"Disappointing"

I arrived at 0900 for a liver biopsy but there seemed to be some confusion about where I was supposed to be. 8 was asked to wait in the reception area of the ward where I was instructed to come and after an hour and twenty minutes of waiting I followed up with the receptionist, fearing I had been forgotten.

The receptionist explained I would be seen in due course but only after I pressed that I was advised someone was coming to collect me did they make enquiries. I was then swiftly taken to a neighbouring ward, asked to put on a robe and wait to be taken to ultrasound.

I was taken to ultrasound in a wheelchair, upon arrival the nurse was upset that I hadn't been taken on a bed.

The actual biopsy procedure was fairly straightforward but the room where it was performed seemed ramshackle (the ceiling was missing some tiles and the room seemed cluttered). The procedure was also a lot more uncomfortable than I had envisaged, causing me to jolt with pain as my liver was punctured.

I was eventually returned to the ward to rest.

Although I haven't eaten since last night as I was instructed to do, it is now 1700 the following day and I haven't been provided with any sustenance at all, apart from some water. The nurse said they would enquirer about getting me some food several hours ago and then nothing came of it. I enquired if I could nip to the hospital cafe as I hadn't eaten since the night before and was denied.

On the ward where I was taken to rest, it was full of people pushing into my bed, having loud conversations and radio blaring. I felt I wasn't able to rest nor did I have any privacy. One of the people around me sat at the foot of my bed resting their arm on it, causing the bed to shake, and having a loud conversation about a music video they wanted to shoot. They then also bragged to their companion how they were equipped with a knife in their ankle.

My experience from arrival to right now felt chaotic, lacking in care and unprofessional.