"Appalling service and lack of communication"

I had bowel movements twice that had blood in them. After seeking advice, an ambulance arrived and took me to the Emergency Department. I was given an appointment with the Endoscopy Department to be seen. On the Tues or Wed I received a telephone call to ask if I could attend sooner, to which I agreed.

My appointment was for 2.30pm. Being brought up to be early rather than late, I arrived at 14.10, and at 16.20 - 2 and a half hours later -  I still had not been seen. I was sat on a plastic seat in a theatre gown in an open day ward - no privacy, no communication.

After asking how much longer I would be there, I was told it would be another 5 minutes.

At 16.45 my anxiety was as a peak and I started with a panic attack, I told the receptionist I had to leave.

The following day I received a telephone call to rebook my appointment at 9 am. I then got another call asking me to attend before 8.30. I arrived at 8.05 and was booked in by the same receptionist, and again was asked to undress and sit in the same plastic chair in a hospital gown with no privacy.

At 9.20 a patient arrived and hadn’t even sat down before they were prepped and seen, when they came back through I knew all about their information, as again no privacy and everything could be overheard.

At 9.45 I had had enough, and I asked the receptionist again why the 2-hour wait when I had been asked to come in early. I was told it was due to a delay caused by the bowel cancer screening! This is the same receptionist who previously told me when giving me an appointment that I had drawn the short straw with the last appointment.

I gave up, my anxiety was all over the place and I left!!

I have worked for 55 years and have never experienced such atrocious treatment. There was no communication at all. I sat for hours without being told what was happening, in a hospital theatre gown feeling exposed in an open ward. My journey takes a 45-mile round trip and I was told not to eat or drink prior to attending. I had to get up at 5 am to attend these appointments and sat all that time without any compassion, conversation, updates or even being offered a sip of water during my 6-hour wait. It was unbelievable.

This department seriously needs improvement.

I will not go back there. I intend speaking with GP to get an appointment at a different hospital.

Twice this happened in one week – unbelievable.

I am the type of person to follow this up, but what if this was someone else and they just gave up, this could have serious consequences.