"Could do better "

It started with the appointment letter having no map or information leaflet about the procedure. Eventually got to the hospital to find the parking area cramped with uneven appalling road surface. No clear signs on the outside of the building.

Found an extremely helpful lady in the shop who was heading in the direction needed to go. Took nearly 10 minutes in an absolute maze of a building.

Greeted by reception team who gave a form to complete. Bearing in mind the waiting area is full of patients who by this stage are "nil by mouth" for most of the procedures taking place there a member of staff walked through the waiting room calling to colleagues in the admin room "would anyone like a chocolate".

The nurse who took my consent and checked my details kept asking if the "leaflet" had explained everything. I think I told her maybe five times I had not received an information leaflet. Luckily for me I've had the procedure several times before so knew what to expect.

Once in the room for the procedure, it was a very tired, very cluttered room with very poor internet reception so that the consultant found it extremely difficult to locate past clinic letters so I was laid on the bed for quite sometime before things happened. Throat spray was administered, prior to the procedure the consultant had told me I would receive pain relief as well as sedation, I can hand on heart say no such pain relief was administered and during the procedure I was in a great deal of pain and tried to raise my arm to try and get them to stop so I could compose myself as I was in floods of tears.

Once the torture had stopped I was asked a couple of questions then wheeled out of the room on the bed. I had literally been in the recovery area less than 5 minutes before a member of staff came to check that I was ready to leave, I sat up, went very dizzy and they said I could stay a little longer. Another maybe 5 minutes went past they came back and I was popped onto a chair, given a drink and a biscuit which I ate whilst they called for my lift.

I was asked if I wanted my spouse with me whilst the outcome was explained and I said no it was fine. So I was literally read what it said on the sheet with no explanations. I then left and thankfully met by my spouse in the waiting area and we found our way back to the carpark.

I left thinking this is probably the worst of all the endoscopies I've ever had, in the shabbiest of settings.