"It was absolute chaos"

I went to Torbay Hospital for a hernia operation, it was absolute chaos. The Outpatients department had been moved, people had no idea where they were supposed to be.

I’d received a letter beforehand explaining the procedure that would be followed, what actually happed was nothing like the letter set out. Completely the opposite.

I was asked to get changed in cubicle 3, was about to do in when I was told there was somebody already in that cubicle. So then I was asked to wait. Whilst I was waiting I was asked to go to a room where a nurse asked me a load of questions, returned to my seat and a little while later went through virtually the same questions with an anesthetist.

Then another nurse came along, she started to ask me exactly the same questions when I informed her I’d already been through all this – twice!

When it came to the actual treatment I’d never met the surgeon before. There was no follow up from the surgeon after the operation – I still have a hernia.

I should add that In November I had to go to Torbay hospital again for the removal of a cyst. This was a completely different experience. The anesthetist was totally different –more caring – and there was follow-up from the surgeon.