"Two disappointing experiences that need not..."

My wife is in Worcester Royal Hospital where she has undergone tests following low blood count levels. The tests have included a blood transfusion, monitoring of blood levels and also an endoscopy.

Our disappointments come from two areas that really need not have happened but are most upsetting at a time when you are naturally feeling extremely anxious and nervous.

The first upsetting time was when 10.00 p.m. she was deeply asleep when she was rudely woken up to find her belongings being stuffed into green plastic bags and she being told she was being moved to the temporary endoscopy ward. She was woken from a deep sleep, did not know what was happening and taken to the new ward which was dark. She was dumped and frightened. She did not sleep and when I arrived early in the morning all she wanted to do was come home! Why this could not have been done first thing in the morning is a mystery. Care, empathy and consideration for the feelings of my wife were in short or no supply!

She improved and by mid morning was comfortable. She was seen by the consultant on his rounds and at about 1.00 p.m. she was taken for the endoscopy. This was completed and she returned to the ward around 1.40 p.m.

We expected that at some time within two and a half hours we would be told by the surgeon/consultant the outcome of the findings of the endoscopy. We waited until just after 6.10 p.m. when I thought that 4 hours 30 minutes was enough time and went to the desk to ask what was happening.

The male nurse reluctantly said that he did not think a doctor would now be coming and my wife would need to stay for another night. He tactfully said that my wife would need to have another endoscopy because the first had been rather unclear.

We were astounded and could still have been sitting there patiently for hours longer!

We believe we were forgotten, being in a temporary area. Earlier we were told by the consultant that all being well she could come home tonight. It would have taken five minutes only to explain and we would have understood. Instead we wasted two to three further hours just sitting there waiting optimistically for good news. We are really unhappy and my wife was once again upset. .

At the same time we both want to say that we also experienced so many lovely, caring members of staff across the responsibility scales who had all the special qualities you would hope for in hospital. They were an example to all.