I was admitted as a day case on ward 209 in mid-May to have a large cyst removed from my left ovary via a laparoscopy. I arrived at 7: 30. The bed was an operating bed, with a slide sheet and a pillow. I could not get comfortable as I kept sliding down the bed on the slide sheet. The ward was a tiny corridor with no natural light and very cramped. It made me feel quite depressed. The nurse came round and checked my details and gave me a wristband. Then the consultants secretary came around, then the anaesthetist and then finally my consultant. Every single one checked all the details which was very reassuring. They listened to everything I had to say and didn't seem to rush anybody. My consultant went out of her way to get me some diazepam to relax me and found a nurse to put some emla cream on my hand so I did not feel the cannula go in. They started operating at 9am and I was taken down at 10: 15am. They decide the order on the day. Some people were told "you are number 3" etc but I was not told myself. I found this better for me because I would have been clock watching, so instead the lady just popped her head around the curtain and said "ready for you. " I was wheeled down by a lovely porter who made me laugh. I was parked up in a bay and had a ecg monitor, blood oxygen monitor and blood pressure cuff put on me by 2 lovely ladies. There was a bit of a delay which was no problem, so I was sat there for a good 40 minutes. The only bad thing was I watched many unconscious people pushed on beds pass me, which made me feel a bit worried. Also my partner and mum were told I would be "about 1 hour" in surgery and already 40 minutes had passed. Nobody decided to tell them there had been a delay so they were obviously worried when an hour and a half had passed and they had heard nothing. I was taken into the anaesthetic room and was quickly put to sleep. I then woke up in recovery. I was told a lady would be right next to me, but there was nobody. I looked around and saw everybody else had somebody except me. I spent a good 5 mins waving in hope somebody would see me. I couldn't speak yet and all I wanted was a drink. I then had to listen to the nurses getting frustrated trying to find me a bed because I needed to stay in until 7pm which was my consultants instructions. I told them I was ok and not to worry, but could they please tell my partner and mum I was ok. I had no idea what time it was, but I knew they would be worried. I was in no pain due to being on IV and felt quite relaxed which was why I was not too worried. But instead they told my partner and mum I was very uncomfortable and in a lot of pain. I was mortified when I saw my mums face when I finally got wheeled back to the ward. I don't know if there was some miscommunication, but I was so sad. I was kept in for monitoring, but nobody even checked on me until discharge at 7pm. Nobody could even tell me if the operation was a success. I had no instructions given at discharge either.
"Good care, but poor communication"
About: Royal Derby Hospital / General surgery Royal Derby Hospital General surgery DE22 3NE Royal Derby Hospital / Gynaecology Royal Derby Hospital Gynaecology DE22 3NE
Posted by 3667stacey (as ),
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