"Gynaecology - overall excellent experience"

I was referred to Liverpool Women's for suspected ovarian cancer in October 2013 & was scheduled for a total Hysterectomy and removal of ovaries in November 2013. I met the lovely female Consultant Surgeon in clinic who took the time to answer my questions. I was very anxious about having major surgery due to the potential complications from previous surgery. I signed up to the Enhanced Recovery Programme because I know being a Nurse how important it is to get going after surgery to reduce possible complications. The pre op loaded carb drinks did make a difference post op. I received a stack of patient information literature & read them all before admission. Some of the leaflets gave conflicting information about expected length of stay & were badly photocopied but they were useful to read. I went by what the surgeon said in clinic though it would have been useful to be given a more definitive date / time for discharge to arrange transport home. Liverpool Women's is a cancer centre & people travel further than Liverpool to go home. I found the care on Gynae ward 2 to be very good. The catering team did a great job with offering choices of food (the personal touch) and they were always offering hot drinks and snacks. There was one night staff nurse who in particular was fantastic & I felt very secure in her care. On my 1st night post op I was brought toast and 3 cups of tea as I'd missed supper that evening. Her kindness is something I will remember. The theatre & recovery staff were extremely kind & very compassionate. They understood how anxious patients get right before surgery. They were efficient though didn't come across as rushed at all. I was helped on the 1st day post op to have a wash etc & to have a walk around the ward. It was difficult to move & bend with an up & down incision. I was given a Morphine drip, where I pressed the buzzer for just under 24 hours. I would have liked to have kept it for longer but in reality it was better coming down so I could get mobilising & not feel sick. I had a catheter in for less than 36 hours & you can expect it to feel a bit weird when it comes out. My tip is to take into hospital a couple of baggy nighties with no complicated buttons. It was scary going home after 3 days after a big operation & I was glad to have someone at home to help me for a few weeks. The ward rang me a few days after I got home to check on me & referred me to the District Nurse to check my wound. The surgeon used internal stitching so I didn't have any stitches or clips to be removed. Overall I feel my experience at Liverpool was excellent. Nurses explained what they were doing, I was visited by the surgical team & I felt that my surgeon cared about me and the outcome of surgery. There were a few little things that as a nurse I would have done differently. However, I'm basing my review on how I feel now about the surgery & care I received. I would recommend Gynae at the Liverpool Womens Hospital to family & friends