"Mixed experiences"

I was admitted via the SDA unit for elective surgery. The staff in the SDA unit were friendly and helpful. My only comment would be that the waiting area is not very comfortable.

When I was due to have my operation I was taken by a member of staff to the theatre. The staff in the pre-operative area were very sensitive to the fact that I was extremely anxious. When I came round in the recovery room I was again treated with respect and care. I had to wait here for about 6 hours for a bed to become available, but had no problem with this as the member of staff looking after me could not do enough.

Eventually, a bed was available on Edgefield Ward. I was in a side room, which was fine as it was quiet and I have Asperger’s and cannot cope with noise. What was not so good was the fact that I had no access to my things as my bag had been locked away somewhere for the night. Staff came in at regular intervals to take blood pressure etc. The next day my bag arrived. Throughout the day members of staff came in to give medication, take blood etc. Some of them were OK, but some were very brusque and perfunctory. When I rang my bell, I had to wait a considerable time for anyone to come. My morphine pump broke and kept emitting an ear-piercing beep. This was not removed until the night staff came on. I found it difficult to sleep as I was in a lot of pain. However, I could not read as the lights had been switched off and the over the bed light did not work in my room.

The next day, when the day staff came on I had to ring several times to ask them to empty my catheter bag which kept becoming very full. It too a long time for someone to do this. I had been told in the morning that I could go home. However, I was told by a different member of staff that I was staying. Then I was told that I was going home, then that I wasn’t. This was very upsetting for me as I need to know what is happening. (Apart from the practicalities of arranging a lift back to North Norfolk.)

The whole atmosphere on the ward seemed to be rather chaotic and as if no-one communicated with each other, or, indeed, with the patient. Some members of staff were brusque to the point of rudeness. They did not seem to listen to questions or to things that had been said to them and acted in a perfunctory, non-caring manner. This was in total contrast to the care that I received on the day of my operation.