"Day Surgery at Hull Royal Infirmary"

To begin with I need to point out that I have never ever had surgery or even stepped inside a hospital (other than maternity services) before. Literally, I did not know what to expect and was utterly disappointed with what I saw. Truthfully, other than the huge wait for surgery (7:30am- 11:10am) I was happy until I went into the recovery area after surgery. The nurse woke me at 12:25pm literally just after leaving the theatre. Lying flat on a trolley she insisted on tilting me up. But in true You've been Framed style she tilted it down pulling my fresh stomach wound and making me cry. In her defense she did say " don't worry we do that all time, you're ok." Ok. So there are men and women mixed ....even children on the day surgery recovery but there are rules as to where they can each be placed which made a particular juggling act/headache for the staff. 1:15pm and I was offered pain relief in the form of an ibuprofen (I have no allergies but had just woke from general anaethethic) tablet. In agony with a dry mouth and a leaking wound, worryingly the two nurses I encountered had been brought in to cover the short staff issue. They found an array of faulty equipment, un cooperative usual staff and one nurse couldn't even administer an IV paracetamol drip into the girl in agony next to me. This procedure had been written on my notes! In fact for about an hour she was pretty much ignored and her sobbing put down to being fussy. I was brought a drink of water but it was placed provocatively on my belongings box where it could not be reached. 1:35pm and just over an hour after waking up I was asked if I was ready to get up and have a walk around. I am not medically trained in anyway and apparently staying mobile is useful but that suggestion having just had stomach surgery made me cry....again. The nurse then suggested some toast...I could barely chew let alone swallow. I asked repeatedly for more painkillers but nothing arrived. Ultimately the staff appeared to be rushed and under pressure forcing them to pinch staff from other areas who were really no use as they didn't know where anything was kept or what particular equipment was broken or not. This led to them bitching to me personally about each other. Alarmingly, and I have since found out to be commonplace, the auxilary nurse helping me get dressed told me she was also the cleaner. I hoped she was joking. Finally, I was walked to the waiting room where my journey had begun 8hrs earlier at 3pm ish. I waited to be discharged and at 5pm my lift arrived. A nurse talked me through not being left on my own, a sicknote and painkillers. I told her I had someone with me and would purchase painkillers on my way home. This was the truth but honestly I would have told her anything just to get out of there. I questioned whether it was just me being picky but in the day room that's all the patients were talking about....how rubbish our experiences had all been.