"Lack of communication on Mappin Ward"

Having been admitted to Thornbury after an NHS referral under Mr Howard for a coccygectomy I felt reassurred by the nurses that I dealt with. Mr Howard was his usual amiable and professional self. However I have never felt so at unease and treated with such lack of respect by the anaesthetist that came to see me.

I advised them that I had issues with general anaesthesia and there had been problems on the last 4 occasions at The Barlborough with putting a cannula in my hand due to a nervous vein and my anxiety.

Their attitude was dismissive and rude and they told me would I rather a general anaesthetic as if not I could chew on a rubber stick.

They did not take into account I was already a nervous patient and when I was sedated did nothing to ease my nerves and inflicted a lot of pain on me.

Indeed they did not return to the recovery room after my operation, when requested by the recovery nurses to put another cannula in to allow me pain relief, stating "you won't get another one in there". Luckily the nurse very efficiently managed to put one in my other hand to allow me pain relief post op.

The nurses that evening and through the night on Mappin ward were however fantastic, helping me when I almost blacked out going to the bathroom and administering pain relief and reassurance.

Unfortunately that all changed when the shift changed over in the morning and I was rudely advised by a healthcare assistant to get out of bed and get showered as I was only booked in for one night.

Mr Howard advised he was happy for me to go home if I felt up to it and that the nurses would provide me with dressings and advice on how to care for my wound.

The nurse that changed my dressing stated she didn't really know how to tackle the wound, still feeling very poorly and having a 2 hour journey to get home. I spent all day until approximately 8pm asking whether I was/wasn't going to be discharged and had to chase constantly for drugs, dressings and advice from the physio as to what I could and could not do.

Again she did not appear to know anything about my operation and advised me to do squats after having my coccyx removed...really?

From breakfast I was not offered a drink and begrudgingly given lunch. In the end it took Nurse Mosley to make my discharge happen and take charge of the situation who was also a fantastic and reassuring nurse. It is such a shame as Mr Howard was amazing, the nurses and health care assistants that dealt with me immediately post op could not have been better and I felt very well cared for but I am now petrified of having the same anaesthetist when I am booked in for my next spinal surgery.

Indeed I am concerned about the communication and attitude towards my care if I receive the same treatment which seemed to stem from the fact that I was an NHS patient and "only booked in for one night".