"Poor aftercare in Stanway Ward"

Both my elderly parents have recently had operations at Colchester Hospital within two weeks of each other, but with completely different experiences.

My father was on Great Tey ward which was professionally led and organised, aftercare was arranged by the ward upon his return home with a District Nurse and a re-ablement team visiting within a day.

Unlike my mothers experience on Stanway, where on her return home the promised District nurse's visit for the next day did not materalise.

Even though I rang to double check what time the District nurse would be visiting my mother and was assured by the Ward that they would be with my mother at around 6pm, this didn't happen, because Stanway Ward did not bother to organise it.

This left my mother feeling worried as to whether anyone would come to remove the staples from her abdomain or change her surgical stockings, as my father was unable to help her with this. Eventually, my father was able to get hold of a District nurse who came a few days later.

This is totally unacceptable.

I rang to complain and got no response or explanation from the nurse I spoke to on this ward. If your on this ward the surgery is fine but bring a mobile phone with you, as you will be lucky to get any messages passed on from your relatives and double check that after care has been put in place for your return home.