"Good outcome"

I had the first of two total hip replacements at RSCH. The new hip is now 18 months old and marvellous. So I am happy about that. However I waited over two years for this op and when it came to it it was rescheduled - the day before on at least three separate occasions. This was beyond difficult to deal with as I live alone, have a dog and work full time. Each time it was cancelled I had had to stand down carers, dog sitters and more importantly it was difficult at work as I am the only person in my role and ever piece of work had to have a full handover, each time! Plus we has scheduled certain pieces of work to fit around when I would be out of action. I hate to criticise the NHS but that was hard.

Then, in hospital many of the staff were kind but there was one night nurse who had me stood naked in my room whilst he shouted at me for wetting the bed. That was awful as I wasn’t too mobile, had hardly any bladder control and needed help getting out of bed. It was whilst waiting for the help that this happened. I was in there for five days yet was not allowed to shower and was helped with washing once. So with the incontinence and lack of help with personal care I felt scared, unsafe and lost all dignity. I am now waiting for the other hip to be done. Although I have been informed the list is long so I have no idea when it is to be done but probably at least another year I reckon. I am terrified of the thought of the hospital stay after surgery. I felt so frightened and powerless and don’t ever want to go through that again. I’d like to know if there is something I could do to avoid being on that ward again. Do I get a choice of ward?