"An Unhappy Week in the Basement of Pembury..."

I was referred to Pembury Hospital A&E by my GP due to a suspected appendicitis - here is a timeline of events.

Tuesday -2:15pm arrival to A&E. 4:40pm consultant admitted to hospital for the night - sat in the consultant room until 11pm. 11pm arrive on a makeshift ward set up in the basement of the hospital. This area was the recovery room, for where patients come out of surgery. I was advised I would have an Ultrasound at 10:30am the next morning.

Wednesday - From 2am advised had to be Nil by Mouth. At 1pm Doctor came round for their visit and they confirmed that I would have the scan and blood tests today and that we would have an answer of whether surgery would be required or not. At 6pm advised that the scan would not be happening today, and that I could go and eat. However, no observations were made until the evening. 10pm - first blood test and first obs check. Nurse made comment that they couldn't find previous notes.

Thursday - From 12am Nil by Mouth. Scan taken at 12:30pm. I was further advised that more blood tests needed, but none happened. I was later moved to a short stay ward - still an open ward not private rooms. After the Nurse changeover, they came with medication before bed - the nurse said I had not taken any pain relief today, however, I had been taking the medication from previous nurse, but the new nurse said this was not written down in my notes.

Friday - 9am second blood test (bearing in mind had not received any feedback from previous test). Doctor advised if the blood test came back ok, I could go home as nothing had shown up in the scan. 4pm - asked nurse if there was any news, after a few minutes later the nurse came back with my discharge letter. No solution found for my abdominal pain or further advise provided.

Given I was not very well, the experience added to the stress and anxiety. Overall my experience was disappointing and frustrating.The lack of communication and constant delays to patients is unacceptable. Due to the open environment of the ward, it was also upsetting to witness other patients distressed - for example, elderly people wetting the bed due to Nurses ignoring their calls/alarms. Other patients being sick and ignored and someone who I believe from conversations had been in the ward for a week with a fractured ankle waiting for an x-ray.

Furthermore, the carpark situation is ridiculous. There is not enough car park spaces for the amount of staff, visitors and patients. People are having to park where they can within the carpark but not in designated bays, in order to visit their loved ones. Then what is happening is ticket staff are coming around and giving people car park tickets for not parking in a bay. When you enter the carpark you have to take a ticket - so people are still paying their carpark fees - they are not trying to avoid paying or obstructing anyone. Where are they supposed to park? The hospital is in the middle of nowhere. How is the hospital allowing this to happen?