"My father's recent overnight stay at QEQM hospital"

Last week I received a message at work from my father to say his doctor had called an ambulance to take him to hospital as he suspected a blood clot on the lung (my father has asbestosis and had been coughing up blood).

I left work immediately and went to A&E at QEQM. I told the receptionist about my father and she said she had no record of his admittance so was probably not booked in yet - she would let me know when he was.

I waited for around 50 minutes but had heard nothing. I then spoke to the receptionist again. As there was still no record of him, she suddenly thought that perhaps he had been taken straight to a ward. He had in fact been taken straight to CDU.

He received excellent treatment whilst on the ward, undergoing several tests and was kept in overnight.

The next day I was unable to go to the hospital myself but my sister was going to see him instead. We then heard he was going to be coming out later that morning but had to be given some medication first.

When my sister arrived about 12:30 at the CDU she was told he had been discharged - she tried to call my father but could not get a signal.

Thinking he must have got a taxi, she went to his home (20 minutes drive away) but he was not there, and neither was my elderly mother. She then managed to contact my mother who had been brought to the hospital by a friend and found they were still waiting for the medication at the hospital.

My sister then returned to the hospital but didn't know what part they were in.

Eventually (15:00) she managed to track them down at the St Peter's Road entrance as this was nearest to the discharge unit, the other side of the hospital to CDU and where she had parked. As my father can only walk short distances, she had to move her car back to St Peter's Road.

At no time was there mention that my father had been taken to the discharge unit or where it was located. My father was not informed of the discharge procedure and that it would take so long once taken from CDU, and both he and my mother had not eaten since breakfast.

My point in writing this is to point out that a lack of communication exists that causes a lot unnecessary worry, as well as a frustrating waste of time, for patients and their carers. QEQM is a big hospital so clearer information would be a big improvement.