"Lack of pain relief after foot surgery"

I recently had a operation after nineteen months of waiting and sixty visits to three different hospitals. When i did eventually get my operation i was admitted to a mixed orthapedic ward and told i would be in overnight and allowed home the next morning.

That never happened. I had my operation and later that day the consultant came to see me and apologised because the minor operation didn't go to plan and a major operation was performed instead. I was a bit upset but relieved that the operation was out of the way and i would be pain free. That never happened.

The care i received on the ward was dreadful. The nurses took me to the toilet on a commode twice then informed me that they didn't have time to keep taking me and i would have to start getting there myself, bearing in mind i was not weight bearing on my feet and had no crutches.

I had to wait until visiting time and a member of my family could take me. I rang my buzzer as i was in agony. When the nurse came to see me her first words were "what?". I asked for some pain relief and her answer was: "wait two hours and i will see what i can do."

I think it is a disgrace when i was prescribed morphine to be given, and i am being told to wait in an abrupt manner. My foot was put in a plaster cast then the physio made me weigh bear. The pain was horrific after three steps, i nearly collapsed because of that. I was in even more pain and my foot swelled that much the plaster had to be removed. The nurses' attitude was hurry up we need the bed.

They complained, they only did checks when the doctors came round, and the way they spoke to all patients was awful. I was very clear they did not want to be there. I think they forget that neither do the patients. I hope i never have to go to hospital again, the five day experience was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.