"The way I was treated has heightened my anxiety"

Was admitted to Victoria Hospital with gallbladder infection, gallstones, inflammation and scarring on my gallbladder. Was in a lot of pain and feel as though some of my care was not up to standards.

Was admitted to Admissions Unit 2, where I was left sitting on a chair in a ward for 4 and a half hours before any proper interaction from staff. I was given no pain relief and I had no idea what was going on. I was told at 1.30am that I could go for a sleep. I was then admitted to Ward 52, where I was told I was getting my gallbladder removed the next day. As it turns out my operation got cancelled 3 days in a row and was sent home and placed on the urgent waiting list. 

During my admission I feel let down. One day I buzzed as I was in a lot of pain. A domestic member of staff came and said they would get a nurse. It took 35 minutes for a nurse to come and by that point I was in so much pain that I was having a panic attack. I was given pain relief and then I was left on my own to calm myself down.

I was often missed out food wise as well. One night I was given my meds at 10pm and was told they would be back in a few minutes to take my obs. They didn't come back and I had forced myself to stay awake for this. I was put onto a drip, only for the nurse to realise it was the wrong one, was told they would go and get the right one and didn't come back. It was over an hour before a different nurse realised this.

It felt like nobody really knew what was happening throughout my stay. I found the communication was really poor between all members of staff and myself as a patient. When my operation was cancelled the third day, the specialist who came to see me was very blunt and seemed to have no empathy to how emotionally frustrated I was. They even mentioned that if my mood was that low I should see my GP as they couldn't help with that.

I suffer from emotionally unstable borderline personality disorder with anxiety. The way I was treated in hospital has heightened my anxiety and I feel deflated. I am exhausted, sore and frustrated. Ultimately I have been sent home in severe pain and 100% more anxiety than what I had before my admission.

Most of the staff members I encountered were amazing and I could not praise them enough. Sadly, some of the staff were blunt and did not seem to really give my care and feelings a second thought.