"Better communication would make a big difference"

I had varicous vein surgery and, as it was a new procedure, was told I would receive a general anaesthetic. Actually on the day I was given the option of a local anaesthetic with a sedative. If I had been informed early I would not have had to fast. I would have like a sedative. I discussed this with the anaesthetist but when we went to theatre no more was said about the sedative and the anaesthetist went for a coffee. I had the operation without a sedative. After an hour and a half in surgery I was quite anxious and would have preferred to have not been so conscious.

Whilst in theatre the nurse - who was very pleasant - used my torso to rest the note clipboard on which I would have preferred her not to do.

On leaving the theatre I by-passed the recovery ward and went straight back to the day ward. Later on I was in pain as the anaesthetic wore off but could not have even a paracetomol straight away because they had not been written up. I felt quite sick and feint with pain whilst nurses obtained a prescription.

Upon discharge I was given information about when to remove the bandage and steri strips, but when I asked if I should leave the wound dressings in place was told there were none, as they were not recorded in my notes. I did point out that as I was conscious I actually saw three of them being applied! However, the nurse insisted they were not there. When I did remove the crepe bandage I had to ring the hospital to ask how to proceed with the wound dressings which were caked in blood as I was nervous of re-opening the wound.

Finally, although the discharge information states a follow up in 6 weeks I was given an initial appointment 12 weeks later.

Sadly, I feel this may be a fairly typical experience where a little better communication would have made a big difference.

The ward was clean and bright and all the staff amenable, but things could have been better.