"Frightening and concerning."

What I liked

The staff were caring.

What could be improved

I came for a sigmoidoscopy. Had informed the Dr in outpatients of complex medical history including a pacemaker fitted at St Thomas Hosp. I duly completed and returned the pre procedure questionnaire stating my pacemaker and subsequently phoned the unit to discuss my medication with a staff member in which I again mentioned the pacemaker.

On the day the staff nurse went through my medical history and I mentioned the pacemaker and was then told there may be a problem! I was seen by the nurse in charge who said I should not have been booked at a weekend as there were no staff available from cardio respiratory and they needed to be present.

I told her all of the above and was informed that my pre procedure questionnaire had been received, not checked and merely filed!

I now was told the procedure could be cancelled but I would then need to repeat a weeks prep which wasn't good for me. The alternative was to have the procedure but if I needed biopsy I'd have to come back for repeat procedure. I was also told I couldn't have diathermy even in an emergency if I had bleeding.

I decided to go ahead and there were no complications luckily and I got a diagnosis.

On reflection the hospital failed in duty of care as they did not act on the information provided.

It also raises a more serious issue concerning patients with pacemakers being treated at weekends or bank hols. There was no on call member of staff available from cardio resiratory to come in or consult. Why? St Thomas Hosp was contacted and they had cover. I understand that this in breech of regulations concerning patients fitted with pacemakers.

Anything else?

The Dr and nursing staff were good and I am highlighting this as a complete systems failure so that it doesn't place other patients at risk.