"My experience at the surgical unit was not nice at all"

On my arrival to the ward at 09:30 I pressed the buzzer as directed. A member of staff answered and explained she would be a couple of minutes and to wait in that area. I did so, and 12 to 13 minutes passed and she then arrived then to let me in.  She asked myself to sanitize my hands and put a mask on. I explained due to myself having a nasal cavity cancer I was exempt and her mannerism in return appeared very rude. I received my pre-assessment checks and sat for a further 2 and a half hours being offered sips of fluid. 

It came to half 12 and I was informed I was last on the list to be seen but unsure when this would take place by the consultant and further explanation of how he did not know why I was there or what procedure he was supposed to carry out. This made me feel very degraded and unworthy of the care I would receive off of him. He then asked what symptoms I was experiencing, and with that he then told me my situation wouldn't be causing my symptoms. This was done in a very dismissive mannerism. He also asked what treatment I had, and again with his reply to my explanation appeared very rude. On a whole his attitude and body language towards me was very upsetting to myself.

I explained that due to myself receiving harsh chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the last 6 months I have been unable to receive treatment off of my own consultant due to finishing that, and my oncology consultant has agreed to this being a suitable time to receive the minor surgical procedure. It appeared that he had no understanding why I was on his list and what he was doing with the matter.

The care and treatment received within that conversation was undignified and unthoughtful. Due to the heat and lighting in hospital I had to ask for pain relief as I experience chronic headaches with my tumor and with the minimal amount of water I was allowed to consume it made it so much worse.

It came to around 2:30 and I was asked to put on my gown and stocking which I did. It came to around 3:30 and I then asked when it would be taking place. Due to coming in at 09:30 and the minimal fluids I had drunk, my head was sore. The staff seemed quite abrupt when asking of the matter and were unsure.  I asked again at 4:30 and the same outcome was explained. A litter further on, a nurse who was very vacant with her explanation says there was a complication with the operation which was in hand by the dr and there was no news.

At 17:45 the dr returned to the ward and before myself, had a 15 minute conversation with another patient about their procedure which had taken place, then came to myself and declared the current situation - that the procedure was unable to take place and I would be placed back on my own consultant's list. Which I feel was absolutely rude of him as he was very much aware I had sat there for 8 hours waiting with only having around 350 ml of fluid and nothing to eat for 19 hours.

I appreciate the circumstances due to it not happening, but the experience for myself throughout my journey, of not receiving regular checks to see how I was, or to keep me informed and updated with my current situation was awful. The two nurses that checked on me afterwards were very understanding of my situation and comforted me, but I felt it was too little to late.

The organisation of the procedure appeared not thought through and didn't take my current situation into consideration and my experience at the surgical unit was not nice at all. I appreciate the current circumstances going on in the NHS, but that doesn't excuse the staff's mannerisms and body language to patients.  I also stayed 35 minutes from the hospital and I felt that was not taken into consideration