"Experience in Recovery 13"

I was admitted on 4/5/17 for procedure in Gynaecology. The staff and doctors were marvelous! Caring, professional, treated me with dignity and respect. Really listened and calmed my nerves. After my procedure I was taken to a mixed sex recovery room 13 and that's when it all went downhill!!!

My nurse and anaesthetist from my procedure kept asking for someone to receive me, take handover, and process me for a ward. Finally a nurse came along and took handover. However soon after the nurse goes on their break.

I lay on bed for a while, fell asleep, woke to find everything going on around me as usual. Waited for my nurse to return not knowing they were away on break. At this point I'm so hungry and thirsty!

Nurses around me were serving other patients their sandwiches, tea and water. Finally, realising no one would attend to me, I called a nurse over and asked the nurse for a drink and something to eat!

At this point it was after 2pm. My procedure was around 10.00am. Nil by mouth since 12 a.m. The nurse tells me my nurse was on their break and my notes dont say I can drink or eat!

I asked the nurse to please find out as I was desperate for water!

The nurse continues tending to the lady beside me and totally ignored me. After 10 minutes I called the nurse again. The nurse said they do not know if I can still drink. ...so I said to the nurse to please have my doctor talk to me!

The nurse then realises I'm serious and calls my nurse who was on break. My nurse then says yes..give her food and drink. .and comes off their break!

When they got to me I explained my frustration. Unbelievably, the nurse that had ignored me came to the foot of my bed and ranted at me that ' they had no choice. They were busy with their own patient! '

So my reply? How is it my problem if the nurse allocated to me had to have a break??? Am I to be left unattended because of that?? Where is the continuity for patients?

The nurse just shrugged their shoulders and walked away.

I did not expect that sort of care at Frimley park and was shocked and disappointed! !

At this Recovery area....nurses told me to go ahead and report this behaviour as they were fed up of being understaffed! !!

There is also a culture of lack of respect and dignity in this area which is mixed sex as nurses routinely discussed confidential details in front of other patients! !! Absolutely disgusting!

My experience was only made better by the excellent treatment I received when I moved to a ward!!!

There I was treated with utmost care and respect. Staff couldn't do enough for me and I was very happy and content there. Comparing recovery 13 to the ward? It felt I was in a different hospital.

Can someone please do something about that degrading recovery room 13 as I fear this could happen to an elderly person who is unable to speak for themselves!