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"Gynecology at this hospital is for slime in a..."

About: Croydon University Hospital

I am 71 and experienced vaginal bleeding. I went to my GP and UCH gave me an appointment very promptly. At every appointment for investigations I was given a card to fill in asking how the experience had been and they had all been good; until we came to the important parts. I was told that my problem was because I am fat - thanks - there is a reason and it isn't six Mars bars a day. I wish it was because then I'd be thin. I was to have a procedure and was told at first that I was to have an epidural because of said weight and my general health - I had polio as a child which has given me with many problems now. I was picked up by ambulance which was ok but from then on I felt like nothing. I was just a specimen in a petri dish with no say or mind or opinion. I was told I would be having a general anesthetic. I was just carried along with the flow. When I came to after the procedure - while still groggy - a man came up to me and said 'You have abnormal cells' and then walked away. They had put long stockings on me to offset thrombosis and my feet started to swell - and swell - and swell. I asked the nurse to help me remove the stockings. She made an excuse. The six times I asked again I was also put off with excuses ranging from I'm busy to I have to spend a penny and each time I was told they would be back. Eventually after much struggling on my part I managed to get one stocking off and the other half off. My feet were like balloons and very painful. By then I was fully wake and hobbled on my crutches over to the nurses station which was in the male side of the ward and almost forced a nurse to take off the second stocking. She was shocked at the state of my feet and agreed that it must have been extremely painful. The nurses spent very little time in the female side of the recovery ward but a lot on the male side. I had, earlier in the day, told a nurse who took my medical notes that I was prone to heavy bleeding. My blood does not clot very well. I thought this was important in case I hemorrhaged and they needed to know. They took out the tubes in my hand, I went to the WC and wondered where the blood everywhere was from until I found it was from the wound site in my hand. I told the nurses what had happened and they gave me a thicker dressing for the wound. Just as I was leaving the ward I was told they were going to give me an injection. I asked what for and was told some Latin name. I asked twice more with the same response. I pointedly said ' Not what is it called but what is it for' and was told it was to stop my blood clotting. I lost all confidence in your hospital at that moment. I received a follow up appointment which I thought was to tell me what had been found but it was for a very painful biopsy from my cervix.I was told I would get a letter fully explaining everything within four weeks. I tried to complain but got no response except a phone call while I had an appointment at the hospital.

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Responses

Response from Croydon University Hospital 9 years ago
Croydon University Hospital
Submitted on 19/01/2015 at 14:11
Published on nhs.uk on 20/01/2015 at 00:01


I am so sorry to learn of your experience and I will be happy to investigate your concerns and ensure that we provide a full response to the issues you have raised. Please contact me on 020 8401 3000 ext 5990 or at graham.richardson@croydonhealth.nhs.uk. Alternatively, you can contact our complaints department on 020 8401 3352 or at complaints@croydonhealth.nhs.uk. Graham Richardson, Deputy Manager PALS and Complaints

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