at home. As he has capacity they said they couldn’t stop him.  We asked what stitches he had and what care plan to follow and they advised they didn’t actually know but could maybe find out.  They then came back with the form to fill out and sign which he did!

We asked for a sick note for his work. He was told this would be done in time as some other person had to sign it.  We also asked for pain relief to be told there was none to take away.  We then proceeded to leave.  So even though we did leave with his own will we left not knowing anything about the operation , or what type of stitches he had.  We went to a chemist to buy pain killers.

Overall I feel this is disgusting behaviour from ward 9B.  I completely understand staff shortages but they should look after the patients.  I hope this gets to be seen by ward 9b senior charge nurse.

We have now been to our local doctor who expressed disgusted at the way he was treated,  along with the way the wound was redressed. It is now infected as the dressing wasn’t changed nor was he given the correct medication.