"Being taken to hospital with a broken ankle."

We arrived at A&E via ambulance shortly before midnight on a Saturday night, however was not seen by a doctor until 5:30am Sunday morning to be asked whether I'd had an X-ray.

I'd not seen anyone so the answer was no. I asked if the reception staff knew how long it would be before I was seen as the painkillers I'd been given on the ambulance had long worn off and asked if there was any chance of some. I felt like I was being a nuisance. I had sat there since being booked in without bothering the staff at all until that point. It made me feel that other patients were being prioritised over me.

After I had seen the doctor within 30 minutes I had been given some painkillers, had an X-ray, leg put in plaster and was transferred to a ward, however it was after a 5 1/2 hour wait.

Once I was admitted to Neustadt Welton ward I could not praise the staff enough. Everyone I came across were friendly, polite, professional, caring, and most of all as helpful as they could be. Which then highlighted the shambles of an experience I had had in A&E.

I had had my operation on the Monday and again the theatre staff were fantastic. I was seen by physio first thing Tuesday morning, a brief encounter checking I can take 5 steps on crutches and could make it up and down 5 steps of a staircase. Once back to my room I was asked if I could get up as they wanted my bed. So I got up as quickly as possible, had my things packed and was moved to the relatives waiting room next to the nurses station at 9am to be told they will be discharging me.

I was then just left, then only person who actually came to ask me if I was OK or needed anything was the lady serving drinks and lunch. Not once was I offered any pain relief or seen by a nurse. I was given my lunch and again left to sit and wait. Eventually I was told my meds would be ready at 2:30pm then I should be able to go home. However it was nearer 4pm before I  got my meds, and discharge papers. When I read them the doctor had omitted to clarify I was fit to fly as I had a domestic flight booked and the consultant had confirmed I would be able to fly. So I asked the nurse to have it added to my papers, again I was made to feel like I was being awkward but needed the clarity on my paperwork as suggested by the consultant and his team.

Once the addition had been made I read it and saw that my name had been spelt wrong, so had to point this out as it wouldn't match my flight tickets, I also had to ask for a sick note. 

Finally I left the hospital at 5pm not once did anyone offer to assist my 69 year old mother in pushing me out of he ward or to the front doors. 

So then long and short of it is it was a terrible start, a positive and encouraging stay but an absolutely diabolical end to my experience of being admitted to Lincoln County Hospital.