"Unhappy with my stay in DCU"

Went into DCU for a colonoscopy and polypectomy under general anaesthetic. I found the place was a shambles. There were full beds in every nook and crannie. Myself and another patient didn't even have a bed, just an armchair in a cubicle. I didn't see my surgeon at all, wouldn't know him from Adam!

I was asked if I minded a trainee paramedic watching how my throat tube was put in. Obviously, I said no, I wouldn't mind. My throat was so sore afterwards I couldn't even swallow, and my neck felt as if it was broken.

I told the anaethestist beforehand that I had arthritis in my neck and it was very stiff, but obviously nobody took any notice and put me in a painful position during the op. Three days later it is still very painful. I don't think I had been awake longer than 15 minutes when I was being told I could get dressed as soon as I wanted to, which I took to mean, hurry up and go, we need your bed. I felt really ill, but got up and went to sit in the lounge. I looked so pale one of the nurses took me into a cubicle to check my obs. The reason was, I needed to stay in bed for at least an hour to come to properly, but there just wasn't the facilities for this. I will never go back there.

My last op in the DCU was 12 years ago, and how much better it was then. I don't think the DCU is suitable for the procedure I had done and will never have it done in there again. I have had to have this procedure a number of times over the past 20 years, but this was by far my worst experience. I left for home not knowing what had been found or done, just that the histology report would follow in 2 weeks. I feel this is totally wrong.

Perhaps one day I will be introduced to the doctor. I came home with three heart monitors stuck to my chest - that's how fast they wanted me out!