"Day surgery"

Anything else?

I was admitted for day surgery for treatment of a non-union fracture and hardware removal for a second fracture. The day surgery ward J3 was well organised and the anaesthetist and surgeon were able to answer my questions. I am breastfeeding and I was supported to be able to feed my son as soon as my surgery was finished and I was awake enough to manage. Unfortunately later in the day the ward appeared to be short staffed and the quality of my care deteriorated. My blood pressure was low following the surgery and this was noted by a HCA who said that they would keep an eye on it; however no further measurements of my blood pressure were taken. I found on attempting to mobilise that I was in a lot of pain and unable to walk. I requested to see a physiotherapist so that I could have some crutches but the member of staff I spoke to was unhelpful. She stated that there was nothing in my discharge notes from the surgeons to say that I would need to see a physiotherapist and that I should expect ‘a little bit of pain’ after surgery. When I later looked at my discharge notes they stated that I was fully weight bearing as pain allows. She made me feel like I was being a nuisance to her. I was later able to find a member of staff who was very helpful and arranged for me to see a physiotherapist and get some crutches so that I was able to go home. On the whole a positive experience but let down by one staff member, who was under a lot of pressure due to short staffing, but as a result came across as rude and uncaring.