"Very poor experience with gastroscopy"

This hospital must be close to serious over capacity. I waited nearly five weeks for an appointment. A full waiting room at 7pm. The department was due to close at 9pm. Poor pre procedure checks and informed consent as to the full range of risks. The procedure itself was competely unsuccessful with vomitting whilst the endoscope was in place. I can be fairly sure this was caused by fluid entering the lung and producing a severe reflex. I was told it will take two weeks for another appointment to conduct the same procedure and then sent home. Follow-up call to the department the next day resulted in initial intransigence by staff and then eventually a call from the Consultant who conducted the procedure. They have referred me to the Consultant in charge of my care but at the time of writing this review I have no appointment ,no alternative procedure, no diagnosis and no treatment. The notices on the wall in the waiting room all say that my symptoms could be cancer and to seek early diagnosis - anywhere else but the Norfolk and Norwich.

I appreciate that some areas of Norfolk and Norwich offer excellent care and treatment but my experience with gastroscopy was terrible. I give credit where it due but this falls far below the standard of care elsewhere and points to lack of facilities, poor management and procedures being carried out too quickly and under pressure. If you try to go private you get the same Consultants operating out of the Spire and at Kings Lynn (on a Thursday) and they insist on a full Consultation before the procedure takes place.