"Caring at its best?"

Reading some of the reviews praising LGH, I think I must have been in a different hospital. If the care I received is 'caring at its best', I'd hate to see the worst. I was admitted to Ward 28 as an emergency in October following four months of bouts of severe gallbladder pain. I was jaundiced and had fainted with the pain at home that morning. I was put on oxygen and IV fluids and catheterised that night by a dour nurse who barely spoke to me. I thought this was because I was about to undergo surgery, but no explanation was given at the time.There are easier and less invasive ways to monitor urine output and all catheterization does is immobilize a mobile patient. With the oxygen line, IV stand and catheter I was effectively tethered to my bed for three days and had to plead with nurses to temporarily disconnect IV and oxygen so I could carry out basic hygiene. I was wheeled to my MRI through public corridors carrying a bag of urine which was humiliating. I was moved five times in four days. Patients couldn't sleep for the noise from a dementia patient who shouted constantly and hurled objects and a patient with known mental health issues who threatened to operate on herself, also there was noise from printers, keyboards and chattering staff at night. I was moved to Ward 23 for ERCP and planned cholecystectomy. There were delays with my MRI and ERCP which lengthened my stay, unnecessarily, by 2 days costing the NHS (I am ex-staff, so cost conscious). Despite sedation, I was conscious throughout most of my ERCP when a biliary stent was placed. I was surprised to be discharged next day without having undergone the promised cholecystectomy. My discharge papers and drugs did not arrive on the ward. It took a week of us ringing up before the discharge papers arrived at home. Seven weeks later I attended Outpatient 1 for further ERCP to clear more stones.Another stent was inserted, sphincterectomy performed and they attempted removal of the original stent, but it got 'lost', so is somewhere in my digestive system waiting to puncture vital organs and cause havoc.

There was no 'balloon' available to assist removal. Again the sedation was slow to kick in, but this time the procedure lasted an hour, during which I gagged every time the Endoscopist thrust the endoscope into my throat. It was traumatic. On the plus side, most of the nurses were very kind, despite being overworked and the Wards I was on were clean. Bedding was changed daily. Food was much better than anticipated. However I feel there are issues which need addressing regarding organisation and communication with patients and other staff. My care lacked cohesion and there did not seem to be a person in charge to whom I could address questions. I have been sent home from ERCP and told if I have any bleeding or pain from the 'lost' stent out of hours. I should phone for a paramedic: nobody available out of hours at LGH ? I have no idea what happens next and nobody to ask.