"I left still knowing nothing"

Sadly in July 2014, I miscarried at 13 weeks pregnant and was admitted to Ward 24 @ St James via A&E for 3nights!

A&E WERE FANTASTIC, from what I can remember. It was all abit of a blur!

When on the ward, everything seemed like hard work to the senior staff. Clinical support, house keepers and portering staff were fantastic! So polite and respectful!

I wasn't in a very good frame of mind and was in agonising pain and large amounts of blood loss causing me to have low blood pressure and to feel lethargic. I slept, all the time with the added help of the pain relief!

On several occasions I waited 1-2hours for what should of been regular pain relief and asked several times expressing the pain!

3 days of nil by mouth awaiting surgery, nobody explaining what was going on!

Forgetting to tell me I wasn't going to surgery so I could eat and drink.

In the 4 whole days and 3 nights I was admitted I had my observations done once whilst being on the ward.

I didn't know one member of nursing staffs names nor did I know the doctors either.

If it wasn't for my partner asking whilst I was asleep, what the IV was for? I would never of known I was being treated for a infection and was on antibiotics.

They give me 2 tablets before surgery, which when I asked what they were for was told "they just help your cervix" leaving me still clueless!

To be told I will be discharged in the next hour and I wouldn't have to wait as my medication was already on the ward. 5 hours later I was discharged and a doctor saying when he is ready he sort my discharge paper work out!

The list could go on! !

Due to the situation I couldn't think straight I didn't ask questions. I should have.

I left still knowing nothing.

Looking back, the whole experience was made more distressing and upsetting because of the horrible stay in hospital!

As a CSW @ SJUH myself, I felt sickened that standard of care is seen as acceptable!