"painful, confusing and totally forgotten..."

What I liked

Hats off to the paramedics, they were amazing as were the nursing staff on all wards i was transferred to (3 in total, not including A&E). Can i also praise the porters who always tried to make me feel relaxed and put a smile on my face.. and believe me i saw a few of them!

What could be improved

Junior doctor in A&E ... they didnt have a clue!

Communication between departments.

Anything else?

In short, I was admitted on Monday 28th Feb at around 7pm after dislocating my hip. Junior doctor in A&E said it wasnt dislocated and wanted to give me crutches and send me on my way (yes i did overhear that conversation with a nurse) If it wasnt for the nurse in A&E, who had previously worked in the orthopeadic dept.that might have happened!

I was transferred to the Medical Assesment Ward overnight, then the following afternoon to a ward on C wing.then later to the orthopeadic ward, where a doctor saw me and booked me into theatre the following morning (wednesday) to put my hip back into joint.

In all the time i was in the hospital, i was in acute pain and hardly slept..except when i cried myself to sleep The orthopeadics were not aware I was admitted on the Monday..otherwise i could have had the op a day earlier.

My question is... why was i left in complete agony with a dislocated hip for over 36 hours until something was done about it?

I had previously suffered this injury last August whilst visiting the Lake District and was admitted to Lancaster hospital, where i had the op within 2 hours of being admitted.

One last point..on my discharge sheet it states that i was admitted on the Tuesday and not on the Monday.. was that a genuine mistake?..i think not!

Lesley Baker aged 46