"At shift change nobody seemed ..."

What could be improved

At shift change nobody seemed to know what treatment I had received prior to them coming on duty; better communication is needed. Better infection control is definitely needed. Nurses took up to 21/2 hours to respond to the bell. Pain management needs improving.

Anything else?

I went into this hospital for a laparotomy. I was left for seven hours without pain relief on the day after my operation as the canula in my hand had come loose and the nurse on the ward said there was no one available to put in a new one. In fact, the pain management was totally inadequate. I had already picked up an infection at the outpatient clinic when a biopsy was taken. On the ward after the operation the wound became infected with two more infections. The wound wept copiously for nearly two months. Shortly after I returned home the internal stitches failed and I was left with a massive post-incisional hernia which left me in some pain and looking as if I was six months pregnant. I was not offered any help for this or any guidance about what remedial action could be taken. I eventually had it repaired at another hospital. Altogether, the events around my operation at University Hospital of North Staffordshire were some of the worst of my life.