"Long term aftercare could be better"

I had a bone marrow transplant and I attend the haematology department at Nottingham City. It has always been fantastic; my only criticism is some of the new staff’s attitudes. Previously you were able to meet people in a similar situation at the clinic, you can talk about your experiences but now you only turn up when your appointment is and I feel I have lost that support network. I understand there is the risk of infection in the haematology department but there is a risk of infection anywhere in the hospital and I feel this long term aftercare could be better; I used to find it helpful to talk to people with similar experiences. Staff are often rude if I turn up a bit early for my appointment. I was in hospital for a long time and I got to know a lot of the old staff but now I feel and I am not even shown at bit of common courtesy by some of the newer members of staff.

I had recently been having MRI and CT scans and they have been very prompt. It seems that there are long waiting times at hospitals but once you are in the system and have a consultant or two you are treated very quickly. Apart from then neurology department, I am seen once every six months but when I was worse and needed to be seen more frequently I still had to wait 3 or 4 months for an appointment.

With regard to my prescription there is sometimes there is a long wait and my tablets to take out and previously I have had to wait over 5 hours after I was discharged for my tablets, I went home and then came back for them.

The eye clinic at City are very thorough and good, and the cardiac team were very quick.

When I visit Queen’s hospital I find it very expensive to park and I do not like Patient Line (where patients pay to watch T.V and make phone calls). I was in hospital with leukaemia for 12 months at when you have to pay £18 this can be very expensive . Its not fair for sick people out of work or on a pension to have to pay to say night to their loved ones last thing at night. Its making money out of the sick. You pay your T.V. licence at home, in the end I brought my own portable T.V. in.

Also I think the alcohol hand sanitisers should be in the entrance as you walk into the hospital, not on reception or at the entrance to wards because people used hand rails, drinks machines etc outside the wards.