"The nurses in A&E were ..."

What I liked

The nurses in A&E were rushed off their feet but remained caring, efficient and polite at all times, they do a brilliant job. The paramedics who took me to the hospital were lovely and very professional. The staff and nurses of the digestive diseases ward on floor 9 of the millenium block are brilliant - really nice, friendly, caring and very thorough.

What could be improved

After spending 5 hours in A&E on a trolley I was finally sent to "zone 5" (I think that's what they called it). This was like some sort of holding facility where the patients were kept until they were moved to a more permanent ward. The staff were obviously very busy here too (as in all parts of the hospital), but when I was visited by a doctor (followed by lots of other doctors or students) I barely got a chance to speak to him before he rushed off to the next patient. I realise that the doctors are busy, but I had been brought in the previous night with severe abdominal pains, 2 surgeons in A&E said it was my appendix which would likely be removed in the morning, but despite me still being in considerable pain (even after many painkillers) the doctor waved his hand and said it wasn't my appendix and was off before I had a chance to open my mouth! Following this brief visit I was sent to the digestive diseases ward where I spent two days being given more painkillers before being sent home. I am still in some pain and have visited my GP as a follow-up. I am now paying for tests privately to find out what caused the excruciating pain I found myself in, and what is still causing the discomfort I am still suffering from. I did say, when I was admitted that I thought it was a gynae problem, but they sent me to a ward for people suffering with digestive problems, which, whilst it was a very nice ward and the nurses were lovely, wasn't where I should have been.

Anything else?

I am disappointed that no-one tried to find out what was causing my pain and that the answer was simply to give me painkillers. My GP and the consultant I saw subsequently at the Nuffield were both surprised that I wasn't given a more thorough examination (other than a doctor prodding my stomach) and an ultrasound. I find it odd that there was no investigation and I was just dosed with morphine and paracetamol for 3 days before being sent home. I was admitted to hosptial with what I described at the time as the worst pain I have ever felt (even worse than labour!!!) and yet no-one tried to find out what caused it? It was simply decided that it wasn't appedicitis as originally thought so that was that, no need for any tests. Yet here I am having scans, internals and now visits to gynaecologists. Could some of this not be done whilst I was on the premises and in pain?