"Disappointing"

I was admitted to Kingston Hospital last February 2018 for an operation to remove stage 3 bowel cancer. The operation went well but recovery in the ward was harrowing. Apart from 2 nice nurses the others I encountered were unpleasant and unhelpful. They were also missing in action for long periods and I had to go looking for help on 3 occasions when other patients in my ward needed urgent attention.

I then underwent 3 months of chemotherapy and apart from one surly receptionist the staff in this unit were wonderful.

I had a follow up with Colorectal Oncology in July 2018 where I discussed the fact that I had developed peripheral neuropathy from the the chemotherapy. I was told that it was early days and they would follow up at my next visit. The neuropathy got increasingly worse so I contacted my MacMillan nurse mid August to ask for help. She advised that someone would get back to me. By mid November I had heard from no one and didn't receive a three monthly appointment notification so I called my Macmillan Nurse again. I was told I was supposed to have attended an appointment that morning but I hadn't received a letter, call or text let alone any advice on managing the neuropathy. I was pretty angry by this stage so said I would prefer to wait until the new year to see them. Fortunately my GP managed to get me a referral to the pain clinic at Royal Marsden in Sutton (something that Kingston Hospital should have done) and they have been helping me manage my neuropathy.

I called Kingston mid February, again speaking to my MacMillan nurse as I was unable to contact Colorectal Oncology. I asked what was happening with my checkup and CT scan and was told someone would get back to me. At the end of February I gave up and asked my GP to arrange to transfer my records to St Georges. I received a letter from St Georges within 5 days and have now seen them and had my CT Scan so I am a lot happier that my treatment is back on track, no thanks to Kingston.