"One excellent consultant saved me from many..."

Admitted in Aug 2014 with a gallstone stuck in my bile duct that had caused a severe infection in the gall bladder and liver jaundice.

The diagnosis was simple - confirm with a scan and the treatment even simpler - intravenous anti-biotics and I/V hydration.

Was admitted on Friday at 2pm wth a detailed letter from my GP with blood test results. Both of these were ignored and the nurse insisted on sending me for an X-ray as they had decided (with any input from a Dr) that I had a ruptured gall bladder. When I suggested that a ultrasound scan was more appropriate they told me that I was being offensive - and brought in a nurse to try and intimidate me !

Had the X ray which showed nothing and then they told me as it was after 5pm on a Friday I could not have a scan until Monday !!

Thankfully the next morning I was seen by the senior Consultant on Sat morning on their regular ward round. They quickly and efficiently diagnosed my condition correctly and within 30 minutes I had a scan that confirmed a stone in the duct. After a 2nd scan on Monday it was confirmed that it has passed naturally.

I should have been discharged within 3 days but ended up being in for another 2 weeks because of repeated errors by nurses not being able to install an intravenous line into my vein so that I did not get regular doses on anti-biotics and not being able to get hold of a doctor for over 8 hours as they were all in theater.

I had 2 new junior doctors attempt over 20 times to insert an I/V line into my arms - without success.

Daily blood tests also got missed and I regularly chased staff around to ensure I was not forgotten about.

This culinated in the infection spreading to my right lung and diaphragm causing a lot of pain and difficulty breathing. This was mis diagnosed by 2 Dr's and thankfully was again picked up by the senior consultant wh again very quickly and simply correctly diagnosed it - without them I dread to think how much worse it would have got.

I was able to act as my own advocate but for those who were too ill to do so they were vulnerable to repeated simple errors and omissions that collectivley had a significant impact.

The positives were that it was very clean, the food was good and most nurses excellent.

The negatives the hierarchical structure that makes Dr's unquestionable and de values the knowledge and experience of the nurses, the lack of availability of Dr's on the wards during the day once they are in surgery and the complete disregard of the patients own thoughts regarding their condition whilst slavish following the same tests and disregarding any other diagnostic evidence.

I would have to be a deaths door before I would be readmitted.